Sunday 25 January 2009

That's better!

So we made it to Singapore. And then had to rush around trying to see everything we wanted to see in only 24 hours.

We checked into the hotel (which was a challenge - they wouldn't take debit cards, we didn't have any local currency on us and the ATM at the airport didn't work) and set out immediately for Raffles. Paul felt that a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar at Raffles was the appropriate thing. I felt that if it was so bloody appropriate he should drink one of the vile things.

How did such a putrid beverage achieve such fame? I could sort of understand if people treated drinking them as a challenge, like snake blood wine, but no such connotation of bravery attaches to the Singapore Sling. I mean really - gin, cherry brandy, Cointreau, Benedictine, Grenadine, pineapple juice and angostura bitters. Are they serious? That isn't a cocktail, it's a martini-drinker's nightmare.

And as it happens, I have a particular loathing of pineapple juice ever since a flight from Singapore to Frankfurt as a teenager. There was no drinking water on the plane, I'd eaten something dodgy and all they could give me was pineapple juice. And let me tell you, it tastes the same in both directions. Think of that, next time someone suggests a Singapore Sling.

However, by filling my mouth with the complimentary peanuts (shells dutifully thrown on the floor) I managed to get through the drink. And then Paul let me have a gin & tonic.

12 comments:

Bettina Douglas said...

Our Singapore Sling is gin, cherry brandy & lemon juice. That's all. Not from Raffles, but very refreshing - to my surprise.

Alicia Foodycat said...

That sounds much better. It is the benedictine and pineapple juice that make it so horrible.

Bettina Douglas said...

Is Raffles authentic or a pseudo version of its colonial glory?

Alicia Foodycat said...

Pseudo. The Long Bar is an 80s creation although they claim there was "always" a Long Bar. Most of the ground floor is taken up with designer stores - so it is a bit of a theme park. Beautiful though!

kat said...

Singapore Slings are what we used to drink when we were underage in the US & would go to Canada

Heather said...

mm. i've enjoyed a number of singapore slings and find them so tasty :)

A-Mao said...

Thanks a lot for info. Singapore Sling will be a must if I go to there.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Kat - I just lost respect for Canada!

Heather - I wonder if they had the Benedictine in them

264 - stick to the good stuff!

Dee said...

Lol, felt the same way my first time. But I was young and foolish and felt the need to pretend.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Dee - I am glad someone agrees with me!

Deb in Hawaii said...

I used to travel to Singapore for work, a few times a year. I agree with you the Raffles Singapore Slings were highly overrated and terribly expensive when I was there. The best thing was the peanuts! ;-) But the chili crab was fab--though I have no idea what restaurants I ate it at.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Deb - good! Another one who understands!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...