Casino Royale James Bond Drink Order
With the James Bond flick Casino Royale having been in theatres, many cocktail enthusiasts eyes were looking for the appearance of the Vesper Martini. This cocktail is a “James Bond” original, actually an Ian Fleming original, but who cares. For the most part, it is a variation on a Martini, and all bartenders know what Mr. Bond did to the martini world. “Shaken not stirred, please.” Wow, I never heard that one before. Anyway, the Vesper Martini isn’t a cocktail that works in movies but not in real life. The Vesper can hold its own in the cocktail world. So all my fellow bartenders, get you bottles of Lillet ready, I suspect someone is going to come to your bar and order one.
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- James Bond Casino Royale Drink
When I was growing up, I never read any James Bond books, but my mother was an avid fan of Mr. Bond. So, if a 007 movie came on TV I usually had to sit and watch. Of course, this was back in the day before VCR’s and digital cable, so you watched it when it was on TV. Like clockwork, halfway through every Bond movie I’d be sent to bed because it was a school night. My mother always promised that I could watch it as a rerun in the summer. Well, James Bond never re-aired in the summer, so I don’t think I’ve ever watched the ending of a 007 movie. Anyway, I was always awake long enough to hear Mr. Bond order his martini.
The book version of Bond also works champagne, whisky and other cocktails into his drinking rotation. The movies are less adventurous with Bond’s drinks. He’s more likely to stick to that shaken martini. And, with movies, it makes sense to stick to one, extremely quotable drink order. After all, it’s worked pretty well for 58 years. Yeah this has made this drink very popular among the people just because of the movie The James Bond character has much resemblance in the life history of the creator Ian Fleming and yes that's how the James Bond was born. Ian Fleming serve. In Casino Royale, he drinks a Vesper initially as a means to introduce some of his character to Felix Leiter: when the latter comments on the complexity of what he orders, Bond explains ' I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold, and very well made. The 'Vesper Martini' is the famous drink ordered by James Bond in both the book and the movie Casino Royale. The recipe for Bond's 'Vesper' martini, as described in the 1953 book: '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. In Casino Royale, James Bond orders his now famous cocktail of choice, explaining that the mixture of vodka, gin and Kina Lillet helps him concentrate. We can’t speak to the drink’s ability to help your game, but ordering one will make you look like a suave, worldly secret agent.
In the book Casino Royale (1953), Mr. Bond ordered a very specific martini. Specifically, he ordered a martini made with three parts gin, one part vodka (wheat or grain-based) and ½ a part Lillet. The drink is to be shaken, not stirred and garnished with a lemon twist. It is to be served in a deep wine goblet. The final item is that the drink should be served “big”. As in 3oz gin, 1oz vodka, and 0.5oz Lillet. Where I live and work, I could not legally serve Mr. Bond.
This Vesper Martini is very drinkable when cold. The Lillet adds more sweetness and tropical aromas (lychee) than dry vermouth. The vodka cuts back on the herbal notes of the gin. The lemon twist always goes nicely with a gin-based martini.
I have not heard if the Vesper Martini will make an appearance in the theatre release of Casino Royale, but Mr. Bond will likely order a martini in his trademark way. At one point in time, it was thought that Mr. Bond was going to order a bottle of Heineken. You see, Heineken made a big contribution to get their product into the movie, for the critical advertising spot. But, from what I’ve read Mr. Bond doesn’t order a beer.
It will be interesting to see how many people order a Vesper Martini after the movie comes out. I’d be surprised if nobody did because the Cosmo and Mojito became extremely popular after their TV and big screen appearances. As a bartender I don’t care if you order one, actually, I’d be happy that someone is willing to expand their cocktails horizons. But, please, please, please don’t order it “shaken, not stirred”, you’ll just get my ego whittling stare, or maybe a big loud “yes Mr. Bond, right away”. That’ll make everyone laugh, but not you.
Ingredients
- 3 oz Gin
- 1 oz Vodka
- 0.5 oz Lillet Blanc
Instructions
- combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds
- Strain into a martini glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Notes
A proper martini is stirred, but Mr. Bond is a rebel so he likes them shaken.
A look at what 007 drinks in Daniel Craig’s debut as James Bond.
The first drink of the Daniel Craig era is served around half an hour into Casino Royale. After arriving at the One and Only Ocean Club (now known simply as The Ocean Club) Bond heads for the bar where Alex Dimitrios is playing poker. Bond orders a Mount Gay rum and soda at the bar before asking if he can join the game.
While Dimitrios faces Le Chiffre aboard his boat Bond uses his charms on Solange to try and found out what Dimitrios is up to. As they roll on the floor together you can see two flutes of champagne on the table behind them.
Soon after Bond calls room service. Requesting a bottle of Bollinger Grand Année and Beluga caviar the voice at the other end of the line asks if it is for two.
“No, for one”, he responds abruptly and promptly leaves Solange headed for Miami.
On the train to Montenegro Vesper joins Bond in the dining carriage. He has a whisky on the rocks in front of him as he peruses the menu. With their meal they have a bottle of Château Angélus 1982 Premier Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion. Barbara Broccoli is a friend of the co-owner of the winery, and approached him to provide the wine for this scene.
At a cafe where he and Vesper meet Mathis, Bond takes two glasses of champagne from a passing waitress before they even find a table. Mathis appears to have a glass of still water with a slice of lemon.
While playing poker Bond orders what he later names the Vesper – three measures of Gordon’s, two measures of vodka and half a measure of Kina Lillet shaken and served with a thin slice of lemon peel. Two other players ask for the same and Leiter, not yet introduced, tells the waiter to “bring me one as well, keep the fruit”.
Ian Fleming’s one and only mention of the Vesper can be found in the pages of Casino Royale. Bond orders it prior to facing Le Chiffre at the Baccarat tables of Royale-les-Eaux’s casino.
The recipe that appears in the films is exactly the same as the drink that James Bond orders in Ian Fleming’s book, although in the films it is served in a cocktail glass rather than a champagne goblet.
The problem with the recipe is that Kina Lillet is no longer available. The same company currently produces Lillet Blanc which lacks the quinine found in quinine and therefore lacks its bitterness.
Bond is standing with Vesper at the bar by the time his drink is brought to him. Sipping it he tells Vesper “you know, that’s not half bad. I’m going to have to think up a name for that.”
Back in their room after surviving a fight in the hotel stairwell Bond grabs a decanter of whisky and tumbler. In a very Flemingesque scene he finishes cleaning himself up, pours a large slug into the glass and knocks it back.
After being wiped out by Le Chiffre the tournament director calls for an hour break. During the break Bond fails to convince Vesper to give him more funds and so he heads for the bar and orders a vodka martini. “Shaken or stirred?” asks the bartender. “Do I look like I give a damn” is the reply.
Luckily Felix finally introduces himself soon after and offers to bankroll Bond for the remainder of the game. But soon after he sits back at the table Bond realises his martini has been poisoned. Staggering through the restaurant he grabs a tumbler and salt and heads for the toilet where he makes himself sick.
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Bond then heads outside to his Aston Martin DBS. From there he contacts the MI6 medical boffins for advice on what to do. He follows their instructions only for the defibrillator to fail because of a loose wire. Vesper seems to be quite handy as an electrician though. When she finds Bond unconscious with his heart stopped she reconnects the wire and restarts his heart.
After finally beating Le Chiffre Bond dines with Vesper in the hotel restaurant. Sipping his cocktail he tells her “you know, I think I’ll call that a Vesper”.
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“Because of the bitter aftertaste?” she replies.