The James Bond cocktail bar

How to make and serve the favourite drinks of the world’s most famous secret agent

The James Bond Cocktail Bar

CONTENTSINTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3COCKTAIL RECIPES.........................................................................................................................4

The Vesper.......................................................................................................................................4Kina Lillet and the Vesper.......................................................................................................... 4

Vodka Martini..................................................................................................................................5Dry Martini...................................................................................................................................... 5Black Velvet.................................................................................................................................... 5Stinger..............................................................................................................................................6Americano........................................................................................................................................6

CHAMPAGNE.....................................................................................................................................7SPIRITS................................................................................................................................................8

Whiskey........................................................................................................................................... 8Vodka and gin..................................................................................................................................8Sake..................................................................................................................................................8Other drinks..................................................................................................................................... 9

THE SIMPLE BAR NECESSITIES.................................................................................................. 10Equipment......................................................................................................................................10Glasses........................................................................................................................................... 10Raw materials................................................................................................................................ 10Preparing lemon peel slices........................................................................................................... 10

RESOURCES..................................................................................................................................... 11Obtaining ingredients online..........................................................................................................11Further reading...............................................................................................................................11

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INTRODUCTIONThe first reason for writing this ebook is that with the recent release of Casino Royale and much being made of the drink that James Bond later names the Vesper, now seems the right moment to take a fresh look at some of the drinks that have appeared in the film series. Also, it’s the beginning of December and the holiday season is rapidly approaching, the time of year when so many of us dust off our cocktail shakers and martini glasses in order to entertain family and friends and generally overindulge. Many people like to organise James Bond themed parties for New Year and if you’re planning on seeing in 2007 in this way then don’t forget to make sure you have stocked up on the ingredients for some of the basics at least.

So with that in mind the James Bond Cocktail Bar presents a selection of 007’s favourite drinks and how to mix them perfectly. And as well as drinks from the films we’ve also included some classic drinks that are mentioned in the books but never made the transition to celluloid.

We hope you enjoy this book as much as we have enjoyed compiling it.

Cheers!

P.S. If you like this book remember to send it to your friends.

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COCKTAIL RECIPES

The Vesper

3 measures of Gordon's gin1 measure of vodka½ measure of Kina Lillet

Shake until ice cold and serve in a deep champagne goblet with a large thin slice of lemon peel

The recipe that appears in the film is exactly the same as the drink that James Bond orders in Ian Fleming’s book.

There are a couple of problems with this recipe though, the first being that Kina Lillet hasn’t been available for years; the product name was first changed to plain Lillet, and later Lillet Blanc. But more importantly the product was reformulated in the 1980s to make it less bitter by reducing the quinine content, so even if you do buy Lillet Blanc (or Lillet Blonde as it is called in some territories) the taste will be different.

The second problem is simply that the alcohol content of Gordon’s gin has been reduced since the book was first published. Gordon’s is just 37.5% alcohol by volume, a shadow of its former self, and these two changes affect both the flavour and the strength of the drink.

A solution to these problems proposed by David Wondrich in Esquire magazine is to change the ingredients slightly:

•Use Tanqueray instead of Gordon’s gin•100-proof Stolichnaya vodka•Replace Kina Lillet with Lillet Blanc•Use 1/8 teaspoon quinine powder to restore the Kina to Lillet - or 2 dashes of bitters can be used as a last resort

Kina Lillet and the Vesper

● Information about Kina Lillet

● Read the Esquire article

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Vodka Martini

3 measures of vodka½ measure of dry vermouth

Shake until ice cold and serve in a martini glass with a slice of lemon peel

Although some people assume that James Bond’s vodka martini is the Vesper, this is incorrect. Bond himself instructs Solitaire in Live And Let Die, the second book, on the proportions as given above - he doesn’t stipulate “shaken, not stirred” though until Dr No.

Dry Martini

3 measures of gin1/2 measure of dry vermouth

Stir with ice and serve in a martini glass with an olive or slice of lemon peel

Although most people associate 007 with the Vodka martini due to it featuring so prominently in the films, the literary Bond also drinks traditional Dry Martinis made with gin. Fleming doesn’t specify how dry he likes his martinis, so you can adjust the amount of vermouth to taste.

Black Velvet

½ Guinness½ Champagne

Serve in a large Champagne glass or a pint glass

Bond mentions this to Bill Tanner, who he offers to take to lunch at Scott’s to go with the dressed crab.

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Stinger

½ Cognac½ White Crème de Menthe

Shake well and strain

From the book Diamonds Are Forever - 007 and Tiffany Case drink these after dining in New York.

Americano

1 measure of Campari1 measure of CinzanoPerrier soda water1 large slice of lemon peel

Pour the Campari and Cinzano over ice in a glass, top up with soda water and add the slice of lemon.

Bond orders an Americano on several occasions in the books and it is noteworthy as it is the first drink he orders in the book Casino Royale. We also learn, in From A View To A Kill, that Bond thinks that the cheapest way to improve a poor drink is with expensive soda water, hence specifying Perrier.

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CHAMPAGNE

James Bond actually drinks champagne more often than vodka martinis in the films, although you’d hardly think so. Although he drank Dom Perignon in the early years, Bollinger has been associated with the 007 franchise since A View To A Kill when it first appeared in the closing credits.

Bond’s Champagnes from both books and films include:

•Bollinger – he orders the Grand Année in Casino Royale•Dom Perignon•Krug•Pommery•Taittinger Brut Blanc de Blanc•Veuve Clicquot (including rosé)

Champagne is always good to be drunk on special occasions, but in the short story 007 in New York Ian Fleming gives a recipe for Scrambled Eggs James Bond which he specifies should be served with pink champagne (Taittinger) and low music.

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SPIRITS

WhiskeyAlthough Bond drinks a few whiskeys in the films, it turns out to be his favourite drink in the books – and that includes Champagne and vodka martinis. His top choice is bourbon – Old Grandad is mentioned – but he also drinks a few glasses of scotch and soda too.

Often Bond drinks bourbon with branch water, specifying 50/50 when asked, but more usually bourbon on the rocks – think of the scene in Casino Royale when he is cleaning up after the fight in the stairwell when he knocks back a tumbler in one, that is pure Ian Fleming.

Vodka and ginAs well as drinking it in his martinis, Bond likes vodka both neat as well as with tonic (and sometime with angostura bitters). He also drinks gin and tonic.

Often accompanying caviar, the vodka must be served chilled. Bond also sometimes has the habit of sprinkling black pepper on the surface of the vodka to take the fusil oils to the bottom of the glass, a trick he picked up in Russia.

SakeRemember the numerous glasses of sake he downs in You Only Live Twice – just remember to serve it at correct temperature, 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Actually, Bond was wrong. There is no correct temperature for sake and higher temperatures are usually associated with the low-grade stuff. High quality sake is often said to be best enjoyed at

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room temperature, although you can also chill it slightly.

Other drinks

•Brandy - tends to be treated medicinally or carried in a flask mixed with coffee in the books or served with soda or ginger ale•Raki•Ouzo

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The James Bond Cocktail Bar

THE SIMPLE BAR NECESSITIES

Equipment•Cocktail shaker•Strainer•Stirring spoon•Standard measure

Glasses•Martini glasses•Tumblers•Highball glasses•Champagne flutes•Wine glasses

Raw materials•Selection of spirits (according to what you are planning to serve)•Mixers (tonic water, soda water)•Beer•Selection of juices•Mineral water•Plenty of ice

Preparing lemon peel slices•Cut the ends off a fresh lemon•Remove the pulp with a spoon•With a sharp knife, cut empty peel lengthways into quarter-inch strips•Serve with Vesper or Vodka Martini

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RESOURCES

Obtaining ingredients onlineAlthough most of the drinks in the book are easy to find you also have the option of buying online. And one ingredient, Lillet, is so difficult to buy at the moment that your only choice my be the web.

We’ve found two websites where you can buy Lillet, one in the United Kingdom and the other in the United States – between them you should be able to order wherever you live in the world.

The Drink Shop - UK, also ships to Europe

Morrell Wine - USA, will ship worldwide (minimum non-US order value $200)

Further reading

•The James Bond Dossier •MI6.co.uk •Make Mine a 007…

This ebook is in no way associated with Ian Fleming Publications, EON Productions, Danjaq LLC, Sony, MGM or United Artists. Recipe extracts from novels copyright Ian Fleming Publications.

Original content copyright © 2006 The James Bond Cocktail Bar

Date of this version (1.6): 6 December 2006

The James Bond Cocktail Bar is free to download and distribute in its entirety only, provided no charge is made for doing so. Click here for the latest version.

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