We all know Bond’s drink order almost as well as his name. But it may surprise some fans to learn that the shaken vodka martini wasn’t always 007’s signature drink. The original Bond novel Casino Royale (1953), written by Ian Fleming, mentions his first drink order as an Americano—a classic cocktail using equal parts Campari, sweet Vermouth, and soda water. Bond’s first martini order occurs later in the book.
This special martini, called the Vesper after Bond girl Vesper Lynd, coincides with the birth of the “shaken, not stirred” catchphrase. The ingredients and ratios are given in the book, but since Kina Lillet is sadly discontinued, we use a modern substitution in this recipe.
INGREDIENTS (SERVES 1)
- 3 fl oz (90 ml) Gordon’s gin
- 1 fl oz (30 ml) vodka
- 1⁄2 fl oz (15 ml) Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano 2–3 ice cubes
DIRECTIONS
- Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake until ice cold, about 20 seconds.
- Pour into a serving vessel. We suggest a deep champagne goblet.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
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