Glassware

Sling Glass

A sling glass is a tall footed glass, usually around 40cl, with a bowl that opens gently towards the rim. It is named after the Singapore Sling and holds long, fruit-led drinks over cubed ice, with room on top for a pineapple wedge and a cherry. Our Singapore Sling and Gin Sling are both served in one.

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A tall cylindrical glass on a long, thin stem and round foot, shown empty against a white backdrop.

The tool

About the Sling Glass

Named After the Singapore Sling

Raffles Hotel credits the Singapore Sling to Ngiam Tong Boon at its Long Bar around 1915, and the date is disputed. The glass came later and took the drink's name.

The shape is a short foot under a tall bowl that opens gently towards the rim. That opening is practical: it leaves room for a pineapple wedge and a cherry without crowding the straw.

Sized for a 205ml Drink and Its Ice

Our Singapore Sling is 30ml of gin, 15ml of cherry liqueur, 7.5ml each of Cointreau and Bénédictine, 10ml of grenadine, 120ml of pineapple juice, 15ml of lime and a dash of Angostura: about 205ml before the ice. Shaken and strained over a glass full of cubes, it needs about 40cl.

The Gin Sling is smaller, about 150ml with its soda, and fits a sling glass or a highball with room to spare.

Sling glass, hurricane, highball and collins compared

Sling glass

Typical capacity: About 40cl
Shape: Tall bowl on a short foot, opening towards the rim
Our drinks in it: Singapore Sling, Gin Sling

Hurricane

Typical capacity: Often 42cl or more
Shape: Curved and flared on a short foot
Our drinks in it: Rum Runner; Singapore Sling as an alternative

Highball

Typical capacity: 34 to 42cl in UK shops
Shape: Tall and straight-sided
Our drinks in it: Rum and Coke; Gin Sling as an alternative

Collins

Typical capacity: 30 to 42cl
Shape: Taller and narrower
Our drinks in it: Tom Collins

Glass	Typical capacity	Shape	Our drinks in it
Sling glass	About 40cl	Tall bowl on a short foot, opening towards the rim	Singapore Sling, Gin Sling
Hurricane	Often 42cl or more	Curved and flared on a short foot	Rum Runner; Singapore Sling as an alternative
Highball	34 to 42cl in UK shops	Tall and straight-sided	Rum and Coke; Gin Sling as an alternative
Collins	30 to 42cl	Taller and narrower	Tom Collins

Cubed Ice Keeps It Long

A Sling is meant to be drunk slowly over cubed ice. Pack the glass with cubes first; packed ice lasts far longer than a few loose cubes rattling in a tall glass.

Crushed ice belongs to the swizzles and tiki drinks. Under a Sling it turns to water fast and dulls the pineapple and gin.

A Hurricane Will Do

Most homes make a Singapore Sling a few times a year, and a hurricane glass handles it well. A sling glass is worth buying if you serve long, fruit-led drinks often.

Buy plain glass with a solid foot and a rim wide enough to hook a pineapple wedge over. Wash it by hand: on any footed glass, the join between foot and bowl is where it breaks.

Using it

Using the Sling Glass

Usage

The Singapore Sling, the Gin Sling and other long, fruit-led drinks served over cubed ice. Around 40cl holds our 205ml Singapore Sling with a full load of cubes and a garnish on the rim.

Pro Tip

Chill the glass with cubes while you shake, then tip them out and strain over fresh ice. A Sling poured onto half-melted ice starts out diluted.

Professional Tips

Fill it with cubed ice first, then strain or build.
Strain a shaken Sling over fresh cubes, not the shaking ice.
A hurricane does the same job; a highball takes the Gin Sling.
Hold it low on the bowl. A tall, full footed glass tips easily.

Alternatives

Budget Alternative

A hurricane glass or a tall highball. Our Singapore Sling recipe allows a hurricane, and the Gin Sling recipe allows a highball.

Premium Option

Thin, clear glass on a heavy foot. It feels lighter and is harder to tip; the Sling inside tastes no different.

Specifications

Material
Glass
Capacity
Usually around 40cl; sizes vary, so check before buying
Details
Tall bowl on a short foot, opening gently towards the rim

Go further

More to explore

Common Questions

What is a sling glass?

A tall footed glass, usually around 40cl, that opens gently towards the rim. It takes its name from the Singapore Sling, which Raffles Hotel credits to its Long Bar around 1915, and the wide top leaves room for a pineapple wedge and a cherry.

What size is a sling glass?

Most sold for the purpose hold about 40cl, though sizes vary by maker. Check before buying: our Singapore Sling is about 205ml of liquid before the ice, so a 30cl glass full of cubes will not take it.

How is a sling glass different from a hurricane glass?

A hurricane is curved and flared, often 42cl or more, and suits crushed ice and tiki drinks as well as cubes. A sling glass is straighter, on a short foot, and is used with cubed ice. Either serves a Singapore Sling well.

What glass is a Singapore Sling served in?

Our recipe uses a sling glass or a hurricane glass, filled with cubed ice. A highball works at a squeeze, though a full Sling of about 205ml and its ice will reach the rim of a smaller one.

What drinks suit a sling glass?

The Singapore Sling and the Gin Sling first, then other long, fruit-led drinks over cubed ice: coolers, punches served by the glass and tall fizzes. Anything that wants volume and a garnish hooked over a wide rim.

What is the difference between a Gin Sling and a Tom Collins?

Both are gin, lemon, sugar and soda. Our Gin Sling is 50ml gin, 25ml lemon, 15ml syrup and 60ml soda with grated nutmeg, in a sling glass or highball. Our Tom Collins is 60ml gin, 30ml lemon, 15ml syrup and 90ml soda in a collins glass, with no nutmeg.

Do I need a sling glass?

Not unless you serve long, fruit-led drinks often. A hurricane glass does everything a sling glass does, and most homes make a Singapore Sling a few times a year. If you want a glass halfway from a highball to a tiki mug, it is worth having.

Make something

Made with the Sling Glass

Used In These Cocktails

Singapore Sling Gin Sling

Related Equipment

Updated 10 October 2026

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