Bamboo - A light yet aromatic classic cocktail made with an elegant combination of sherry and vermouth. With its low alcohol content and balanced flavors, it is one of the oldest and most sophisticated examples of aperitif culture.
The Bamboo cocktail is considered one of the oldest and most elegant recipes in the bar world. In the late 19th century, it is thought to have been created by Louis Eppinger, a German bartender working at the Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Japan. At the time, Yokohama was one of the port cities where trade and cultural interaction between the West and Japan was most intense.
The Grand Hotel's bar welcomed guests of many different nationalities, from sailors to business people. This cosmopolitan environment created a fertile atmosphere for the birth of new cocktail recipes. Bamboo was one of the recipes that emerged during this period and quickly spread throughout the international bar culture.
The most striking feature of the cocktail is the use of sherry wine instead of a strong base spirit. Sherry is an aromatic and complex wine produced in the Jerez region of Spain. Combined with dry vermouth, the cocktail is elegant and balanced. The bitters add a touch of spice and citrus.
“In life, it is not what seems strongest that survives the longest, but what is most balanced.”
Thanks to this structure, Bamboo offers a lower alcohol content than classic cocktails. For this reason, it has an important place among aperitif cocktails, especially before dinner. Although light, its aromatic depth is quite strong.
Today, the Bamboo cocktail is enjoying a resurgence in popularity with the growing interest in low-alcohol cocktails in modern bar culture. It is considered one of the most refined drinks in the classic cocktail repertoire thanks to its simple structure and elegant flavor.
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Ingredients
Unit System
45 mlDry Sherry
45 mlDry Vermouth
2 DashAngostura Bitter
1 DashOrange Bitter
SomeIce
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Method
1
Add the dry sherry and dry vermouth to the mixing glass.
2
Add Angostura and orange bitters.
3
Stir for about 20 seconds with plenty of ice.
4
Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
5
Serve, optionally flavored with orange peel.
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Bartender Tips
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Orange bitters give the cocktail a light citrus flavor and enhance the balance.
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Using plenty of ice during mixing makes the cocktail clear and smooth.
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Chilling the glass before serving allows the flavors to be felt more clearly.
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