Bordeaux Cherry Balsamic Vinegar Sling

Bordeaux Cherry Balsamic Sling

Description

A bright, fruit-forward gin Sling inspired by the classic Singapore Sling, combining Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic with pineapple, fresh lime, cherry, bitters, and crisp club soda.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic
1 ounce pineapple juice
½ ounce unsweetened tart cherry juice
½ ounce fresh lime juice
1½ ounces London Dry gin, for cocktail version
1 dash Angostura bitters, optional for mocktail and recommended for cocktail
Up to ¼ ounce simple syrup, optional and to taste
2 ounces chilled club soda
Ice
Cherry and thin orange or lime wheel, for garnish

Mocktail Version

• Add 1 tablespoon Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic, 1 ounce pineapple juice, ½ ounce tart cherry juice, ½ ounce fresh lime juice, and 1 dash Angostura bitters if desired to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

• Shake vigorously for about 10–12 seconds, until thoroughly chilled.

• Taste the mixture before adding sweetener. If the cherry juice is especially tart or the drink needs rounding, add up to ¼ ounce simple syrup and shake briefly again.

• Strain into a Collins or highball glass filled with fresh ice.

• Top with 2 ounces chilled club soda and stir gently from the bottom only once or twice to combine without losing carbonation.

• Garnish with a cherry and thin orange or lime wheel. Serve immediately.

Cocktail Version

• Add 1½ ounces London Dry gin, 1 tablespoon Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic, 1 ounce pineapple juice, ½ ounce tart cherry juice, ½ ounce fresh lime juice, and 1 dash Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

• Shake vigorously for about 10–12 seconds, until thoroughly chilled.

• Taste the balance before adding any simple syrup. Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic and pineapple juice already provide sweetness, so additional syrup may not be necessary. If needed, add up to ¼ ounce simple syrup and shake briefly again.

• Strain into a Collins or highball glass filled with fresh ice.

• Top with 2 ounces chilled club soda and stir gently from the bottom only once or twice.

• Garnish with a cherry and thin orange or lime wheel. Serve immediately.

Chef’s Tip

The key to this Sling is balance rather than maximum cherry flavor. Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic already provides concentrated cherry character, sweetness, and acidity, so only ½ ounce tart cherry juice is needed. Pineapple rounds the drink and connects it to the fruit-forward Singapore Sling family, while fresh lime provides brightness and gin supplies the botanical backbone. Keep the club soda thoroughly chilled, add it only after shaking, and stir as little as possible so the finished drink stays lively and sparkling.

Flavor Variations

• Raspberry Dark Balsamic: substitute Raspberry for a brighter, aromatic berry Sling that works especially well with gin and lime
• Blackberry Dark Balsamic: substitute Blackberry for a darker berry version with fuller fruit character
• Pomegranate Dark Balsamic: substitute Pomegranate for a tart red-fruit Sling with a slightly drier finish
• Cranberry Orange White Balsamic: substitute Cranberry Orange for a brighter citrus-and-berry Sling; garnish with an orange wheel
• Pineapple White Balsamic: substitute Pineapple for a lighter tropical Sling that emphasizes the pineapple juice and gin botanicals
• Grapefruit White Balsamic: substitute Grapefruit for a sharper citrus-driven Sling with a pleasantly bittersweet character
• Bordeaux Cherry Raspberry: use 2 teaspoons Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic and 1 teaspoon Raspberry Dark Balsamic for a brighter cherry-berry profile
• Bordeaux Cherry Pineapple: use 2 teaspoons Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic and 1 teaspoon Pineapple White Balsamic for extra tropical fruit character

Pairings

Serve with grilled shrimp, chicken satay, pork skewers, spring rolls, coconut shrimp, charcuterie, mild cheeses, roasted cashews, pineapple salsa, spicy appetizers, or dark chocolate. The Sling's cherry, pineapple, citrus, gin, and carbonation are especially good alongside salty, smoky, tropical, lightly spicy, and grilled foods.

Recipe Notes

The Singapore Sling has evolved substantially over its long history, and there is no single universally accepted formula. Modern professional versions commonly combine gin, cherry liqueur, fresh citrus, pineapple or another fruit component, bitters, and sometimes club soda. Earlier Sling recipes were simpler and often centered on gin, cherry brandy, citrus, and sparkling water.

This Bordeaux Cherry version is intentionally an adaptation rather than a reproduction of the classic. Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic replaces much of the sweet cherry role while also bringing acidity, so the recipe does not need the large quantity of cherry liqueur or grenadine found in some Singapore Sling formulas. Pineapple juice and lime preserve the tropical fruit-and-citrus structure, while London Dry gin provides enough botanical character to remain recognizable as a gin Sling.

The original version used 1 ounce gin alongside 2 tablespoons balsamic, 1 ounce cherry juice, 1 ounce lime juice, and ½ ounce simple syrup. That combination placed too much sweet and acidic material around too little spirit. Increasing the gin to 1½ ounces, reducing Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic to 1 tablespoon, reducing lime to ½ ounce, and making simple syrup optional creates a cleaner and more balanced drink.

Always add club soda after shaking and use fresh ice in the serving glass. Carbonated ingredients should never be shaken because pressure builds quickly and the carbonation is lost.

Cocktail versions are intended for adults age 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.

Bring This Recipe to Life

Bordeaux Cherry Dark Balsamic

Raspberry Dark Balsamic

Blackberry Dark Balsamic

Pomegranate Dark Balsamic

Cranberry Orange White Balsamic

Pineapple White Balsamic

Grapefruit White Balsamic