Raffles Hotel celebrates 125 years with Champagne Sling

In celebration of its 125th year, the iconic Long Bar at Raffles Hotel, Singapore has created a new Champagne Sling called the ‘1887’.

Not your standard tipple, the 1887 is a subtle twist on the traditional sling with a base of Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne. The recipe for this high precision cocktail is a closely guarded secret, but its creator, Randolf Velasco, reveals that Gordons Gin, Cointreau and essence of orange, lemon and lime all play a key role.

The utterly indulgent anniversary sling is available from September exclusively at Raffles hotels worldwide, including Singapore, Raffles Beijing Hotel, Raffles Dubai and Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris.

It was 125 years ago in 1887 that Raffles Hotel first opened its doors and welcomed its first guests. Today, the hotel is virtually synonymous with Singapore, named after the city’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles.

Throughout the years, the glamorous guest list has read like a Who’s Who of business tycoons and adventurers, politicians and movie stars, authors and writers – all of whom fed in to the stories and legends, both fact and fiction, which have added to the mystic of the hotel ever since.

The Singapore Sling is one such legend. Invented in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at Raffles Hotel, no visit to the city is complete without a stop in the fabled Long Bar to enjoy this great classic cocktail and – in the spirit of tradition – to toss a few peanut shells on the bar floor.

Liz Palmer
@champagnehouses