VESPER MARTINI
The Vesper: James Bond's Literary Creation
The Vesper was created by author Ian Fleming for his 1953 James Bond novel Casino Royale.
In the book, Bond orders the drink and names it after Vesper Lynd, the novel's female lead, specifying the exact recipe: "Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold," according to Liquor.com.
The cocktail combines gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc (originally Kina Lillet, which was reformulated in 1986). This formula creates a strong, spirit-forward drink where gin's botanicals combine with vodka's neutrality while Lillet adds subtle wine-like sweetness and citrus notes, as noted in Difford's Guide.
Fleming's original recipe specified Kina Lillet, a more bitter version of the aperitif wine that's no longer available. Modern versions use Lillet Blanc or substitute Cocchi Americano to approximate the original's bitterness, according to Punch.
The Vesper remained relatively obscure until the 2006 film Casino Royale introduced the drink to a new generation. Bond's instruction to shake rather than stir the martini contradicts traditional martini preparation, which has sparked ongoing debate among cocktail enthusiasts. The Vesper is significantly stronger than a standard martini due to combining two base spirits.
RECIPE:
3 oz gin
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Lillet Blanc (or Cocchi Americano)
Lemon twist for garnish
Method:
Add gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously until well-chilled (despite traditional martini stirring).
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Express lemon twist over the drink and garnish.