Post #176299 by Rum Numb Davey on Mon, Aug 1, 2005 4:36 PM

Sorry, Jab, old man..... Nobody is a bigger purist than I when it comes to adult beverage. Frankly, it just taste better to me. NOTICE it was my VERSION, never proclaiming it to be THE authentic historical version (whatever the heck that means).
To satisfy you as my detractor, I'll call it Davey's Bastardized Wannabee Sling. I did not create it, however, I learned it from the man,King of Cocktails, Dale DeGroff. IN MY OPINION, Dale Degroff, is the best technical mixologist in America. I respect his craft and knowledge base. Without the reservation of Mr. Gary Reagan, who is a good friend of mine, and Tony Abou Ganim I don't know anybody who can construct finer libations. I understand that you are a fine Tiki Drink man, yourself, and I hope to one day taste your renditions of the classics, as well as, your own creations at a function of frivolity or chaos.

I have over 800 cocktail books in my collection, and they vary from finer point to minutia in detail. I do understand the need for exact clarification by name. When people have asked me to make them a VODKA Martini, it drives me crazy. I classify a SLING from its 1860 to 1900 connotation, almost indistiguishable from a Toddy. The word, Sling, is a corruption of the German Schlingen meaning to drink (or to swallow depending on where you are from in Germany).
Originally, there was ONLY one Sling made from Gin, Carbonated Water, BITTERS (always bitters), lemon juice, ice and sugar. Eventually, other types of liquor were added. The Sling predates the Tiki era of tropical cocktails by some seventy plus years, and is an American adapted drink. Asia is not, at all, the homeland of the Sling and it is not really a "Tiki" drink anymore than the Hurricane of New Orleans is by right. Sure, some Tiki bar owners and bartenders "tikified" it over the years.
I do understand your source of bother, although I don't share your angst on ingredients.