If you’re a James Bond aficionado, you’d know all about the Vesper Martini from Ian Fleming’s novel, Casino Royale. Or if you’ve seen the penultimate Bond flick with Daniel Craig, you’d remember the scene where Bond orders the Martini in between kicking villain arse, keeping a poker face and spilling blood over his white shirts.
Ever since Casino Royale, the Vesper Martini, has captured the interest of Martini lovers. Named after the female double agent Vesper Lynd with whom Bond fell in lust love, the original recipe calls for Kina Lillet which is difficult find. Lillet Blanc, a wine-based French apéritif from Bordeaux is used in its place. The light amber liquid originated in the village of Podensac and has been produced since 1872. Made with a blend of 85% wine, citrus liqueurs and herbs, it can be enjoyed chilled with ice and an orange twist. I prefer it neat.
Incidentally, the Lillet saw a surge in demand making lucrative sales so the drink made another appearance in the follow up 007 movie, Quantum of Solace.
The Vesper Martini
Ingredients:
3 measures of Gin – nothing beats good old Gordon’s
1 measure of your favourite Vodka – Absolut is my poison of choice
¾* measure of Lillet Blanc
Lemon Peel
Instructions:
1. Rub lemon peel around the outside rim of the cocktail glass as sensually as you’d apply lipstick.
2. Chill the Martini glass by filling it with ice cubes.
(Skip this step if you’re a Martini aficionado who stores their Gin and Vodka in the freezer.)
3. Drop a few ice cubes in the cocktail shaker.
4. Add the Gin, Vodka then Lillet.
(*Now is the time to pour yourself the other ¼ measure to taste.)
5. Replace the lid and shake while you recite three cheesy 007 lines from the one and only James Bond, Sean Connery.
6. Tip the ice out of the cocktail glass. Strain and tip the liquid in as you practice your best Daniel Craig pout.
7. Add lemon peel, twisted, because let’s face it, you like a bit of kink.
And like a red-blooded woman, prepare for it to slap you in the face.
Hard.
Vesper Martini
When I make this I’ll be sure to have my terrible Sean Connery accent on in full force!
Anil: I’d want an audio of that! 🙂
Lillet Blanc is available in Australia. See my website for details. $34.99pb, freight free nationwide on orders over A$200.
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