Vesper

If you want a sophisticated cocktail that will kick your butt, this is the one. It’s the famed James bond drink invention from Casino Royale. I like this a lot better than the “Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred.” As he is known for, which I find so boring.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces Gin (I used Bombay sapphire since it’s all I have left)
• 1 ounce Vodka
• ½ ounce Lillet Blanc
• Lemon peel for garnish

Pour all ingredients into an ice filled cocktail glass and stir, straining the drink into a martini glass. Garnish with a large lemon peel, twisting it as you drop it in.

WAIT, you said stir?!? According to James Bond the drink is made like this.

“A dry martini,” [Bond] said. “One. In a deep champagne goblet.”

“Oui, monsieur.”

“Just a moment. 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?”

Yes, I know, I know. But here is where the spy and I differ. The rule that I follow is:

If all of the ingredients are alcohol then there is no need to shake.

Why? Mostly for clarity, when you shake a drink it gets cloudy and there are little ice particles that float on top. The only reason to shake a drink is when there are juices or other ingredients that need to be homogenized. This drink has no juice, syrup or egg, therefore… stirred.