WHISKEY SLING

The Whiskey Sling: The Simple 1700s Drink That Started It All

whiskey Sling dates to colonial America in the 1700s, making it one of the earliest recorded mixed drinks in American history. The term "sling" appears in written records as early as the mid-1700s, though the exact origin remains unclear.

A sling is fundamentally simple: spirit, sugar, water, and sometimes nutmeg. This basic template made it accessible in taverns and homes across early America when elaborate ingredients weren't available. The whiskey version became particularly popular as American whiskey production expanded in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

The Whiskey Sling is historically important because it essentially became the blueprint for the Old Fashioned. When bartenders in the 1800s started adding bitters to slings and serving them over ice, they created what we now call the Old Fashioned. The sling's influence extends to numerous other cocktails that follow the spirit-sugar-water formula.

Unlike modern cocktails with multiple modifiers, the sling lets the whiskey speak for itself with minimal interference. The small amount of sugar smooths the spirit while water opens up the flavors. Some versions include nutmeg grated on top, adding a warming spice note that was common in early American drinking.

RECIPE:

2 oz whiskey

1 tsp sugar (or ½ oz simple syrup)

2 oz water (room temperature or warm)

Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

Lemon peel (optional)

Method:

1. Add sugar and small splash of water to glass

2. Stir until sugar dissolves

3. Add whiskey and remaining water

4. Stir gently to combine

5. Grate fresh nutmeg on top if desired

6. Express lemon peel over drink (optional)