Post #728506 by Destro100 on Sat, Sep 27, 2014 5:17 AM

I'm back. I hope. Things got a bit crazy for me.

Interesting...

Drink 69: Singapore Sling (1950s)

Ingredients I used:

Fresh LIme Juice
Luxardo Sangue Morlacco
Benedictine
Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac
Broker's London Dry Gin
Soda Water (soda stream)

This is certainly an interesting variation of the Singapore Sling. Usually, I associate the Singapore Sling with a very sweet, cherry-based drink served at chain restaurants and hotel-pool bars. Like the much maligned Mai Tai, it appears that the original template of the drink is something else entirely. This 1950s version of the drink is lightly sweetened, has little cherry flavor, and is quite refreshing.

It's funny, but I think the drink could actually use more cherry flavor. Overall, the drink could use a touch more sweetness. It is refreshing, yet quite bitter which makes it taste less tiki - and more classic-cocktail in style. I found the drink to taste quite strong which is not surprising when you consider that most of the ingredients are alcoholic; very little juice here.

The gin comes forward first, bringing its vegetal and spicy notes right up to the front. The Benedictine’s spicy notes follow, and the brandy and cherry liqueur feature last. As the ice dilutes the flavors tend to marry together well, and the Sling begins to taste more complete and well-rounded. The club soda gets mostly lost; perhaps more would be helpful.

I won't be adding this to my regular list of drinks, but I am left curious at how this version compares to future versions listed in the book..

My personal rating: *** (3) out of ***** (5)

SCORECARD:

4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 3 drinks so far
Chief Lapu Lapu / Kikuya Lapu / Mai Tai (Trader Vic)

4 - EXCELLENT - 12 drinks and counting
Colonel Beach's Plantation Punch /Aurora Bora Borealis / Outrigger / Bourbon Special / Beachcomber's Gold (Hollywood and Palm Springs) / Hell in the Pacific / Krakatoa / La Florida / Tortuga / Mai Tai Swizzle / 151 Swizzle / Port Light

3.5 - VERY GOOD - 20 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Punch / Coronado Luau Special / Hawaii Kai Treasure / Coconaut / Castaway (slightly modified) / Don's Special Daiquiri / Banana Daiquiri / Captain's Grog / Viking Fog Cutter / Navy Grog / Hurricane / Lani-Honi / Mariposa Fizz / Mai Tai (Stuft Shirt) / Never Say Die / Pago Pago / Painkiller / Q.B. Cooler / Shark's Tooth / Sidewinder's Fang

3 - GOOD - 20 drinks and counting
Eastern Sour / Astro Aku Aku / Kapu Kai / Western Sour / Beachcomber's Gold (Waikiki) / Red Tide / Samoan Fog Cutter / Gold Cup / Headhunter / Fogg Cutter / Noa Noa / Aku Aku Lapu / Mai Tai (Royal Hawaiian) / Missionary's Downfall / Strip and go Naked / Polynesian Paralysis / Happy Buddha / Shrunken Skull / Scorpion Bowl/ Singapore Sling

2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting
Jasper's Jamaican / Derby Daiquiri / Carioca Hawaiian Cocktail / Hawaiian Room

2 - AVERAGE - 8 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes / Rum Runner / Pieces of Eight / Polynesian Spell

1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more
Boo Loo / Royal Daiquiri

[ Edited by: Destro100 2014-09-29 19:00 ]