Ever want to unwind after a long day at work with an exotic drink that takes you somewhere else and time? This cocktail is ideal: the Swinging Sultan. With just one sip of this delicious, minty mixture, you’ll be transported to the magnificent palace of an Ottoman sultan.Salep, a starchy powder derived from orchid tubers that was popular under the Ottoman Empire, is the hidden ingredient that gives this cocktail its characteristic flavor. Salep offers a creamy consistency and a little nutty flavor. It’s a light drink with layers of flowery and tangy notes when combined with rum, fresh lime juice, and grenadine. So feel free to embrace your inner sultan and enjoy this little passage of history. Your taste buds will appreciate the break.
History of the Swinging Sultan Cocktail
The history of the Swinging Sultan drink is interesting. The Raffles Hotel in Singapore, a deluxe colonial-style hotel that was a well-liked hangout for tourists and expats, invented this tropical concoction in the 1930s.
Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender, is said to have created the Swinging Sultan. One evening, a sultan—a Muslim monarch or king—entered the establishment and requested Ngiam to surprise him with a unique concoction. Gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, grenadine, and soda water were mixed together by Ngiam, who then added an orange twist as a garnish. The Swinging Sultan drink was created because the sultan adored it.
The Swinging Sultan gained a following among both tourists and residents throughout the years. It was created by Ngiam over 80 years ago and is still available today at the storied Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel. The Swinging Sultan offers a revitalizing sense of Singapore’s history and culture with its fusion of citrus, berry, and botanical ingredients.
Ingredients
The Swinging Sultan drink is made by:
Ice cubes should be added to a cocktail shaker.
Add 1 1/2 ounces of gin, 3/4 ounce of Cointreau-style orange liqueur, 1 ounce of lime juice straight up, and 1/2 ounce of grenadine syrup.
Shake, then strain into an ice-filled, chilled cocktail glass.
Add 2 ounces of soda water on top, then add an orange twist as a garnish.
Stir, then savor your historical flavor of the tropics! On a steamy Singaporean night, the Swinging Sultan is best enjoyed cold.
How to Make the Perfect Swinging Sultan
You’ll need to gather a few necessary supplies and equipment in order to create the ideal Swinging Sultan.
Ingredients:
a cup and a half of spiced rum, preferably Captain Morgan
Orange juice, 1 ounce
Lime juice, 1/2 ounce
Ogeat (almond) syrup, 1/2 ounce
mint sprig as decoration
Tools:
beverage shaker
Strainer
An ice cube
First, add ice cubes to your cocktail shaker. The spiced rum, orange, lime, and orgeat syrup should then be added. Stir or shake vigorously until cooled.
Insert a mint sprig as a garnish after straining into a chilled cocktail glass. You can start enjoying your Swinging Sultan now! The spicy spices in the rum blend flawlessly with the sweet and tangy citrus flavors. Your location will change after just one taste to a sultan’s palace.
Before pouring the cocktail, rim the glass with some honey and crushed almonds for an additional special pleasure. The orgeat and rim create a delectable harmony with the almond aromas.
Before adding the remaining ingredients, you can optionally muddle a few mint leaves in the shaker’s bottom to enhance the flavor. Their vivid, fresh flavor harmonizes beautifully with the rest of the beverage.
In little time at all, you’ll be swinging like a sultan with just a few basic tools and methods. This unusual elixir will surely awe your guests. Santé!
Swinging Sultan Cocktail Variations to Try
Try some variants to liven up the Swinging Sultan once you’ve mastered the original. Here are a few variations you can try out:
The Sweet Sultan
Before putting the gin, sweet vermouth, and Benedictine in your glass, muddle five to six blackberries or raspberries at the bottom of the glass for a delicious touch. The beverage will be infused with a vivid berry flavor from the muddled berries. To counteract the tartness, you might also rim the glass with sugar.
The Spicy Sultan
Add a few drops of hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Sriracha, to taste if you prefer it hot. Just a few drops at first, then whisk and taste. More can always be added, but you can’t take anything away! Surprisingly, the spiciness works beautifully with the herbaceous vermouth and gin. Add a jalapeo slice as a garnish for more heat.
The Bubble Sultan
Add 2-3 ounces of club soda or sparkling wine to the top of your Swinging Sultan for a more refreshing, effervescent version. The richness of the gin and vermouth is cut by the effervescence, creating a light cocktail ideal for hot summer nights. For a gin and tonic-inspired variant, you can also use tonic water as a substitution.
•To make a flavorful, tangy version, muddle citrus fruits like lemon, lime, or orange.
•For stronger floral notes, substitute elderflower liqueur for the Benedictine.
•Instead of a “Espresso Sultan” with mocha-inspired flavors, use coffee liqueur.
•Use half as much gin and vermouth for a less boozy version.
There are countless options! Create your own unique Swinging Sultan drink by experimenting with different gins, vermouths, and mixers. Your amateur mixology talents and the diversity will impress your guests. Cheers!
Conclusion
Thus, the swinging sultan drink is now yours to enjoy. With each sip of this fruity, rum-based beverage, you’ll be transported to a warmer location. A drink that tastes like a vacation is made with rum and the flavors of orange, grenadine, and lime. When you host your next get-together, make a pitcher to share with friends, or keep the components on hand so you may make a cocktail on the spur of the moment. With this tropical treat, you truly can’t go wrong. Without a passport, the swinging sultan is your ticket to immediate leisure. So start shaking and drinking now; your brief getaway is waiting!
