Smuggler’s Cove Straits Sling

smugglers-cove-straits-sling

Today’s cocktail is basically a drink from the Tiki category, but ultimately within this genre it is a border crosser. This is mainly connected to its famous role model which was unmistakably the inspiration for today’s cocktail: I’m talking about the Singapore Sling. Whether or not you want to call the Singapore Sling a Tiki cocktail can easily become the subject of discussions. Looking at the current recipe, my opinion clearly is that it is a Tiki drink. Looking at the historical background, however, one can also be of a different opinion.

Be that as it may, the Smuggler’s Cove Straits Sling is clearly inspired by the Singapore Sling, but it is a little more subtle and therefore different due to the lack of ingredients such as pineapple juice or grenadine. That makes it also less suspicious of being a through-and-through Tiki drink. Nevertheless, it was thought of as a tiki drink by Martin Cate from the Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco. He wanted to create a Tiki cocktail using Gin, which admittedly is not exactly commonplace. With Cherry Heering and D.O.M. Benedictine there are also two old acquaintances in this cocktail. Cate uses Plymouth Gin for his drink, but I have opted for the Stobbe Gin as the bergamot and the black currant seem quite promising to me in interaction with the rich Cherry Heering and the herbaceous depth of the Benedictine – and I think the result proves me right! The Smuggler’s Cove Straits Sling offers exotic refreshment with a complex, multi-layered arousal of depth, rounded off with demerara syrup (1:1), lemon juice, Angostura bitters and orange bitters. A (Tiki) cocktail, as I like it!

smugglers-cove-straits-sling

Recipe (my adapted and slightly altered version):

4.5 cl Stobbe 1776 Black Currant London Dry Gin
1.5 cl Cherry Heering
0.75 cl D.O.M. Benedictine
2.25 cl lemon juice
1.5 cl of demeraras syrup (1: 1)
1 Dash Angostura Bitters
1 Dash Orange Bitters
soda water

Preparation: The original recipe calls for a stir when making this drink. But I find it much better when shaken, so I proceed as follows: Shake all ingredients except for the soda water vigorously on ice and pour into the glass filled with ice cubes. Finally top with soda water.

Glass: Highball

Garnish: Lemon slice

smugglers-cove-straits-sling

Buying sources: At specialized retailers or online.

One thought on “Smuggler’s Cove Straits Sling

  1. Pingback: Pure Spirits: Stobbe 240 Black Currant Barrel Dry Gin & Reserve Apricot Sage Smash | Galumbi

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