Single hen

[Laura007]

was is the actual name of the vodka martini that james bond orders??

[Cate in NZ]

Haven't got a clue Laura...... but I wouldn't mind one myself right now. I think it'd go down a treat . Maybe I'd best hotfoot it off to the Omlet bar

[Guest]

was is the actual name of the vodka martini that james bond orders??

 

 

Ian Fleming gives a recipe for his Bond's preferred mix in the first Bond book, Casino Royale (1953), chapter 7:

 

"A dry martini," he 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?"

 

He calls this a vesper, after the beautiful double agent from the book

 

(n.b.: Kina Lillet is a brand of vermouth)

 

A traditional martini (as opposed to a vodka martini) is made with gin, dry vermouth and either an olive or a lemon peel. Nothing else. And a proper martini is stirred, not shaken.

 

A vodka martini substitutes vodka for the gin (or adds it to the gin, as Bond does) and sometimes allows other ingredients.

 

There are three main differences between a martini which has been stirred and one which has been shaken. First, a shaken martini is usually colder than one stirred, since the ice has had a chance to swish around the drink more. Second, shaking a martini dissolves air into the mix; this is the "bruising" of the gin you may have heard seasoned martini drinkers complain about--it makes a martini taste too "sharp." Third, a shaken martini will more completely dissolve the vermouth, giving a less oily mouth feel to the drink.

 

In a vodka martini, cold is key: a vodka martini that is not ice-cold tastes like lighter fluid. (not that I'd know what lighter fluid tastes like!! errr..) So you shake them. The experience of a traditional martini is more dependent on it being smooth and on not ruining the delicate flavors of the gin, so, it is traditionally stirred.

 

that may not answer your question - but now you know what to ask for at the bar - and why!!

 

 

Phil

[Laura007]

i saw a list of different martinis and it was bothering me something terrible that i couldnt remeber what it was called, being a bit of a bond fiend it was doubly irritating!

 

thanks very much, i can now go to sleep and not wake up at 3am when i finally remebered!

[Lesley-Jean]

Try this site Laura

 

http://users.nac.net/delliott/007/martinis_shaken_not_stirred.htm

[Louise]

Phil.................................................are you sure you're a vicar

[Eyren]

Mmm, gin - glad I have some tonic to go with my Bombay Sapphire

[Trish]

Phil you do show are very detailed knowledge of Martini varieties. Signs of a mis-spent youth?

[Guest]

Phil you do show are very detailed knowledge of Martini varieties. Signs of a mis-spent youth?

 

nah - my youth was spent drinking Cider & Black (how lethal was that!!) before graduating to real ale (everyone goes through that phase!)

 

who drinks Martini in their youth???

 

my martini knowledge (apart from the bit about Bond's mixture being called a vesper - and I don't know why I knew that - possibly a quiz night??) comes from my friend Google...

 

Phil (hic!)

[Cinnamon]

Phil ,it occurs to me that you would be a darn good man to have around on a quiz night.

I bet you know all sorts of stuff that just goes in one ear & out the other with all us other (normal) people