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.

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Cocktail Ingredients

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

Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. I used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water.

Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Broker’s Premium London Dry Gin. 

Cranberry Juice: This is a tart, bright red juice made with cranberries. I used Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice.

Lemon Juice: This is the tart, acidic liquid extracted from lemons. I used fresh lemon juice.

Heering Cherry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Denmark with Stevens cherries, baking spices, almonds, sugar, alcohol, and water.

Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, alcohol, and water. I used Cointreau.

Bénédictine: This is a liqueur made in France with twenty-seven herbs and spices, sugar, alcohol, and water.

Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. I used this stovetop recipe.

Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters: This is a food product made with cherry, cloves, cinnamon, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Crude Bitters & Sodas “Attawanhood” Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters.

Cranberries: This is a small red berry native to North America that’s known for its vibrant color and slightly bitter flavor.

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

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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 to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.

Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the Black+Decker 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the I-MART Gold Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Hurricane Glass: This is a curved, bulbous glass with a stem that's used to serve tropical cocktails made in larger portions. I used a thrifted hurricane glass.

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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 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kendall's Take: "Obviously from the name, this is meant to be a Christmas-inspired take on the popular Singapore Sling, but the recipe listed for the Sleighbell Sling in the book really wasn't even a Sling, in my opinion. Half of the original's ingredients were not just swapped out for seasonal ones but omitted altogether, and I knew if I was going to share a Christmas Sling, I'd want it to be little closer to the classic's specs. I took some liberties and made this one up myself ahead of the tasting, and I'm pretty proud of it. I liked the way the cranberry played with the other ingredients and would definitely recommend it to friends who already enjoy a Sling!"

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.