Garden City Sling

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Cocktail History

The Garden City Sling is a tropical cocktail was created by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, as a variation of the Singapore Sling for Tanglin Gin. The recipe is similar to the classic in that it calls for gin as the base spirit and mixes it with lime, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, and triple sec, but this version uses Aperol and a homemade pineapple gum syrup instead of grenadine and fresh juice. Its name also comes from the nickname for Singapore, which is where Tanglin Gin is produced.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made by redistilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals to develop a distinctive, aromatic flavor.

Cherry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cherries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a rich, fruity flavor.

Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter orange peels, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, bright citrus flavor.

Aperol: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a blend of bitter orange, rhubarb, herbs, and roots, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bright, bittersweet flavor.

Bènèdictine: This is a liqueur made in France with a blend of 27 herbs and spices, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a rich, herbal flavor.

Pineapple Gum Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pineapple juice, gum arabic powder, citric acid, white sugar, and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a tangy, tropical flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Orange Wedge: This is a slice of orange that has been cut into a wedge shape.

Brandied Cherry: This is a type of stone fruit made by soaking maraschino cherries in brandy, water, and spices to make a rich, fruity syrup.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the Homestia Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Red-orange color

• Aroma: Tart fruit

• Taste: An explosion of cherry and orange flavor mixed with pineapple, gin botanicals, and herbs

• Finish: Slight gentian root bitterness

Kendall’s Take: “I liked the original Singapore Sling a lot but think I might prefer the Garden City Sling even more thanks to the delicious flavor and texture of the pineapple syrup. Overall, this cocktail is a faithful yet classic way to enjoy this distinctive gin too and a must-make for anybody craving a flavorful trip to beautiful Singapore.”

Recipe