Sleighbell Sling

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Cocktail History

The Sleighbell Sling is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Emma Stokes and was first published in her book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter.

Meant to put a holiday-inspired spin on the iconic Singapore Sling, the recipe keeps the essence of the original by combining gin, fresh citrus, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, pomegranate syrup, and soda water for a fizzy, refreshing base. However, it swaps out the traditional pineapple juice for cranberry juice, giving it a tangy, tart flavor and a vibrant red hue that feels distinctly festive. The result is a drink that’s both familiar and seasonal, great for those looking to elevate their holiday celebrations with a touch of classic cocktail elegance and a twist of Christmas cheer.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Soda Water: This is a carbonated beverage made with water and dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which gives it a fizzy, neutral flavor.

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

Cranberry Juice: This is the liquid extracted from ripe cranberries that’s blended with water to develop a dark, tart flavor.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

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.

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.

Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a deep, sweet-tart flavor.

Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with cherries, cloves, cinnamon sticks, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a fruity, spiced flavor.

Cranberries: This is a type of berry grown on low shrubs that has bright pink skin and tart, slightly bitter flavor.

Sage Leaves: These are aromatic, silvery-green leaves from the sage plant with an earthy, slightly peppery flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water
• 🔗 Tanglin Gin Orchid Gin
• 🔗 R.W. Knudsen Organic Just Cranberry Juice
• 🔗 Heering Cherry Liqueur
• 🔗 Cointreau L’Unique Orange Liqueur
• 🔗 Bènèdictine D.O.M. Liqueur
• 🔗 Liber & Co. Real Grenadine Syrup
• 🔗 Crude Bitters & Sodas “Attawanhood” Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters

Bartending Tools

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

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender skewer made from metal, wood, or bamboo that’s used for holding cocktail garnishes in place.

Hurricane Glass: This is a tall, curved glass with a bulbous shape and short stem that’s used for serving tropical or tiki-style cocktails in larger portions.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 I-MART Gold Metal Cocktail Pick Set
• 🔗 Hurricane Cocktail Glass Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright pink-ish red hue with an ombré effect

• Aroma: Peppery sage, cranberry, and citrus

• Taste: A tart cranberry-forward taste that evolves into lemon-accented herbal fin

• Finish: Strong herbal Bénédictine and cherry notes

Kendall’s Take
“Inspired by the classic Singapore Sling but all dressed up for the holidays, this version keeps the spirit of the original while bringing in some seasonal flair. The cranberry plays beautifully with the other ingredients, adding a tart brightness that feels right at home in December. I’d call the Sleighbell Sling a refreshing, fruit-forward Christmas cocktail that still feels structured and balanced—especially for anyone who already appreciates a good Sling.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.