Gin Sling recipe
A refreshing nineteenth-century precursor to the Collins family, balancing crisp gin with tart citrus and effervescent soda.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Highball glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz London dry gin
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 oz rich simple syrup (2:1 ratio)
- 3 1/2 oz chilled soda water
How to make a Gin Sling
- Fill a tall highball glass with fresh ice cubes.
- Combine the London dry gin, fresh lemon juice, and rich simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for ten seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Strain the mixture over the ice in the prepared glass.
- Top with chilled soda water and stir gently to combine.
Garnish
Lemon wheel
Pro tip
Chill both the glassware and the soda water beforehand to maintain maximum carbonation and dilution control.
History of the Gin Sling
The sling dates back to the late eighteenth century in America, originally referring to a simple mixture of spirit, water, sugar, and bitters. Over the decades, the recipe evolved across international outposts like Raffles Hotel into elaborate fruit-laden variations before returning to its refreshing, minimalist roots.
Flavour profile
Crisp, Citrusy, Effervescent, Botanical
Variations
- Singapore Sling — Add cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, and pineapple juice.
- Tom Collins — Substitutes standard simple syrup and scales up the soda water proportions.
- Bourbon Sling — Replaces gin with bourbon whiskey for a richer profile.
Practise making the Gin Sling in the free Virtual Bar game.