Vesper Martini co*cktail Recipe | The James Bond Drink (2024)

FAQs

How does James Bond order the Vesper Martini? ›

Bond's order as written in the book: “Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until ice-cold, then add a large slice of lemon-peel. Got it?”

It was decided that the line "shaken not stirred" sounded much better, however, and so was adopted for the film - thus creating a character with a good collection of sound bytes, but a slightly odd taste in drinks.

While Gordon's is a good everyday gin, there are now plenty of better options to choose from. Nearly any top-shelf gin with a bold botanical profile will make a nice Vesper. Many people prefer Tanqueray or Beefeater, though some like the fruitier Plymouth Gin.

In 1986, in an attempt to keep the brand relevant with changing tastes, the amount of quinine in Lillet was dramatically reduced and 'Kina' (a French word for quinine) dropped from the brand name to be replaced simply with 'Blanc'.

The recipe for Bond's "Vesper" martini, as described in the 2006 movie: 'Three measures of Gordon's; one of vodka; half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it over ice, and add a thin slice of lemon peel.

With its clear colour and lack of a strong odor, the vodka martini allows Bond to keep a low profile while still enjoying a stiff drink. Q: Why does Bond prefer his martinis "shaken, not stirred"? A: Shaking aerates the drink, making it colder and slightly more dilute than stirring achieves.

Once you have consumed two, you must move on to a soft drink, such as wine or a gin and tonic. The reasons for this are obvious and I try to adhere to this rule at home. The rule is defended most enduringly (and elegantly) at Duke's Bar in Central London, where years of experience … Continue reading.

Although there is a lot of discussion on the Vesper, it is only ordered once throughout Fleming's novels and by later books Bond is ordering regular vodka martinis, though he also drinks regular gin martinis. In total, Bond orders 19 vodka martinis and 16 gin martinis throughout Fleming's novels and short stories.

Can I use vermouth instead of Lillet? ›

Yes, you can substitute dry vermouth for Lillet as a flavorful aperitif or in co*cktails. Vermouth contains less sugar so you might want to add some sugar syrup when using it.

Ian Fleming's classic Bondian co*cktail, the Vesper, hinges on one, now extinct ingredient: Kina Lillet. Created at the end of the 19th century in France, Kina Lillet was one of the first spirits in the class of quinquinas, wine-based spirits flavored with bitter quinine extracted from cinchona bark.

In Bond's own words, it's, 'three measures of Gordon's [gin], one [part] of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shaken very well until it's ice-cold.” These days, you would replace Kina Lillet with Lillet Blanc.

The Vesper is a co*cktail that was originally made of gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet. Since that form of Lillet is no longer produced, modern bartenders need to modify the recipe to mimic the original taste, with Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano as a typical substitute.

"Shaken, not stirred" is how Ian Fleming's fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond prefers his martini co*cktail.

The Vesper Martini is something of a hybrid between the Vodka Martini and the Gin Martini, incorporating both vodka and gin. A splash of fruity, aromatic Lillet blanc—a French apéritif—takes the traditional place of vermouth.

Though Lillet often appears on bar shelves next to the vermouths, it technically isn't one, due to its lack of wormwood (it gets its light bitterness from quinine). It is a French fortified wine often drunk as an aperitif and comes in a range of flavors, including Blanc (dry), Rouge (sweet) and Rosé.