bits + bites
Katie Kelly
The James Bond Martini
This cocktail was named after James Bond's love interest, and fictional double agent, Vesper Lynd. The Vesper Martini first debuted in author Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale book, published in 1953. The movie debuted in 2006. This was the first book in Fleming's James Bond series. When Bond orders the drink, he gives precise instructions to the bartender. "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. Got it?" So, we are going to use Bond's instructions to make this Vesper martini recipe.
1. Add 2 oz. of gin, 1 oz. of vodka, and ½ oz in a cocktail shaker. Lillet Blanc. 2. Add ice and shake for 20-30 seconds. 3. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. 4. Cheers!
Whether it's Daniel Craig or Sean Connery or any James Bond, you'll notice a James Bond cocktail is always shaken, not stirred. Shaking a martini allows for the ice to melt faster which dilutes the drink a bit more than stirring it. When you're talking about a drink that has 3.5 ounces of liquor, it's nice to have it diluted a little bit with water.
What is the difference between a martini and a Vesper? Compared to a dry martini (gin or vodka) a Vesper martini has just a hint of sweetness followed by the slightest bitter taste thanks to the addition of the Lillet. Whether you prefer gin or vodka martinis, this is a great choice for any martini drinker. Why was Kina Lillet discontinued? Kina Lillet was discontinued due to pressure from international buyers. Winemakers removed most of the quinine (which Kina is another French word for quinine) and they began producing a fruiter and fresher product, thus calling it Lillet Blanc. What can I use instead of Kina Lillet? You can use Lillet Blanc, Lillet Rose, Dry Vermouth or Cocchi Americano.