Video: James Bond’s Vodka Martini – shaken, not stirred

5 Responses to “Video: James Bond’s Vodka Martini – shaken, not stirred”

• Steve
  October 21st, 2010 at 21:45

  So good! Vespers are even better!

• M
  October 22nd, 2010 at 10:46

  That’s coming soon too!

• James
  October 25th, 2010 at 13:51

  The recipe – 6:1 – was mentioned in Live and Let Die if my memory serves me right. I don’t recall that shaking the martini was recommended however – that’s just something that appeared in the movies. I’m a big fan of dry martinis. My recommendation is don’t shake – stir instead: stops the ice watering down the spirits. Also, use at least three measures of gin/vodka. As for the vermouth, can’t recall if Flemming recommends a brand but I’m sure if it did it wouldn’t be Martini. Try Noilly Prat – from France, very Bond. Don’t mix the vermouth with the gin/vodka – just pour it over the ice, stir and then tip away. Then pour the spirits on the ice and stir gently until ice cold. Serve as suggested in video although my preference would be an olive to garnish. That’s how to make a martini worthy of a man with the tastes of bond.

• M
  October 25th, 2010 at 14:17

  @James – in Live And Let Die the Solitaire brought the vodka martini in a cocktail shaker with two glasses, implying that it was stirred. Also, there are several occasions that Bond specifies his martinis – both vodka and gin – to be shaken.

  Fleming mentions Cresta Blanca vermouth in Diamonds Are Forever, when he is in New York.

  Also, if you mix the martini as you specify then then you’re not getting a 6:1 martini – by discarding the vermouth you end up with an extra dry martini.

• James
  October 25th, 2010 at 15:09

  I bow to your superior knowledge on the issue. Shame Cresta Blanca vermouth is no longer made – I would have tried some on the recommendations of Felix.