007, James Bond  & Martinis

James Bond, created by Ian Fleming, has always been associated with tuxedos, exotic locales, evil villains, new gadgets, beautiful women, champagne and of course the MARTINI!

James Bond & Cocktails
Trivia & Quotes

A book could be written on the role and references to alcohol and drinks in both the written and on screen versions of Ian Flemings "James Bond".

Here are some of our favorite quotes and Bond drink trivia.

• JAMES BOND: "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. This drink is my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name."
  --Ian Fleming, Casino Royale

• James Bond's first Cocktail
  Not a Martini, but the Americano from Casino Royale: The first of the many Bond martini references (the Vesper) begins in the same book, but after the Americano
• James Bond's first Martini:
  Author Ian Fleming gives a recipe for Bond's preferred libation in his first 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, and then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?"
  
  Bond refers to this drink as the Vesper after the beautiful, and doomed double agent. (note: Kina Lillet is a brand of vermouth).
  
• “I take a ridiculous pleasure in what I eat and drink.”—James Bond

• Champagne, and not the Martini, is the most consumed alcohol in the film versions of Bond
  
• Trevelyan: “I might as well ask you if all the vodka martinis ever silence the screams of all the men you’ve killed...” GoldenEye (1995)
  
• In Diamonds are Forever (1971) when Mr. Kidd attacks Bond with the flaming skewers of shish kebab, Bond breaks a bottle of Courvosier and sprays the contents on the henchman. The cognac catches fire, immobilizing Mr. Kidd
  
• From Dr No (1962) 
  Dr. No: “A medium dry martini, lemon peel, shaken, not stirred.”
  Bond: Vodka?”
  Dr. No: “Of course.”    
• Sheryl Crow’s “Tomorrow Never Dies” is the first Bond theme song to mention 007’s favorite beverage, with the line “Martinis, girls and guns.”
• From Goldeneye: 007’s first meeting with M:
  M: “Would you care for a drink?”
  Bond: “Thank you. Your predecessor kept some Cognac in the top drawer of—”
  M: “I prefer bourbon. Ice?”
  Bond: "yes”
  M goes to the cabinet behind her desk, pours two drinks from a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Black Label.

Note: Jack Daniel’s is not a bourbon, but a Tennessee whiskey. (Tennessee whiskey is filtered through maple charcoal after it has been aged in the barrel)

SHAKEN vs STIRRED, which is the right method? The debate continues.

James Bond - "Shake it until it's ice cold" ....

Read the complete article on the 'Shaken vs Stirred' debate »