Food and Beverage
James Bond's Vesper Martini
July 21, 2011
If you’re planning an event in a casino, or a private event with a play-money gambling motif, the Casino Royale night theme is practically de rigueur, even if tuxedos and evening gowns aren’t.
That means the special martini Daniel Craig orders while playing James Bond in that film simply must be served.
The Vesper comes straight from Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale, and there are a few differences in the original recipe. For one thing, it was not invented on the spot in Fleming’s first Bond novel. For another, it comes in a particular glass that Craig’s Bond did not specify, and the recipe favors a type (though not brand) of vodka.
"A dry martini," [Bond] said. "One. In a deep champagne goblet."
"Oui, monsieur."
"Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon’s [gin], 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?"
…
“Excellent,” [Bond] said to the barman, “but if you can get a vodka made with grain instead of potatoes, you will find it still better.”
One more difference: In the novel, Bond first orders it while drinking with CIA agent Felix Leiter, and only mentions his cocktail to Vesper Lynd when, on learning her given name, he decides to name it after her.
This page is protected by Copyright laws. Do Not Copy