Vespers Martini
The Vesper is probably the best known drink in literary history: gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc, shaken and served with a lemon zest. Ian Fleming has James Bond order it in Casino Royale in 1953 and name it after Vesper Lynd. The IBA lists it as a Contemporary Classic. We mix it in the original 6:2:1 ratio with Munich Dry Gin and LION's Vodka.
- Preparation time
- 3 minutes
- Servings
- 1 drink
- Difficulty
- easy
- Method
- Shaken
- Glass
- Coupe, chilled
- Garnish
- Lemon zest
Ingredients
- 6 cl THE DUKE Munich Dry Gin
- 1.5cl LION's Vodka
- 0.75cl Lillet Blanc
Preparation
- Chill the coupe beforehand.
- Add gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc to the shaker with ice cubes.
- Shake hard until the shaker frosts on the outside.
- Strain through a bar strainer into the chilled coupe.
- Express a large, thin lemon zest over the drink and drop it in.
Mix all ingredients in a shaker with a few ice cubes. Then strain through a bar strainer into a cocktail bowl and garnish with a lemon zest.
Illustration: Paula Vogel
Tips
- The 6:2:1 ratio is Fleming's original and also the IBA recipe. It makes the drink very dry.
- Shaking is the Bond tradition. Since the Vesper is only spirits and aperitif wine, many bartenders stir it today, which keeps it clear and silky. Both are correct.
- For the original bitterness use Cocchi Americano instead of Lillet Blanc. The Kina Lillet of 1953 was far more quinine-bitter.
- Chill everything well. The drink is served without ice and warms up quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Vesper Martini come from?
From literature: Ian Fleming has James Bond order it in the 1953 novel Casino Royale, three measures of Gordon's gin, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet, shaken, with lemon peel. Bond names it after Vesper Lynd. According to Fleming's dedication the first Vesper was mixed by his friend Ivar Bryce. The IBA lists it as a Contemporary Classic.
Shaken or stirred?
Shaken in the novel, and the IBA agrees: shake hard with ice, then strain. That chills strongly and dilutes a little, which makes this high-strength drink more approachable. Since the Vesper is only gin, vodka and Lillet, many bartenders stir it today to keep it clear and silky. Both are right; shaking is the Bond tradition.
What is Kina Lillet and what replaces it?
Kina Lillet was a French aperitif wine with pronounced quinine bitterness, which Fleming specified in 1953. It was replaced in 1986 by the milder Lillet Blanc, which is in the IBA recipe and in ours. For the original bitterness use Cocchi Americano, an Italian aperitif wine with quinine. Vermouth is not an equivalent substitute.