CLASSIC · GIN

Vesper

Name: Vesper
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Gin; 15 ml Vodka; 7.5 ml Lillet Blanc; Lemon Zest

James Bond's original cocktail order, the Vesper is a bold, spirit-forward martini variation that blends gin and vodka with the honeyed floral notes of Lillet Blanc into something utterly singular.

Ingredients

Gin45 ml

Vodka15 ml

Lillet Blanc7.5 ml

Lemon Zest

Glassware

cocktail glass

Chilled.

Flavor

Bergamot · Honey · Juniper · Orange blossom · Vanilla

Estimated profile

A cigar alongside More like this

Method

1
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2
Add the gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc.
3
Shake hard until well chilled.
4
Double-strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
5
Garnish with a lemon zest, expressing the oils over the surface before placing on the rim.

From the Bartender

Purists debate shaking versus stirring - Bond famously orders it shaken, which adds aeration and dilution that slightly softens the strength. The original recipe in Ian Fleming's Casino Royale called for Kina Lillet, a now-discontinued quinine-forward aperitif wine; Lillet Blanc is the closest modern substitute, though Cocchi Americano is often preferred for its more bitter, complex character.

Rating

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