Raffles Hotel
Background
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles as a trading post of the British Empire. In 1867, the colonies in Southeast Asia were reorganized and Singapore came under the direct control of Britain as part of the Straits Settlements. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942 and returned to British control as a separate crown colony following Japan's surrender in 1945. Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 and in 1963 became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak.
Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style luxury hotel in the Downtown Core district of Singapore. It was established in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of colonial-era Singapore.
Upon the start of the Japanese occupation of Singapore on 15 February 1942, it is said that the Japanese soldiers encountered the guests in Raffles Hotel dancing one final waltz. Meanwhile, staff buried the hotel silver—including the silver beef trolley—in the Palm Court.
During World War II, Raffles Hotel was renamed Syonan Ryokan (昭南旅館, shōnan ryokan), incorporating Syonan ("Light of the South"), the Japanese name for occupied Singapore, and ryokan, the name for a traditional Japanese inn. The hotel was reclaimed in 1945 during 'Operation Tiderace' by the British Navy. Stanley Redington raised the British Naval Jack on top of the Raffles Hotel.
USS Duncan
In early 1962, my ship, the USS Duncan (DD-874) and the ships of DesRon 9 (Destroyer Squadron Nine) visited Singapore.
I was always been interested in visiting important sites when my ship pulled into port.
Raffles Hotel bar was famous for having invented the "Singapore Sling" cocktail. The Singapore Sling is a gin-based sling cocktail from Singapore. This long drink was developed sometime before 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel, Singapore. It was initially called the gin sling – a sling was originally a North American drink composed of spirit and water, sweetened and flavored.
Singapore during September can best be described as cool in the morning, followed by 98° and 98% humidity in the afternoon.
Several of us entered Raffles about 10 o'clock in the morning. I must say that I drank several Singapore slings. About two in the afternoon, we decided to go shopping and left Raffles bar. According to my shipmates, it looks as though someone had removed all of the starch from my trust white uniforms and I fell to the ground in a puddle. My friends moved me to a comfortable bench where I slept for several hours.
That evening, I had a very, very delicious dinner (without alcohol) and returned to the ship.
Singapore Sling
the International Bart6enders Association recipe describes a Singapore sling as:
- 3 cl gin
- 1.5 cl cherry liqueur (cherry brandy)
- 0.75 cl Cointreau
- 0.75 cl DOM Bénédictine
- 1 cl Grenadine
- 12 cl pineapple juice
- 1.5 cl fresh lime juice
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
It is garnished with a Maraschino cherry and a slice of pineapple
it is at this point I will warn you, the reader, that this drink can best be described as Hawaiian punch with a blow to the head with a large hammer.
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