Vesper cocktail
The Vesper cocktail is one of the contemporary classics of gin cocktails. The drink was invented by Ian Fleming in the early 1950s. The writer is responsible for the James Bond novels. It is widely assumed that James Bond only drank shaken vodka martinis. But far from it. In Fleming's novels, James Bond shows himself to be a true connoisseur of mixed drinks. He orders scotch soda, vodka tonics, gin martinis and plenty of champagne.
In the first novel Casino Royal from 1953, Ian Fleming even has his secret service protagonist create his own cocktail. James Bond orders a drink from the barman consisting of three parts vodka, one part gin and half a part Kina Lillet. The drink is, of course, shaken. The spy in Her Majesty's service named the gin cocktail after his first great love, Vesper Lynd.
Today, you will find it difficult to mix the Vesper cocktail as described. The choice of gin is easy. The author has specified Gordon's. Any good London gin will do just as well. The vodka should also come from the premium segment. However, Kina Lillet is rarely the right choice. It is simply no longer produced. The new Lillet doesn't even come close to the flavour of the Kina Lillet. As an alternative, we can recommend the Cocchi Americano, for example.
Vesper cocktail recipe
6 cl gin
2 cl vodka
1 cl Kina Lillet
Shake all ingredients vigorously, pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a thin lemon zest.
Photo from Mary White-Cornell
