Yesterday was Buddy’s birthday, so I thought that in celebration, I’d share his favorite cocktail–the James Bond Vesper Martini.
This martini was made famous by the author of the James Bond novels, Ian Fleming. In his novel, Casino Royale, Bond instructs a bartender on how to make a martini of his own invention:
“Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel.”
A chapter later, he names the martini Vesper after a beautiful woman, in typical James Bond fashion.
Although the drink is originally made with Kina Lillet, the liqueur was discontinued in 1986. Lillet Blanc is a close replacement for the original.
The drink made its debut through the Bond novels, but it was the author’s friend who actually first invented the drink. When Casino Royale came out, Fleming inscribed in his friend’s book, “For Ivar, who mixed the first Vesper and said the good word.”
James Bond also orders his martinis shaken, not stirred, as made famous by Sean Connery’s Bond in Goldfinger. However, according to bartenders and mixologists, this type of alcohol-forward drink should actually be stirred, and shaking it will change the mouthfeel of the drink. Stirring, on the other hand, will produce “a silky mouth-feel with precise dilution and perfect clarity.”
So with all due respect to James Bond, be sure you make this martini stirred, not shaken.
James Bond Vesper Martini Recipe
Servings: 1 cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 oz. gin
- 1 oz. vodka
- ½ oz. Lillet Blanc
- Twist of Lemon
How to Make a James Bond Vesper Martini
- Pour gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc into a martini shaker filled with Ice and stir.
- Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
- Toast to Buddy and enjoy! 😉
