A martini, shaken, not stirred.
SEAN CONNERY
Scottish actor
1930—2020
As the character James Bond in the 1964 film Goldfinger written by Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn
A Bonding Experience
There are few fictional characters whose place in the pantheon of contemporary culture is as global or as intergenerational as British author Ian Fleming’s master spy, James Bond. While many actors have played 007 in film, Sean Connery set the standard as both the first to do so and as the one who is arguably most linked to the role along with that famous cocktail order.
Vesper in My Ear
There are arguably few quotes more memorialized than Bond’s classic martini preference. Yet, the original concoction in Fleming’s first 007 novel, Casino Royale (1953) was far from the normal martini. Sitting at the casino bar upon his initial meeting with CIA agent Felix Leiter, 007 is transfixed by his soon-to-be love (or lust) interest—the original Bond girl—Vesper Lynd.
After ordering a dry martini, Bond stops the bartender as he changes his mind and says:
“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?”
Noting Leiter’s reaction to this unusual order, Bond adds:
“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 think of a good name.”
A few pages later in the novel while noshing with Lynd, Bond comes up with that name—The Vesper.
Bond—James Bond
Casino Royale did, however, give us that the other famous quote when 007 introduces himself as, “Bond—James Bond”
The first time Bond creates the ingredients of the tagline for his favorite cocktail (though not the exact quote) was in Fleming’s third novel, 1958’s Dr. No, when he says “I would like a medium Vodka dry Martini—with a slice of lemon peel. Shaken and not stirred, please. I would prefer Russian or Polish vodka.”
Over the course of six decades the British bad boy has placed his trademark order countless times in the film adaptations of Fleming’s novels.
More Quotable Than Most
In 2005, the American Film Institute (AFI) presented its list of the top 100 quotes from American cinema’s first century. “Bond—James Bond” ranked twenty-second and was first uttered by Britain’s most famous operative in the film franchise’s initial offering, Dr. No, in 1962.
“A martini, shaken, not stirred” placed ninetieth on the AFI’s list appearing on the screen for the first time in the 1964 film, Goldfinger—the third movie made for the big screen. The spy’s mention of the drink did occur in Dr. No but was slightly different from its famous cousin, when Bond orders, “A medium dry martini, lemon peel, shaken, not stirred.”
Martini Mixology
For those who don’t partake of the pleasures of a well-made cocktail, a martini is typically crafted with either gin or vodka (not both) and vermouth. The traditional blend calls for two parts to one of these spirits. Bitters are sometimes in the mix. In addition, a twist of lemon peel or an olive can garnish the cocktail. And don’t forget the ice—strained from the shaker as the drink is poured into a classic martini glass.
While the exact origin of the martini is murky, what may be the first recipe to appear in print came in 1907. The World’s Drinks And How To Mix Them credits Los Angeles bartender Charlie Shaw with the gin-based version above.
By the onset of the Roaring Twenties the martini’s popularity was well established. Prohibition in the United States made it a cocktail of choice thanks to the availability of illegal gin. This also led to increasing the proportion of gin to vermouth, creating Bond’s classic dry martini, shaken, not stirred.
On the other hand, The Vesper switches out vermouth for Kina Lillet—a quinine-based French wine apéritif which is no longer produced. One could come close to The Vesper’s original mix by either using the sweeter French Lillet Blanc along with a splash of Angostura bitters or simply going with the Italian Cocchi Americano as the apéritif’s stand in.
Variations on the Theme
Bond felt compelled to riff on the classic when he concocted The Vesper. Likewise, others have felt the need to add their twist on the martini.
Some variations don’t wander far from the original. A dirty martini simply adds olive brine to the recipe. A Gibson replaces the olive with a cocktail onion.
Although cinematic Bonds kept ordering his dry martini beyond Sean Connery, the martini itself fell out of vogue at drinkeries. Consequently, by the 1970s, the traditional martini and other classic cocktail orders became relegated to paper placemats at diners.
Then, in 1980s, a variety of libations began to co-opt the martini tag. Most had nothing in common with the namesake other than the glasses in which they were served.
Carrie Bradshaw’s Cosmopolitan is a prime example. In addition, other concoctions simply took the “tini”, some vodka, and were served in the classic stemware. Appletinis, bacontinis, peach martinis, espresso martinis are not martinis at all.
Of course, none of this detracts from either their enjoyment or popularity.
Can’t Keep a Classic Down!
Public taste, or the arguable lack of it, may change over time. Traditionalists may shudder at what others call innovation. Cynics may point to changing tastes as mere corporate manipulation of public perception whereby quality becomes collateral damage to profit.
However, purists have something to cheer about. Classic cocktails, like the martini, have had a resurgence both at local watering holes and in print.
Consequently, let’s be less judgmental about each other’s preferences. For, as those wise Romans of old noted: De gustibus non est disputandum—There’s no disputing taste!
Portions of this article are excerpted from Ian Makay’s Food for Thought: The Pleasures of the Table: Primi Piatti.
How About YOU!
Are you a purist, an innovator, or an abstainer? What’s your favorite martini and/or pseudo-martini? Or do you have some other favorite libation—classic or contemporary? Like Bond, are you very particular about how your cocktail is crafted? Have you read Ian Fleming’s books or are you simply a Bond movie lover? What’s your favorite Bond book, movie, villain, or character?
We wanna know! Join the conversation below and tell the world your thoughts!
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8 Responses
I’m a fan of the Bond films, particularly those starring Sean Connery. Among them, “Goldfinger” holds the top spot as my favorite Bond movie.
Definitely a movie that left an impression on me and made me a fan of Sean Connery. Though I’ve enjoyed all the movies in the series and the many actors who’ve played Bond, Connery and Daniel Craig feel truest to the character Ian Fleming created.
Fascinating article about Martini. Although I watch Bond movies, I have never been big on the Martini, but surely it would have to be shaken and not stirred.
Wise choice! 😉
Good blog you have here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality writing like yours these days.
I truly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Thanks so much!