Raffles and the famous Singapore Sling

Take 2 oz gin, I oz Cherry Heering, 2 tsp Benedictine, 2 of Cointreau, 2 dishes of Grenadine, add pineapple juice, squeeze of lime and shake of angostura bitters add soda water then shake like mad and add to a glass of ice. Garnish with pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry. Sip slowly!

This is a 'must do' whilst in Singapore and, as a general non drinker, this was so good!This is a very special place to stay but as my take on life is - we come this way but once - then it had to be included. The famous Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling was invented, is now the Tiffin Room where we have breakfast and has been relocated to a newer part of the building. When we found it was a big disappointment as it was packed and noisy so we had our drinks in one of their lovely open courtyards and watched the waiters make hundreds of these famous drinks.

Raffles Hotel itself was established in 1887 and is said to be Singapores best known icon and was named after Sir Stamford Raffles the founder of modern Singapore. The original location was by the seaside, although land reclamation means that the site is now some 500 metres away from the shore on Beach Road (how English!)The main building was completed in 1899 and continued to expand over the years with the addition of new wings, a verandah, a ballroom, a bar and a billiard room. Sadly, in 1931, the hotel went into receivership although by 1933, the financial troubles were resolved and a public company called Raffles Hotel Ltd. was established.

At the start of the occupation of Singapore during WW11, it is said of that the Japanese soldiers encountered the guests in Raffles Hotel dancing one final waltz. At the end of the war, the hotel was used as a transit camp for prisoners of war and in 1987, the Singapore Government declared the hotel a national Monument.

In 1989, the hotel closed for an extensive renovation which took 2 years to complete. It re-opened on 16 September 1991 having been restored to the grand style of its heyday in 1915, although some significant changes were made. All rooms were converted to suites with teak-wood floors, handmade carpets, and 14-foot ceilings. Our room is situated round a courtyard with 2 Lloyd Loom chairs and a small table outside. Inside it is beautifully appointed in old colonial style with that added must have - fantastic air conditioning!