I had other plans for tonight, but when I got home Laura had brought me a big cup of pebble ice with a request for something tiki. I ran through my mental Rolodex (that’s an old school contacts app, for you kids) trying to find something I had all the ingredients to make and sounded appetizing. I settled on a classic Singapore Sling, but after making it, taking pictures and drinking it, I decided to switch and make an infinitely more interesting variation, the South Seas Sling.

That’s life isn’t it? You make a plan, get it all going and things change. If that ain’t life, it’s definitely 2020. Who knew that adaptability would be a survival skill? Darwin, that’s who. Turns out it isn’t actually “survival of the fittest” it is, “survival of the most adaptable.” Embracing change, even when it sucks, is part of what makes us human. Letting go of the mistakes of the past and following a new path, is harder, but also critical for the survival of the species. So embrace a new direction and grab your tins as we stand and make, the South Seas Sling. 

It’s a nice twist on a tropical classic and super easy to put together. Pop in 1 ounce each of Gin, I went with Corsair, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur and Dom Benedictine. Follow with 1 ounce of pineapple juice and 1/2 ounce of lime juice. 2 drops of 18-21 Havana and Hide bitters and some ice and you are ready to shake. You don’t have to shake this one too hard, we aren’t trying to muddle or dilute it too much. Strain into whatever you have handy that is already filled with pebble ice. Garnish with an orange slice, one of those fancy luxardo cherries and a paper umbrella, cause they are cool. I’d suggest a reusable straw at this point but you do you, this is all about adapting isn’t it?

I kinda love this drink. I’m a big fan of the Singapore Sling, but it is rare to find it on a menu in its original form, it is a drink that is all about variations and adapting to fit the ingredients available or tastes of the day. This version is sweet, but with a cool herbaceous thing from the Benedictine and a lovely elderflower top note. It almost has a graham cracker aftertaste, which makes me wonder why s’mores aren’t a bigger thing in the tiki scene, they’d be perfect at a luau. We are gonna have to make that happen. But until that day, take this drink out on the porch, watch the sunset and crank up some Otis Redding cause trust me, “a change is gonna come.”