All About Vesper Martini Signature Drink of Vesper Villas
Shaken or Stirred?
The Vesper, also known as the Vesper Martini, was made famous by James Bond. The cocktail was invented by none other than Bond author Ian Fleming. The drink first appeared in his book “Casino Royale,” which was published in 1953, and the cocktail is named for the fictional double agent Vesper Lynd.
The Vesper is a fascinating cocktail. Compared to the gin martini, it has a slightly sweet, bitter tastecontributed by Lillet, while the vodka tames the gin’s botanicals. It’s a drink that both gin and vodka drinkers can appreciate and fun to tweak to your taste.
The Vesper or Vesper Martini is a cocktail that was originally made of gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet. The formulations of its ingredients have changed since its original publication in print, and so some modern bartenders have created new versions which attempt to mimic the original taste.
How to make The Vesper Martini
Primary alcohol: Gin
Ingredients: 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/4 oz Lillet Blonde, 2 oz Gin
Preparation: Shake over ice until well chilled, then strain into a deep goblet and garnish with a thin slice of lemon peel.
Served: Straight up; without ice
Standard garnish: Lemon Peel
Drinkware: Champagne Coupe, Cocktail glass
IBA specified ingredients: 45 ml gin; 15 ml vodka; 7.5 ml Lillet Blanc
Fun fact
As James Bond does it, essentially, because it’s part of the act and mythology of Bond. While James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s biographer Andrew Lycett committed to record that Fleming liked his martinis shaken because he thought that stirring a drink compromised on flavour.
