Singapore Sling at Raffles Long Bar

Another traditional feature of the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel is the peanut shells that cover the floor. Boxes of monkey nuts can be found on tables and visitors are encouraged to drop the casings on the ground, just like Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling would have done in their day. The shells make a satisfactory crunch beneath your feet.

Singapore Sling, the famous cocktail itself, was developed in 1913 by Ngiam Tong Boon, the bartender at Raffles Hotel. The original recipe includes gin, Benedictine, cherry brandy, and fresh pineapple juice. The foam top to the drink is made by vigorously shaking the mix.

Given how popular the bar is, the bar staff often use a pre-blended version of the drink – but if you sit at the bar you can ask to watch them measure and shake, which really adds to the experience. The cocktail itself is very sweet and pink, but if you’re not a purist there are a whole variety of other slings on offer.

Although the majority of guests at Long Bar are here for a Singapore Sling, there are plenty of other less sugary options on the menu, including some very well mixed gin and tonics. Once taxes have been added, a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel costs about S$30, but it’s money well spent, and experiencing such nostalgia is great fun.