Vesper Martini

In the world of cocktails, there is a rare gem that stands out like a true gentleman in a room full of ordinary drinks: the Vesper Martini. A small but significant difference makes this variation on the classic martini a true connoisseur drink - and a true love story.

Vesper Martini - a James Bond drink with a tragic story

Like the classic martini, the Vesper Martini is closely associated with the greatest secret agent of all time: James Bond. The drink made its grand entrance on the pages of Ian Fleming's 1953 novel "Casino Royale". Agent 007 introduced this drink to the world. The success of the book helped to make this cocktail famous.

The name "Vesper" is a reference to Bond's lover in the novel: Vesper Lynd. Lynd is a secret agent herself, but unlike Bond, she has a dark past that eventually leads her to tragically take her own life. The drink captures the essence of this dramatic love story and honors it with its deepened and refined flavors.

The original recipe used Kina Lillet, an aperitif wine. Kina Lillet has since been withdrawn from the market. You can use Lillet Blanc instead.

Vesper Martini recipe

Ingredients (for 2 portions):

• 9 cl gin
• 3 cl vodka
• 1-2 cl Lillet
• 2 lemon zests

Preparation:

1. Place ice cubes in a shaker.
2. Add the gin, vodka & Lillet. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker starts to run/is ice cold.
3. Strain into two martini glasses and garnish each with lemon zest.

Caution! The Vesper Martini is an incredibly strong cocktail due to the 3:1 ratio of gin to vodka. Sip it slowly and always drink responsibly.

Can you use Vermouth instead of Lillet?

If you replace Lillet with Vermouth or another ingredient, it is no longer a real Vesper Martini, but rather a variation or another type of Martini cocktail. To create an authentic Vesper Martini, you should therefore use Lillet together with the specified proportions of gin and vodka. This combination makes it a Vesper Martini as described in the Bond novel.