Vesper Martini - James Bond's Cocktail from Casino Royale
Published: 04.09.2026
The Vesper Martini is a dry and strong cocktail made with gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc. It was introduced in Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale from 1953, where James Bond himself describes the recipe and later names the drink after Vesper Lynd.
- Servings
- 1 cocktail
- Prep
- 1 min
- Cook
- 4 min
Ingredients
- 45 ml gin
- 15 ml vodka
- 7.5 ml Lillet Blanc
- A wide lemon zest
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass or Nick & Nora glass.
- Add gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc to a shaker.
- Fill the shaker well with ice.
- Shake vigorously until the cocktail is very cold.
- Double strain into the chilled glass.
- Squeeze the oils from a wide lemon zest over the drink.
- Place the zest in the glass or along the rim.
History
In Casino Royale, James Bond orders three parts Gordon's gin, one part vodka, and half a part Kina Lillet. The drink is to be shaken very cold and served with a large, thin slice of lemon. The ratio corresponds to the modern IBA recipe of 45 ml gin, 15 ml vodka, and 7.5 ml Lillet Blanc.
Bond initially calls his drink a "special martini." Later, he requests to name it after Vesper Lynd.
Who is Vesper Lynd?
Vesper Lynd is a fictional British intelligence officer and one of the key characters in Casino Royale. In the novel, she works for MI6's Station S and is sent to assist Bond in his mission against Le Chiffre. In the 2006 film, played by Eva Green, she is dispatched from the British Treasury to oversee the money Bond uses in the poker tournament. She is intelligent, sharp, and skeptical of Bond, but their relationship develops into love. Her story has significant implications for Bond's later personality and his relationship with trust.
Kina Lillet Today
Kina Lillet no longer exists in the form Fleming described in 1953. Today's official IBA recipe uses Lillet Blanc. It is less bitter than the historical variant, and some bartenders use Cocchi Americano for a more pronounced quinine flavor.
A Cocktail Born from a Novel
The Vesper Martini has an unusual origin because it first became known through literature. In Casino Royale, Bond gives the bartender a precise order: three parts Gordon's gin, one part vodka, and half a part Kina Lillet. The drink is to be shaken very cold and served with a large, thin slice of lemon.
The recipe differs from a classic Dry Martini, which typically consists of gin and dry vermouth. The Vesper uses both gin and vodka, while the aromatized wine Kina Lillet replaces the vermouth. The scaled recipe of 45 ml gin, 15 ml vodka, and 7.5 ml Lillet Blanc corresponds to today's official IBA recipe.
Who Was Vesper Lynd?
Vesper Lynd is the woman after whom the cocktail is named. In Ian Fleming's novel, she is a British intelligence officer from MI6's Station S who is assigned to help Bond with the mission against Le Chiffre. They pretend to be a couple at the casino, and Bond eventually falls genuinely in love with her.
In the 2006 film, the role is somewhat altered. There, Vesper, played by Eva Green, is a representative of the British Treasury and is tasked with safeguarding the state's money during the poker tournament. She meets Bond's arrogance with sharpness and skepticism, but she also becomes the person who affects him most emotionally. Therefore, the name of the drink encompasses more than just a Bond reference.
What Happened to Kina Lillet?
Kina Lillet was an aromatized wine with quinine and a more pronounced bitterness than today's Lillet Blanc. The product was reformulated, and the modern variant is milder and less bitter.
Lillet Blanc still works well but provides a softer Vesper. Cocchi Americano is sometimes used as an alternative because it has more bitterness and a quinine character.
Gin and Vodka Together
Gin gives the drink its botanical foundation with juniper, citrus, and herbs. Vodka adds strength and a cleaner alcohol profile. The combination makes the cocktail both aromatic and very dry.
A strong London Dry gin works well. The vodka should be clean and relatively neutral so that it does not compete with the gin.
Why Is It Shaken?
Classic Martinis are usually stirred, but Bond explicitly requests that the Vesper be shaken. Shaking cools the drink quickly and adds a bit more dilution and aeration.
The result is ice-cold and somewhat less silky than a stirred Martini. This is part of the cocktail's identity.
The Lemon Peel Is Important
A wide lemon zest adds aromatic oils that open up the drink. Squeeze the oils over the surface and place the peel in the glass or along the rim.
The Vesper Martini should be served immediately. It has no ice in the glass and warms up quickly.
A Cocktail That Requires Moderation
The recipe contains almost only alcoholic ingredients and has a high strength. Therefore, it should be served in a moderate portion and enjoyed slowly.
Sources
Photos
Note: Information may contain errors. Always verify important facts yourself.
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