Ian Fleming introduced the world to his ultra-suave British secret agent with the publication of Casino Royale in 1954. Commander James Bond of the Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, has since then become world famous for his exotic gadgets, fantastic cars, and his alluring women.
And, of course, his martini. Shaken, not stirred.
The Martini as Ordered by James Bond
Bond's meeting with CIA contact Felix Leitner is the occasion for his detailed drink order.
"A dry martini," he said. "One. In a deep champagne goblet."
"Oui, monsieur."
"Just a moment. Three measure 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. Got it?"
"Certainly, monsieur." The barman seemed pleased with the idea.
"Gosh, that's certainly a drink," said Leiter.
Bond laughed.
"When I'm..er..concentrating," he explained, "I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name."
Later in the book, Bond dubs the drink the Vesper. Vesper Lynd is Bond's romantic interest, and unfortunately is also a double agent. A bit of Bond trivia: Lynd is also the only woman Bond ever proposed to, other than his wife, Tracy.
Duplicating the Vesper Martini Today
Fans that want to duplicate Bond's cocktail today could find it to be quite a challenge. Many of the original ingredients are either no longer available or have been reformulated, so some substitutions may help keep the finished product closer to the original flavor.
For instance, the Kina Lillet specified by Bond is no longer available. Lillet Blanc can be substituted, or a dry vermouth. Kina Lillet had a much more distinctive bitter flavor, though. To create the proper bitterness, add a dash or two of Angostura bitters, or if it's available, just a dash of quinine powder.
When Bond first ordered his Vesper, Gordon's Gin was 94 proof. Since then, it's been reformulated to less than 80 proof. A possible substitution is Tanqueray Gin, which will provide the traditional flavor of the higher proof gin.
Unlike the movie Bond, no vodka brand was ever specified in the books, although he showed a preference for Russian or Polish vodkas. Bond, however, did make one comment on the topic, when he mentioned to the waiter that the martini would be better made with vodka made with grain instead of potatoes, if a grain vodka was available. On this matter, at least, Bond would be delighted with today's vodkas - grain vodkas are now common, and potato vodka can be difficult to find.
The Vesper Martini Recipe
The original ingredients:
- 3 parts Gordon's Gin
- 1 part vodka - preferably grain vodka, not potato
- 1/2 part Kina Lillet
The modern substitutes:
- 3 parts 94 proof gin, such as Tanqueray
- 1 part vodka, such as Sobieski Polish vodka
- 1/2 part Lillet Blanc or dry vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker, and shake until icy cold. Strain into a deep champagne goblet or a large cocktail glass (Bond prefers the goblet), and add a large, thin slice of lemon peel.
Sip and enjoy - Fleming and his 007 would approve.
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