So I was thinkin’ that maybe those of us who didn’t win Pulitzers today might be allowed a drink anyway, and just like that, Lo-Fi Lush Hour no. 50 (50! Holy Shit!) came stumblin’ along the banquette, singing’ “Iko Iko” to itself an’ bein’ joyful.
So there’s that.
So there’s that.
Today’s Toast: the Singapore Sling—but the old way, from before the Raffles found its “lost” recipe and turned it into a Disco Drink. There were as many ways to make this thing as there were bartenders and clubmen in the old Empire, but ours takes a keen mind and clean hands.
It also takes gin. These are gins. I could show you others. But really, any decent, or even indecent, London dry will do the trick here. I’d say nothing too weird, but really, who am I to tell you how to drink?
The rest of the hooch. The dry cherry brandynis a traditional cherry brandy-Cognac blend (3:1); You can use plain old Cherry Heering. Or sloe gin (also traditional here). The Bénédictine is optional, but definitely used to be common.
The other stuff. Any cold sparkling water will do (the original brand, Tan San, was from Japan and us evidently still made).
Tools. We’re gonna build this in the glass, clubman-stylee.
So. Take your katana to the lime and squeeze half into your glass. You want roughly half an ounce, so be aware of how juicy it is.
(The squeezing.)
Now the cherry brandy. The old Imperial “6-out” measure holds 3/4 of an ounce in human terms. You want one measure of the reddish stuff.
And two measures of the gin. I went with Tanqueray, because it’s a fucking bastion of unwavering tradition in a world that is determined to make all such things into rubble. Two measures—an ounce and a half.
The Benny. Imma go with a barspoon, but you can go up to a full measure and still wrap yourself in authenticity, if that’s your particular kink.
Now fill the glass with ice (gently, gently).
Top it with Tan San (or in this case Tan San Pellegrino)...
...and dash the top lightly with Angostura. Add a straw if you like straws.
Oh yeah—you were supposed to give it a quick stir before the bitters, but you knew that. I was just testin’ ya.
And there stands the glass. It should be a bit pinker (I blame the cherry brandy), but it’s still a damn good drink, and not a silly one.
Today Lo-Fi Lush Hour would like to welcome it new sponsor (courtesy of our Old San Francisco sales agent, @stevemoth) the Occidental Hotel. “Occidental, but Rarely Acciddental.”
