Thinkin' About Some Drinkin'

I love the new James Bond flick. Easily my favorite of all the Bond films for many reasons. I'll be discussing all this on an upcoming podcast with the mighty Golfwidow.

However, one subject we'll be chatting about on our NEXT podcast is one of our favorite subjects - ALCOHOL!

I discuss, among other things, the little-known fact that the James Bond Martini (his classic "Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred") is actually a gin drink with Vodka in it. In fact, it also has WINE in the glass.



Long before people were mixing martinis with vodka instead of gin, which is technically a Vodkatini, for you purists out there, a "Vodka Martini" was a gin martini that had vodka as an ingredient. See a true martini is made with gin. Therefore a vodka MARTINI would be a gin drink with some vodka in it.

Here is the recipe for the actual James Bond Martini, as written by Ian Fleming himself in the book, Casino Royale.

In an ice filled cocktail shaker add..

3 oz. Gin (Tanqueray preferred)
1 oz. Vodka (Stolichnaya preferred)
1/2 oz. Kina Lillet Blanc
Shake well. Strain and pour.
Garnish with a lemon peel.

Among the MANY reasons why I love the new Bond film so much is that it remained true to the Ian Fleming recipe and the drink is rattled off word-for-word so as to knock out any confusion. There's even a great scene later where James orders a Vodka Martini and the bartender asks, "Shaken not stirred?" Bond simply shakes it off with, "Oh I don't care. It doesn't make a difference." He does, however, drink the Ian Fleming drink several times and even gives it a more recognizable name, The Vesper.

A great variation of the Bond martini uses...

1 oz. Bombay Sapphire gin
2 oz. Stolichnaya Gold vodka
1/2 oz Kina Lillet Blanc
Shake, strain, and pour using the lemon peel as a garnish.

Please see Casino Royale. Better yet, see the film and later enjoy a TRUE James Bond Martini, a traditional gin martini with a few slight differences.

Oh yeah, and I suppose since I'm regaling you with James Bond trivia, perhaps you were completely unaware that the first on-screen portrayal of James Bond in any medium was on a live 1954 television program called "Climax" (also known as Climax Mystery Theater).

The episode was titled, "Casino Royale" and the first man to play card shark/secret agent, "Jimmy Bond", was Barry Nelson. The great Peter Lorre was also in this program.

It bears mentioning that the first Bond was an American.

Incidentally, the latest podcast is up and running.
Click HERE to listen to "Olive Juice."