Raffles Hotel Singapore & ecoSPIRITS Blend Tradition & Sustainability in the Iconic Singapore Sling

SINGAPORE 27 JUNE 2021 In celebration of the inaugural Singapore Sling Day on 27 June, Raffles Hotel Singapore and ecoSPIRITS have announced the results of a sustainability review of the iconic Singapore Sling. In collaboration with Proof & Company and ecoSPIRITS, the Singapore Sling was revitalised in 2018 by Raffles Hotel Singapore as part of the reopening of the hotel after a two-year renovation. By using the patent-pending ecoSPIRITS technology and taking other steps to reduce waste, each new Singapore Sling saves the equivalent of 200g of C02 emissions per serve and contributes to the planting of native trees in the endangered rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia.

Developed with taste and sustainability at the fore, the revitalised Singapore Sling honours the long tradition of a cocktail widely regarded as the national drink of Singapore and first created in 1915 by Raffles bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. The classic recipe of gin, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, curaçao, pineapple juice, lime juice and grenadine and bitters remains, but with improved, natural ingredients throughout and an eye to the future through a commitment to limiting single use waste and carbon footprint.

The iconic Singapore Sling, first created in 1915 at Raffles Hotel Singapore

The revitalised Singapore Sling features copper pot-distilled Widges London Dry Gin, a cherry liqueur from the Luxardo family who have produced cherry liqueurs from their own marasca cherry orchards in Italy for more than 200 years, an artisanal dry curaçao from Ferrand Cognac, an all-natural pomegranate grenadine produced exclusively for Raffles Hotel Singapore by Crawley’s, and a bespoke Scrappy’s Spice Plantation Bitters, which is prepared using local Singapore botanicals such as nutmeg, mace and cloves. The result is a Singapore Sling for modern palates, one that is fresher, less sweet and more balanced.

The revitalised Singapore Sling, with all-natural ingredients and sustainable practices.

The ecoSPIRITS low carbon, low waste technology lies at the heart of the revitalised Singapore Sling, used to dramatically reduce single use glass waste and carbon footprint for the spirit and liqueur ingredients. The gin, cherry liqueur and dry curaçao are all delivered to Raffles Hotel in patent-pending ecoTOTE™ format, saving tens of thousands of glass bottles each year. Furthering the sustainability profile of the cocktail, both the real marasca candied cherries used as garnishes and the Spice Plantation bitters are shipped in large low-waste formats, eliminating several thousand kilograms of packaging waste per year.  Single use plastic straws have also been replaced with biodegradable potato starch straws.

The Singapore Sling was the first cocktail in the world to use the ecoSPIRITS technology, dating back to November 2018

The result is a Singapore Sling that is far more sustainable, led by significant reductions in single use glass waste, other packaging and service wastes and carbon (C02) emissions. For purposes of the sustainability review, C02 reductions were estimated using the ecoSPIRITS Carbon Calculator, which was developed by leading consulting firm Deloitte. In addition to the waste and C02 savings, under the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program, Raffles Hotel is planting native trees in the Kalimantan and Sumatran rainforests, leaving a permanent legacy of carbon reduction and reforestation of endangered wild areas. The reforestation program yields an additional 150g of C02 sequestration per year per Singapore Sling, bringing the total to 200g of C02 reduction.

The Sustainable Singapore Sling  Natural ingredients, less single use waste and a reforestation legacy.


“The inaugural Singapore Sling Day honours our cherished heritage and the undisputed legacy of the Singapore Sling, an exceptional icon fashioned at Raffles Hotel Singapore that has, much like the storied luxury property, put Singapore squarely on the global map. Singapore Sling Day also recognises our constant efforts towards sustainability and innovation aligned with Accor Hotel’s Planet 21 initiative, while continuing to deliver vibrant and inimitable experiences to engage our guests and the community,” said Christian Westbeld, Managing Director, Raffles Hotel Singapore.”

– Christian Westbeld, Managing Director, Raffles Hotel Singapore

“ecoSPIRITS is proudly a ‘Born in Singapore’ technology. To be able to work with one of Singapore’s great icons – Raffles Hotel – to transition the Singapore Sling into a new era of sustainability, quality and taste is a dream come true,” notes ecoSPIRITS CEO Paul Gabie, “Raffles was the first hotel in the world to use the ecoSPIRITS technology, going back to November 2018. Their leadership in committing to green innovation and a vision of a sustainable future in food and beverage can serve as an inspiration to all of us.”

– Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS


About Raffles Hotel Singapore

Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world. Till today, its architecture is perfectly preserved both inside and out, giving it an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and classic colonial design. Within its walls are more than a hundred expansive suites, framed by polished teak verandahs and white marble colonnades, clustered around lush tropical gardens. Each is serviced by the legendary Raffles butlers and offers every modern convenience necessary.

Raffles Singapore has recently undergone a careful and sensitive restoration and has fully reopened on 1 August 2019. The restoration of Raffles Singapore is designed to ensure that it retain what is so special about Raffles – the ambience, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel. It is also designed for Raffles Singapore to stay relevant and distinctive by moving with the times and with its guests and adapting to the changing needs of the well-travelled and Singapore’s community.

For more information, please visit Raffles Singapore


About Raffles Hotels & Resorts

Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group which invites travellers to feel welcome in almost 4,800 hotels, resorts and residences, along with some 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe.

For more information, please visit Raffles | Accor Hotels