Search form

BROWSE BY: FILM  |  ACTOR  |  PRODUCT  |  NO TIME TO DIE  |  GIFT GUIDE  |  GIVEAWAYNEW
When you purchase through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more.
Advertisement

Bennett Winch SC Holdall

Taittinger Champagne

photo © United Artists, Danjaq LLC / Vintage Ad Browser
The bottle in the film and a Taittinger ad from 1963 showing a Taittinger 1955 vintage
photo © United Artists, Danjaq LLC / Vintage Ad Browser

photo © Vintage Ad Browser
A 1978 ad for a 1969 bottle of Taittinger Blanc de Blancs Champagne
photo © Vintage Ad Browser

Taittinger Champagne is Bond's favorite champagne in the the Ian Fleming novels, and features prominently in the movie From Russia With Love (1963).

In movie From Russia With Love, James Bond (Sean Connery) is cooling a bottle of Taittinger Champagne in the water while relaxing on a small boat with Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson). He lifts the bottle out of the water by pulling the string that is attached to the bottle, feels its temperature, but puts the bottle back in the water because it is not cold enough yet.

Later in the film, James Bond and Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) share a bottle of Taittinger Blanc de Blancs champagne during the dinner in the train with Donald 'Red' Grant (Robert Shaw). Bond orders "a bottle of the Blanc de Blancs". Both Bond and Tatiana drink the champagne. Spectre agent Red Grant, posing as Nash, orders a red Chianti with his fish, something that is not done, and Bond notices it. Grant then spills Tatiana's drink and refills her glass from the Taittinger bottle, adding a bit of chloral hydrate, making her feel ill and pass out after dinner.

The vintage of the champagne is unknown, but the green bottle with white and gold label is the vintage Taittinger label and bottle design, similar to the one pictured here in the ads on the left. The bottle on the table is clearly seen with the label towards the camera, so the appearance of the brand seems to be a product placement. Interestingly, just above Bond and Tatiana, two small ads for Mercier Champagne can be seen on the wall of the restaurant carriage.

UPDATE 2024: on eBay a similar vintage, unopened bottle is offered for $339.

Taittinger in the Bond novels
The literary James Bond is an avid Taittinger fan, and it is the first champagne he drinks. In the Ian Fleming novel Casino Royale, when Bond and Vesper Lynd have a late dinner, Bond asks for a bottle of Taittinger 45, but the sommelier suggests the "Blanc de Blanc Brut 1943 of the same marque is without equal". Bond agrees and he tells Vesper Lynd that Taittinger is not a well-known brand "but it is probably the finest champagne in the world". The name of the chapter in which the scene is described is Chapter 8: Pink Lights and Champagne. 

In the novel Moonraker, during the dinner at Blades, M comments that Blades does not carry Taittinger (which Bond has apparently told him about), Bond says Taittinger is “only a fad of mine.” (Ian Fleming, Moonraker, Chapter 5). Bond drinks Dom Pérignon instead.

In the novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Bond orders a bottle of "Taittinger Blanc de Blancs that he had made his traditional drink at Royale" (Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, chapter 2). In chapter 8, when Bond dreams about what he is going to do with £15,000, he adds "a few dozen of the Taittinger champagne" to the list.

The story 007 in New York, which is printed in some later versions of Octopussy, a collection of short stories, the brand is mentioned as well. In the recipe for scrambled eggs, Fleming suggests the meal should be served with pink Taittinger champagne.

Taittinger in Casino Royale (1967)
Taittinger can also be seen in the 1967 Bond spoof film Casino Royale. On board Dr. Noah’s aircraft, a servant wheels over a cart with a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket, announcing, “Your rain-cooled Taittinger, sir.”

About Taittinger
Taittinger is a French wine family who are famous producers of Champagne. While officially established as a company in 1931, the estate traces its history back to 1734. The house owns more than 600 acres of the best vineyards in the Champagne region, and is home to cellars that date back to the 4th century.

Product Code: 
fd027

Orlebar Brown Sale

Comments

In the Boat Scene with Sylvia Trench he has a Bottle Taittinger.
Thanks George, well spotted, I have added this.
Don't know if anyone is interested but when we moved my mother in law out of her home into assisted living we found a sealed 1959 bottle of Taittinger comtes de champagne - in the original box. Interested in selling this to help with her expenses. Please shoot me an email if you are interested in seeing photos. Thanks!
Still hoping to garner some interest for this bottle - anyone?

Add new comment

Advertisement

Connolly x 007