Ingredients
The glass
- 150 mldry red wine, chilled
- 150 mlcola, chilled
- ice cubes
- a slice of lemon or orange (optional)
Directions
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Both the wine and the cola must be cold already; ice alone will not chill them fast enough and the drink goes flat while it cools.
- Pour the red wine over the ice to about halfway.
- Top with cola, poured gently down the side of the glass so it keeps its fizz.
- Stir once, briefly, with a long spoon. Over-stirring drives off the carbonation, which is what makes it drinkable in summer heat.
- Add a slice of lemon or orange if you like, and serve at once.
- The proportion is roughly equal parts, adjusted to taste — more wine in Dalmatia, more cola inland.
Technique
- Use a cheap, dry, unoaked red. This is not a drink for good wine, and an oaked or fruity red clashes with the cola.
- It is closely related to the German kalte Muschel and the Spanish kalimotxo, and Croatians will tell you theirs came first.
- Serve it long and cold. Warm bambus is genuinely unpleasant.
Substitutions
- Any cola works; the sweetness level changes the balance so taste and adjust.
- Sparkling water in place of some of the cola for a drier version.
Variations
- Gemišt, the same idea with white wine and sparkling mineral water.
- A version with a splash of orange juice.
History
A Yugoslav-era bar mix still ordered across Croatia, born of stretching rough table wine.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bambus?
Bambus is a cocktail from Croatia: red wine topped with cola, served long over ice. A Yugoslav-era bar mix still ordered across Croatia, born of stretching rough table wine.
How long does Bambus take to make?
Bambus takes 2 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 glass. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Bambus?
Yes, within limits. Any cola works; the sweetness level changes the balance so taste and adjust. Sparkling water in place of some of the cola for a drier version.
What is the most important thing to get right in Bambus?
Fill a tall glass with ice. Both the wine and the cola must be cold already; ice alone will not chill them fast enough and the drink goes flat while it cools.
