In Ted Haigh’s excellent Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, he details the Straits Sling, the forerunner of the Singapore Sling, which I talked about in my Introduction to Tiki Drinks article right here on Primer (‘The Straits’ is a former name for Singapore, and some locals still use it). The Straits Sling is a simpler, dryer version of that classic, and worth making in its own right.
Haigh also mentions, however, that the drink can be served “up” without the soda, making a delicious cocktail he’s dubbed the Strait Jacket. I wanted to give that a shot, because in general I prefer up drinks to long drinks.
I used to advocate using bottled lemon or lime juice in cocktails, and I still think that in a pinch it’s perfectly acceptable, but if you want your drinks to really shine, fresh juice is essential. I keep a couple lemons and limes in the fridge at all times, and I have a nice citrus squeezer that makes things pretty quick and painless. It’s a little more cleanup, but it’s worth it!
This article is a modified and enhanced version of a post that ran on my nightly cocktail blog, DrinkShouts.
The Strait Jacket Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Gin Ford’s
- .5 oz Kirschwasser Hiram Walker
- .5 oz Benedictine
- .5 oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 2 dashes Orange bitters The Bitter Truth’
- 2 dashes Aromatic bitters Angostura
- Luxardo maraschino cherry Garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Luxardo maraschino cherry.
