Vesper Martini – A Stunning Mess

The Vesper Martini Drink made of vodka, gin, and Lillet was created for the James Bond character by author Ian Fleming. The drink was ordered in the 1953 book Casino Royale (named after double agent Vesper Lynd) and has been popular with martini lovers ever since.

It’s a drink served ice cold and always with a lemon peel as that’s the way James Bond ordered his. You don’t have to choose gin or vodka for this martini as it has both!

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Bond originally asks for, “A dry martini. One. 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.” Since Gordon’s vodka doesn’t have the same flavor profile today and Kina Lillet is no longer made, the drink’s recipe has had to adapt over the years to make a modern version.

What gin and vodka are best for a Vesper Martini?

Bond originally asks for Gordon’s gin, but as that gin has changed since the drink’s inception, you can use any good top-shelf gin and Tanqueray or Beefeater are popular choices. Choose a vodka that’s on the smoother side, so just avoid the bottom of the barrel cheapest options.

Do you shake or stir a Vesper Martini?

While a lot of martinis are traditionally stirred, the Vesper Martini is also very strong so shaking the drink rather than stirring it helps dilute the alcohol a bit with the ice chips that form while the drink is shaken.

Ingredients

• Vodka: The more neutral vodka helps to balance out the stronger taste of the gin.
• Gin: Gin adds some floral notes to the drink for a slight botanical flavor.
• Lillet Blanc: While the original drink uses Kina Lillet, that spirit no longer exists, so Lillet Blanc is used in its place. The Lillet adds a bitter but sweet taste to the martini.
• Lemon Peel Garnish: Optional, but James Bond wouldn’t have one without it so why should you?

Like most martinis, the Vesper drink is traditionally served in a martini glass.

Directions

Add your gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc to a shaker filled with ice. Shake until ice cold (about 30 seconds) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist and enjoy!

How do you make a lemon twist?

To make a lemon twist, simply cut a round slice of lemon about 1/4″ thick and use a small knife to cut away the peel from the lemon flesh. Try remove as much of the white rind as you can from the yellow outer layer and then curl your thin lemon strip up a straw and hold it there for 10-15 seconds until the curl holds. Slide off and place into your drink!

Tips for Making

• If you need to chill your martini glass in a hurry, add ice to the empty glass while you make your martini to chill it quickly and the dump the ice out before pouring in your cocktail.
• To add a little more lemon aromatics, rub the zest edge of the lemon around the rim of the glass before adding in your lemon twist.

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