Ambrato Bamboo
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 13.5% ABV ∙
The Bamboo is a low-ABV stirred cocktail built from fino sherry and vermouth, finished with a dash of orange bitters. Delicate and dry, with a nutty, saline sherry backbone and a whisper of orange lift — an easygoing aperitif for the start of a meal.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Fino sherry 60 mlAmbrato vermouth 10 mlBianco vermouth 10 mlOrange bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with an orange twist
Tips
- Stir over large ice cubes for 20-25 seconds only; this low-ABV, sherry-forward build over-dilutes fast since the base is 60 ml fino, not a full spirit pour.
- Chill the fino sherry and both vermouths in advance since Fino oxidizes quickly at room temperature and can taste flat once combined with the vermouths.
- Strain into a pre-chilled coupe so the delicate 13.5% ABV mix stays cold longer without needing extra dilution from a warm glass.
- Express the orange twist directly over the drink's surface before resting it on the rim to release citrus oils that lift the orange bitters.
History
The Ambrato Bamboo is a variation on the Bamboo, a sherry-and-vermouth cocktail long credited to Louis Eppinger, a German-born bartender who managed the Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Japan. It departs from the traditional pairing of dry sherry with a single style of vermouth by using an amber, oxidized-style vermouth alongside a bianco vermouth, giving the drink a rounder, more aromatic sweetness than the classic version.
FAQ
What is in an Ambrato Bamboo?
Fino sherry, a split of Ambrato and Bianco vermouth, and a couple dashes of orange bitters, stirred and strained into a chilled glass. The sherry leads, with the two vermouths adding layered sweetness and the bitters adding aromatic lift.
Is a Bamboo shaken or stirred?
Stirred. All the ingredients are clear and low-proof, so stirring chills and dilutes the drink without the cloudiness or excess dilution a shake would add.
What glass is a Bamboo served in?
A coupe glass, served up and garnished with an orange twist.
Is a Perfect Bamboo a strong cocktail?
No, it is a low-ABV cocktail at about 13.5 percent, closer in strength to a glass of fortified wine than a spirit-forward drink. It is well suited as an aperitif rather than a nightcap.
