588778 Sun Jan 18 02:24:20 -0800 2009 20 36 Spirits 0 4335966 here you can find the recipes to emulate bond's drinks http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1858088,00.html Sun Jan 18 02:24:20 -0800 2009 105717 alkapal 1 4336098 But why would you want to? I disagree with the article that Ian Fleming had style when it came to drinks. Except that Bond liked Bollinger and mint juleps. Otherwise most of the drinks he ordered were nothing special and the whole vodka martini thing set cocktails back 50 years. Sun Jan 18 06:15:51 -0800 2009 4335966 10732 JMF 2 4336525 cocktails set back 50 years? surely you jest. i posted the article for the pop culture aspect as much as the recipes. and in the original ian fleming novels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Fleming , bond drank gin martinis. as this time article notes, the movie producers -- not fleming -- introduced a vodka martini and "rewrote the liquor guidelines in Fleming's books." maybe i recall one or two juleps, but not his regular choice -- he was a guest. the other films***, and their drink promotions, are just made up. (i don't recall a rum collins in thunderball, but it has been a while since i read that.), bollinger, you don't drink that, either? ;-). *** NOT IN ORIGINAL FLEMING NOVEL (IIRC) Vesper Martini (Casino Royale). (?) (Rum Collins (Thunderball) YEP. Mint Julep (Goldfinger) (?) Gluhwein (For Your Eyes Only) NO SUCH FLEMING NOVEL Mojito (Die Another Day) NO SUCH FLEMING NOVEL Spicy Bloody Mary (Never Say Never Again) NO SUCH FLEMING NOVEL Bond Does Beer (License to Kill) apparently "quantum of solace" was a fleming short story. Sun Jan 18 10:16:41 -0800 2009 4336098 105717 alkapal 3 4336984 The Vesper was indeed written in Casino Royale. "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?" "Certainly, monsieur." The barman seemed pleased with the idea. "Gosh, that's certainly a drink," said Leiter. Bond laughed. "When I'm...er...concentrating," he explained, "I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name." The vodka martini's rise to prominence is very easily traced: the first Bond movie, Dr. No. Smirnoff paid a handsome sum to be featured quite prominently in the movie. Sun Jan 18 13:26:50 -0800 2009 4336525 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 4 4337008 aah, jk, thank you for that! have you ever tried it? it wasn't called a vesper martini, though, was it? smirnoff's "handsome sum" seems to have been a great investment, wouldn't you say? any idea how much they paid? Sun Jan 18 13:39:35 -0800 2009 4336984 105717 alkapal 5 4337333 I have tried it. It's a nice variation on the regular martini. To really get it right you want to use Tanqueray (the Gordon's in America is only 80 proof, Tanqueray is 92), and 100 proof vodka. Kina Lillet can't be found anymore, so Lillet Blanc works perfectly well in its place. 3 ounces Tanqueray gin 1 ounce 100 proof vodka 1/2 ounce Lillet Blanc Shake well with ice, strain into martini glass, garnish with lemon twist. I have no idea how much they paid for the product placement, but the investment has surely paid for itself many times over at this point. As for how it got its name... Bond: "I think I'll call it a Vesper." Vesper Lynd: "Because of the bitter aftertaste?" Bond: "No, because once you've tasted it, that's all you want to drink." Sun Jan 18 16:27:37 -0800 2009 4337008 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 6 4337542 I understand that Kina Lillet was quite bitter -- perhaps you could add several dashes of orange bitters (Regan's, which are actually somewhat bitter) to get closer to the original? Sun Jan 18 18:10:36 -0800 2009 4337333 65478 davis_sq_pro 7 4363182 David Wondrich suggests adding some quinine powder to today's version of Lillet to better replicate Kina Lillet. I know everyone has a pantry full of quinine powder burning a hole in their cabinets, but nonetheless it would be interesting to try ... http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1106DRINKS_84 Tue Jan 27 14:16:57 -0800 2009 4337542 111905 skb104 8 4365015 I don't have any quinine, but I do have Cinchona bark at work. (I'm slowly working on my gin recipe.) I think a 1/4 oz steeped in a bottle for 3-4 days would work well. Wed Jan 28 07:14:52 -0800 2009 4363182 10732 JMF 9 4372411 I tried steeping Cinchona in some Lillet Blanc. The results were okay but I couldn't find a balance that I like. I will warn you that a 3-4 steep will be much too long. I steeped for 10-20 minutes and found the 10 minute batch added the desired bitterness. You can read my full bit on my site if you want more details. http://cocktailhacker.com/?p=705 Fri Jan 30 07:44:14 -0800 2009 4365015 185532 ShadowedOne 6 4337572 jk, you are good! i have all my bond paperbacks squirreled away in the basement. you have casino royale at hand. gordon's gin is ok quality-wise here for other gin drinks? or do you need 100 proof for all gin drinks? i always loved the double entendres in bond's dialogues! Bond: "I think I'll call it a Vesper." Vesper Lynd: "Because of the bitter aftertaste?" Bond: "No, because once you've tasted it, that's all you want to drink." "oh, jaaaaaames!" ;-). Sun Jan 18 18:24:55 -0800 2009 4337333 105717 alkapal 7 4338643 Davis: Ah, there's the rub with bitters- most of them aren't all that bitter. I can't say one way or the other with the Regan's bitters since I haven't had them yet, but when you say "bitter" and I'm behind the stick, I instinctively reach for Campari. Try rinsing the mixing glass with Campari; a little is going to go a very long way. Alkapal: I think that Gordon's is OK (I'm quite happy to have it as the house gin where I work), but the American bottling is neutered to 80 proof, allegedly to fit American tastes. I say they're just being cheap with the active ingredient, much like the 70-proof Three Olives flavored vodkas. That's why I recommend Tanqueray: American Tanqueray is closer to British Gordon's than American Gordon's is. You certainly can use Gordon's and the vodka you have on the shelf and it will still be a marvelous tipple, but the one with Tanqueray and 100 proof vodka is going to be closer to what 007 would have actually drank. I just keep the important bits of trivia such as that line on hand for such occasions ;-) Mon Jan 19 09:12:17 -0800 2009 4337572 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 8 4383736 JK has the knowing of it re: the Gordons, which used to be 94 proof. I personally prefer using Hendricks with (Vya or Lillet) for my Vesper. Regan's (iirc from Kentucky) has good bitterness and I like it a lot. In fact there is a story that he had to redo his recipe multiple times before he was "allowed" to market it because they powers that be didn't want people trying to drink it straight since it is typically sold in non ABC stores. Tue Feb 03 10:11:44 -0800 2009 4338643 83832 fussycouple 9 4384496 It's more than just ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control for those without them) stores. Bitters fall into two categories, potable and non-potable. Campari is an excellent example of a potable bitter, and Angostura is considered non-potable. If it's potable, it's treated like any other alcoholic beverage by the laws in your state. Non-potable bitters are treated like ordinary grocery items; they aren't taxed at the same rate as alcohol, and you can buy it if you're under 21. Regan did indeed have to re-work the recipe to make it non-potable; for Gaz's full story, go to http://ardentspirits.com/rob.aspx and look toward the bottom of the page. Tue Feb 03 13:39:13 -0800 2009 4383736 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 10 4389332 jk, "aromatic bitters" i presume are the non-potable type? or not necessarily? (i just saw a dip recipe using them...a seafood-y dip, iirc.). Thu Feb 05 05:47:46 -0800 2009 4384496 105717 alkapal 11 4390717 They mean Angostura but didn't want to specify a brand name. Thu Feb 05 12:36:00 -0800 2009 4389332 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 6 4368525 jk, i see the mods removed my portion of our gin discussion -- not sure why? anyhow, mr. alka just returned from london heathrow, and was unable to get gordon's 100 proof gin in duty-free. Thu Jan 29 06:08:55 -0800 2009 4337333 105717 alkapal 3 4347261 "Quantum of Solace" (set in Naussau and featuring cigars and brandy) was indeed a short story by Ian Fleming, as you point out. So, too, were "Octopussy" (brandy & ginger ale), "The Living Daylights" (Haig Dimple Pinch Scotch Whisky), "From a View to a Kill" (an Americano), "For Your Eyes Only" (Bond is drinking coffee and brandy from a thermos) . . . Thu Jan 22 08:05:31 -0800 2009 4336525 28122 zin1953 1 4346545 Nonono, you see, this is how James Bond drinks http://007.atomicmartinis.com/ Champagne, all the way. Wed Jan 21 21:48:35 -0800 2009 4335966 154307 Xaga 2 4346830 boy howdy, xaga, you hit the nail on the head. what a great site. thank you! thankyouverymuch. ;-). Thu Jan 22 05:08:39 -0800 2009 4346545 105717 alkapal 1 4392616 Thanks Alk. DT Fri Feb 06 06:56:29 -0800 2009 4335966 11291 Davwud