Drink Spotlight: Singapore Sling, take 2

So having discovered some discrepencies between what I thought was a Singapore Sling and what Wikipedia believes to be a Singapore Sling, I thought I'd do the honest thing and try out both. It should be noted that the changes are minor and all of the ingredients seem to be accounted for, it's just the ratios that are slightly different. All that said, here's what I came up with.

Singapore Sling (IBA version):

• 2 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Cherry Heering
• 1/4 oz. Cointreau
• 1/4 oz. Benedictine
• 1/2 oz. Grenadine
• 4 oz. Pineapple juice
• 1 1/2 oz. Lemon juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters

Shake very, very well and strain into some sort of very large glass (mine is 15oz.). Garnish with whatever you have lying around, but probably a pineapple chunk and a Maraschino cherry.

This version is actually very, very tasty. Wikipedia suggests using a blender to get the frothiness that you so desire, but I just shook the bejeezus out of it and got a fairly good amount of foam. Since the drink doesn't have any ice in the glass, you could probably fit it almost perfectly into a pint glass, but I decided to go on the larger side just to be safe. I did garnish with a cherry floating in an orange-peel boat, but it decided to sink. All for naught anyway, as the foam would have covered it up. Just jam something on the rim for color.

The only substantive difference between this version and the other version is Lemon vs. Lime juice. The other version is the one that you'll get if you go to the hotel that invented the drink, but the actual original recipe has been lost to the ages so even they will say that theirs is an approximation. The above recipe is the International Bartenders Association standard, though it should be noted that the IBA isn't exactly the end-all, be-all of mixed drinks.

I think I'd probably take the other version and shake it, and then it would be a game-time decision as to whether it's served up or on the rocks. But shaking it gives it a great, foamy pineapple head, which is just delightful and really added a nice texture to the drink. But the other version is definitely more complex since it's not being drowned out in lemon juice and the other ingredients are a bit more prominent. This one was dangerously easy to drink, though. Probably depends on the mood....