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FOOD & DRINKS Vesper Martini
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Gordon's Gin: the green bottle is only sold in the UK, the transparent bottle in the rest of the world. |
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The 'Vesper Martini' is the famous drink, ordered by Bond in both the book and the movie Casino Royale.
The recipe for Bond's "Vesper" martini, as described in the 1953 book:
'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?'
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.'
To make this drink yourself, you have to mix the ingredients, strain, and serve in a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a large thin slice of lemon peel.
Kina Lillet, now called Lillet, is hard to find, so you can replace this with another dry Vermouth if necessary.
In the movie Casino Royale, when Vesper asks Bond if he named the drink after her "because of the bitter aftertaste", 007 replies that he named it for her, "because once you have tasted it, you won't drink anything else."
Try it yourself, and let others know what you think (write review)
More about Smirnoff Vodka:
The official James Bond vodka brand since the first movie Dr. No is Smirnoff. Stolichnaya and Absolut have also made casual appearances and Finlandia vodka was promoted in 2002's Die Another Day.
 Official Bond Smirnoff website
More about Gordon's Gin:
Gordon's is a famous British brand of Gin, developed in 1769. The recipe for Gordon's is known to 12 people in the world and has been kept a secret for 200 years (source: Wikipedia).
More about Lillet:
Kina Lillet is nowadays simply "Lillet". Lillet (pronounced lee-lay), is a French Aperitif made from a blend of wine, liqueurs, fruits and herbs. It originated in the French village of Podensac and has been made since the late 1800s. Lillet Blanc is made from white wine and is drier than Lillet Rouge, its red-wine counterpart. Both are classically served over ice with an orange twist.
Lillet is a blend of rigorously selected wines and fruit liqueurs, aged in oak vats for around 12 months, during which it is given the same care as the Grands Crus (great wines) of Bordeaux.
Lillet Blanc has a golden color with candied orange, honey, pine resin, lime and fresh mint aromas. Full and rich on the palate with a lovely, long aftertaste.
External Links - Vesper Martini
Official Bond Smirnoff website (info, recipes)
Official Lillet website
Official Gordon's website
More about the Vesper Martini
Lillet and the Vesper Cocktail
 Buy Lillet Blanc online (UK and EU only)
 Buy Lillet online (USA)
Buy Smirnoff Red online (UK and EU only)
External Links - James Bond Drinks
Make mine a 007
Drink like 007 (MI6.co.uk)
Product Code: fd001
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REVIEWS |
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Date: 16 August, 2010
Author DINO LAMPARELLO
Author's website
HI, I MADE THE DRINK IT`S EVERYTHING THEY SAID IT WAS,PERFECT,,
THANKS,DINO
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Date: 25 May, 2010
Author The Red Velvet Shoe
Author's website www.theredvelvetshoe.com
Am shocked to find how difficult a time some readers had to find Lillet~~it has been a staple in my bar for ages. I actually loved the fact in the latest version that he requests "Gordon's" gin, not some crazy, over priced, trendy brand...the classics are the classics and I stand by that man! (Although, Hendricks IS quite lovely!)
~M
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Date: 12 May, 2010
Author M#2
Author's website
Just had my first - you always remember your first. Very smooth, clean and crisp. This is my new fav. Hard to find Lillet. Finally found it here in Syracuse. Can't wait to have another.
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Date: 12 May, 2010
Author Brandon Jones
Author's website
I concur...my "modified recipe" has won over many a beer drinker at parties...I personally put one full ounce of lillet in the mix...still the BEST martini I've ever had...trust me or no...but try this mix, if you haven't by now...oh and never order this drink when you're out and about on the town...the bartender will look at you funny and screw it up every time...mix it yourself...witch unfortunately costs about $50 to do if you are just getting started...good luck and happy drinking.
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Date: 27 March, 2010
Author PJG707
Author's website
I prepared this cocktail and after my first initial taste I found this to be a most enjoyable cocktail, mind you the third one finished me off after our night out, I had two before leaving the house and the third on my arrival home, I awoke this morning fully dressed on the sofa minus a girlfriend who had sneaked off to bed ... I would not consider this to be a jazzy over worked nightclub cocktail more of a sophisticated cocktail for gin lovers which I am
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Date: 09 March, 2010
Author scott
Author's website
this is the perfect martini to me! No bite from eitherthe gin or vodka. The lillet tames them both and adds to the mix a taste of sweet/bitterness. Twist of fresh lemon brings everything together and gives the lucky embiber a smooth ride. You dont want anything else (well, to drink)after Bonding with this elixior!
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Date: 01 December, 2009
Author Emily
Author's website
I had this drink at a small underground bar in Vienna, and it was amazing. Very smooth, with a hint of citrus.
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Date: 09 November, 2009
Author SD
Author's website
I work at a liquor store and bought the ingredients tonight. I am usually a person who avoids any thing with gin, but this drink was quite good. Having heard that the original lillet had quinine in it, I added a splash of tonic to the drink and it vastly improved it. The gin taste is not overpowering at all and, for the alcohol content, this is a very smooth drink. A pinch of quinine powder would probably work just as well.
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Date: 28 June, 2009
Author TK
Author's website wasabiventures.com
Just made one right now. Finding the Lillet was hard but worth it.
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Date: 04 June, 2009
Author Agent Triple P
Author's website adventuresoftriplep.blogspot.com/
Yes, you really do need to add some bitters, such as Angostura, to the drink as modern lillet Vermough is nothing like the original Kina (quinine) Lillet. In fact modern lillet Vermouth is not that distinctive without the quinine so any dry Vermouth (I like Dolin ChamberyAbout three drops is right. You can go up to six but that tints the drink a shade of pink and makes it quite bitter (which I quite like). I tend to use Bombay Sapphire for the Gin and Smirnoff Black or Wyborova Exquisite for the vodka). It's a fun drink to play around with. Using lime peel instead of lemon changes it again. The key thing I have found is that it immensely improved by being served in a frozen glass. Bond liked his cocktails very, very cold!
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Date: 09 May, 2009
Author Grant
Author's website
I look forward to this being my first 'Real' drink, Does anyone know if say, a Cruiseship would have the required ingredients to make it?
-At any rate, I look forward to trying this and finding out what all the fuss is about.
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Date: 14 March, 2009
Author Alan
Author's website
Recently had the opportunity to try a vesper at a local martini bar name "The Red Door" in Salt Lake City, Ut.
I must say, it was an enjoyable mix, could be addicting.
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Date: 05 March, 2009
Author Lawrence
Author's website
What are some good replacements for Gordon's Gin in this recipe?
I've thought about the usuals, Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater London. I've yet to try to Vesper myself, but I'd like to change the recipe just a tad without compromising the taste.
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Date: 03 February, 2009
Author dennis white
Author's website
The Vesper Martini is really a refreshing drink and amazingly for all the alcohol doesn't knock you out of your seat after a few. I could actually see drinking these while playing million dollar poker at the Casino Royale and not falling face first into my cards!
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Date: 22 January, 2009
Author Colin Buchanan
Author's website www.sixdegreesmed.com
I have been making Vespers at home for myself and my guests for a little more than 25 years now. I was curious about the recipe when I first read Casino Royale in university. Lucky for me, my local wine merchant at the time stocked Lillet. As a Martini fan(atic), the Vesper has long been my favourite. Imagine my delight to see it featured in both Daniel Craig movies - particularly Casino Royale. So ... my review? It's a wonderful balance of the sweet (which comes from the Lillet) and the tart (the gin). It's interesting that the addition of the vodka really tones down the gin flavour - as such, I have had many guests who say they don't like gin rave about the Vesper. Expressions like "doesn't take like gin at all' are not uncommon. Alessandro, the great bartender at Dukes Hotel in London, likes to add a few drops of Angostura Bitters (to make it more like the taste of the now defunct Kina Lillet) and replaces lemon peel with orange. While I don't recommend the use of the bitters, a nice slice or orange peel does go wonderfully well - and matches the hint of orange in the Lillet perfectly. Now that you got me thinking about a nice cold Vesper, I am counting the hours to getting home tonight! Try one. You may never go back.
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Date: 18 January, 2009
Author Mark
Author's website
Incredible strong value drink. I actually had my 1st one about 5 hours ago. One glass will destroy you, no matter who you are. Mine was about 99% alcohol.
A really good drink, but you NEED to sip it for the best flavor. Strong taste going down. I recommend it!!
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Date: 30 December, 2008
Author Nathan Gregg
Author's website
I just had this drink at a theatre in Downtown Seattle and I never want to drink anything ele. I have a feeling people wont know what I am talking about and am afraid to sound like douche when I measure out the ingredients to the bartender. What do I do?
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Date: 24 December, 2008
Author Elizabeth Serrah
Author's website
I am an absolute try and true martini lover. When I saw this drink in the Bond film, I had to try it. I had the guy at my local sprits store order the Lillet Blanc for me. I have to say, it's no where NEAR good as a regular, gin or vodka martini. The Lillet takes like vermouth, I wouldn't add as much. I will probably make use of the Lillet in other ways, though.
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Date: 20 November, 2008
Author Bryan B
Author's website
This is an excellent Martini....if you like Martini's. I changed the recipe a little, I make it with 3 measures of Bombay Sapphire, 1 of vodka and a full measure of Lillet.
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Date: 17 November, 2008
Author daren chen
Author's website
haven't tried it yet
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Date: 01 November, 2008
Author dchoward007
Author's website
I just made the Vesper and attempted to drink a glass. As a true bond fan I am sorry to say that I did not like it. Since I do not like Gin that much. I feel like a knight that could not pull excaliber from the rock, but it was not good.
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Date: 21 July, 2008
Author Blake
Author's website
I constantly ruin my friends on martinis now that I serve The Vesper at parties. It is leaps and bounds above the same old gin martini.
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Date: 07 May, 2008
Author Brett
Author's website
This recipe is actually incorrect. At the time that Flemming invented this drink, Gordon's was a very different gin; now you're better off using something like Hendrick's, Magellan, Stingray, or even Tanqueray (all of which are the traditional 94 proof). Vodka was the same way; almost all vodkas at the time were 100 proof so use something like Stoli 100 proof for the best result. Finally, Lillet Blanc replaced the Kina Lillet in the mid eighties. You know have to add the "kina" part yourself by mixing in either 1/8 tsp of quinine or (in a pinch) a dash of bitters.
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Date: 17 April, 2008
Author Patrick Hanson
Author's website
I had this drink for the first time today and i really wanted to like it and i did! i'm not a big fan of Martini but i like this one quite dry but it is nice.
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Date: 05 December, 2007
Author Joseph
Author's website
The Vesper is a wonderful drink for aquired tastes. Because of the aftertaste it may turn people off. Much prefered by yself over standard vodka martinis. Enjoy for yourselves.
Cheers
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Date: 15 July, 2007
Author Ray Bishop
Author's website
after years of searching, starting in the 70,s, at last I have been able to taste the vesper, If any one has any probs getting hold of lillet go to thedrinkshop.com, they are fast and reliable, a side note, the company who dlivered my bottle, proberly didnt realise that the last 6 digets of ther phone no were very apt, they were 007 007
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Date: 20 April, 2007
Author donovan grant
Author's website www.chef-2-you.com
great drink had them for years. I read the book 7 years ago.
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Date: 09 April, 2007
Author Anthony Dyess
Author's website
I was lucky to find the Lillet in the deli just down the street, so I bought a Handle of Gordan's Gin and a bottle of Vodka. That night we made about five Martinis for after dinner they were great. A regular martini taste off and just never settled well with my stomach, but the Vesper was perfect so now we make them on a regular bases, the Lillet should be no more then 15 dollars if you shop around you'll find it.
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Date: 07 January, 2007
Author Mark
Author's website
I was happy to find a private wine shop in my town which carries the Lillet brand. Picked up two bottles and made the Vesper according to Flemming's recipe. I was suprised how good it was. I decided that I prefer a touch more Lillet with the Gordon's and vodka.
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Date: 06 January, 2007
Author J.P.
Author's website
Instead of asking for Kina Lillet or Lillet, Lillet Blanc is easier to find, and still is a smashing drink.
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Date: 04 January, 2007
Author Mark
Author's website
I have been to every liquor store in my city and not a single one carries Lillet. I contacted Lillet and have not heard back for a distributor. I would highly recommend someone get some Lillet up in the auction area of this site and watch the bids start rising.
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