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Discover, Sip, Repeat: Your Adventure Begins Here
This week sees the release of the new 007 film and in true SplitsDrinks fashion we shall be celebrating with a tipple. The chap certainly enjoyed a drink, and that is putting it lightly, the 007 Museum states in the books “Bond’s drinks per-page ratio is one drink every seven pages”. While in the Bond Cocktails book it suggests that “in You Only Live Twice novel he knocked back 225 units of alcohol. That's the equivalent of 113 vodka martinis”. With that much to drink he sounds like a man with a terrible aim! We suggest consuming in moderation while watching the film or reading the books.
Albeit his drinking problem he does drink well, so in this week’s blog we look at a range of cocktails he enjoys, with recipes, so you can make at home.
We start with one of the most well known cocktails from the books and films, The Vesper Martini. This cocktail gained glory in the Casino Royale books where Bond quotes ‘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 orange peel’.
Although one of the most famous cocktails, he only drank it once throughout all of the books, often preferring a vodka martini. Plus many of the ingredients you may struggle to find today, Gordon’s has changed their recipe and now is a bit rubbish, Kina Lillet no longer exists but you can use Lillet Blanc instead. When mixed it is a strong one so go steady!
60ml Hemmng’s Gin
20ml RK Vodka
10ml Lillet Blanc
Long zest of lemon
In traditional Bond style, shake gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc with ice. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass, express oils from the lemon zest and place into the drink.
You may have thought of Bond as more of a martini drinker but he did enjoy whisky and soda, and in the books he manages to knock back 21 of them in total! Thunderball starts with him having a bit of a hazy head after consuming 11 of them!
Scotch and soda had fallen out of fashion for a long period, but its popularity has been on the rise in recent times. The addition of water to a whisky can really enhance some of the flavours and the edition of sparkling water brings an effervescence to the drink. Served long as a highball with ice, lemon and maybe a touch of ginger it makes for a very refreshing drink!
50ml The Ardmore Legacy
Topped with Snobs Ginger
Lemon slice
Fill a highball glass with ice, add whisky and top with the ginger soda. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
James Bond is a fan of the classics and this is one of the best! He was a massive fan of bourbon already as it crept up 37 times in the books, while consuming 4 old fashioneds. Unfortunately they do not appear in any of the films, which is a damned shame!
This cocktail dates back to the 19th century, where alongside drinks like the Sazerac it was a blend of whiskey, bitters, sugar and water. When it became popular again people asked for an old fashioned, hence the name.
50ml Woodford Reserve
Few dash of Angostura Bitters
12.5ml Sugar syrup
Orange zest
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until the correct dilution is achieved. Fine strain into a rocks glass with a few ice cubes and garnish with the orange zest.
A cocktail that doesn’t appear very often in many bars in the UK but is very popular in northern regions of Italy. This is actually the first cocktail that Bond orders in Casino Royale, while waiting for Vesper and Mathis in the Hermitage Bar. The cocktail also features twice in From Russia With Love.
For you astute cocktail aficionados amongst us you will see that this cocktail bears some resemblance to the negroni. Originating in Milan, It predates the negroni and swaps the gin for soda water.
25ml Campari
25ml Sweet Vermouth
Snobs Classic Soda Water
Orange Slice
Nice and simple, add Campari, vermouth to a highball glass filled with ice. Top with soda water and stir to combine, garnish with a slice of orange.
Now the drinks are sorted, I will leave you to don your best tux or cocktail dress and invite the neighbours over for a 007 inspired evening.
Cheers!
