The James Bond Martini | Tarreyn Land: The James Bond Martini

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The James Bond Martini

This weekend Jake and I went to a fancy dinner and discovered an interesting menu item on the cocktail list: The James Bond Martini. 
Intrigued, we each ordered one & were stoked to find out they are DELICIOUS. 
I have since spiraled into a fascination with the history and recipe for the traditional Bond Martini, and thought I would share!

Here's The Recipe:
- 3 oz Gordon's Gin
- 1 oz Stoli Vodka
- 1/2 oz Kina Lillet
- Lemon Twist
And of course: Shaken, Not Stirred. 

*Ours were made with all Vodka which was delicious

The cocktail is first mentioned in the 1953 book Casino Royale in chapter 7:

Bond: "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. Got it?"

Bond: "I never have more then one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold, and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I think of a good name."

Fun Facts:
- "Shaken, not stirred" was said for the first time in 1958's Dr. No (except it is actually said as "Shaken, and not stirred" - the and was axed in Goldfinger in 1964)
- Bond's drinking habits supposedly mirror those of his creator, author Ian Fleming, who supposedly frequently drank a bottle of gin a day
- Bond traditionally preferred his martinis in a large deep goblet as opposed to the traditional martini glass
- Supposedly shaken not stirred was how Fleming's friend Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld (prince of the Netherlands) took his martinis
- In 2006's Casino Royale, when a bartender asks Bond if he wants is martini shaken or stirred, Daniel Craig's Bond replies "Do I look like I give a damn?"
- The technical name of the drink is a Vesper Martini

4 comments:

  1. Awesome. I am now a better, more martini-knowledgeable person. :)

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    Replies
    1. Haha that's a good thing to be!

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    2. I assume that you and Jake are excited for Skyfall in November? You should have several of these martinis before going. Probably a FEW DAYS before going though so you're coherent enough for the movie :-)

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  2. I need this in my life. Perhaps on make-your-own-sunglasses night? ;)

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