Vesper
Bond's drink, from your freezer
About this cocktail
Ian Fleming wrote the Vesper into the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1953. Three ingredients: London gin, vodka, and Lillet (or, since the original Kina Lillet was discontinued in 1986, Cocchi Americano as the modern stand-in). Bond's specification was "shaken until ice-cold." As a freezer batch the cold is built in, and the high spirit content keeps the bottle perfectly pourable. The Cocchi Americano carries quinine bitterness that backs off in the freezer, leaving a cleaner, more spirit-forward Vesper than the shaken-with-ice version.
Pick a cocktail to batch
Shaken citrus drinks pick up more water from ice. Spirit-forward stirred drinks need less; freezer batches often need none.
Your Batch
Aim for around 22% ABV or higher to keep the batch pourable in the freezer.
Remove this much spirit to make room. Save it for later.
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At Serve
How to serve
Pour into a chilled martini glass or coupe. Express lemon peel over drink.
Best within: 3+ months
Cocchi Americano is an aromatized wine like vermouth — its freshness is the limit, not the spirits.
Pro Tips
- + Cocchi Americano is the proper substitute for discontinued Kina Lillet
- + No water needed - this is meant to be spirit-forward
- + Express a lemon peel over the glass when serving
- + Use a quality London Dry gin
Avoid These
- − Using Lillet Blanc (it's sweeter than original Kina Lillet)
- − Adding water or over-diluting
For Hosts
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