Vesper

Gin, vodka, Lillet Blanc, lemon twist. The cocktail Ian Fleming wrote into Casino Royale in 1953 and James Bond ordered into the cultural canon. Boozy, dry, slightly bitter, properly cold.

Vesper

4.33 from 31 votes

Calories: 266kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 3

The Vesper, also known as the Vesper Martini, is a cocktail created by author Ian Fleming for his famous character James Bond. Introduced in Fleming's novel Casino Royale in 1953, the drink is named after the fictional double agent Vesper Lynd, who is a love interest of Bond.

When Bond orders his signature drink, he specifies the exact ingredients and preparation method: "A dry martini. One. 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."

While traditional Martini recipes are typically stirred, the Vesper is shaken due to its higher alcohol content. With four ounces of liquor and an additional half-ounce of Lillet, the shaking process helps dilute the drink, making it more palatable.

The decision to shake the Vesper may also serve a literary purpose, emphasizing Bond as a strong and hard-drinking secret agent. The vigorous shaking ensures the drink is ice-cold, masking the taste of the alcohol as it goes down.

Bond claims to never have more than one drink before dinner, but he prefers that drink to be substantial. However, if you prefer a less potent cocktail, you can reduce the volume while maintaining the original proportions of the ingredients.

Whether you choose to enjoy a full-strength Vesper or a lighter version, the cocktail offers a glimpse into Bond's sophisticated and daring lifestyle, making it a classic choice for Martini enthusiasts and fans of the iconic secret agent.

Ingredients

▢ 3 oz Dry Gin
▢ 1 oz Vodka
▢ .5 oz White Vermouth

Instructions

▢
Shake well until ice cold, strain into a deep wine goblet.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 266kcal (13%)Carbohydrates: 1gPotassium: 2mgSugar: 1g (1%)Iron: 0.03mg

Cocktail, Drinks

Where it came from

Ian Fleming invented the Vesper in Casino Royale, the first James Bond novel, published in 1953. Bond names it after Vesper Lynd, the female lead, near the end of the novel. The original spec called for Kina Lillet, an aperitif wine that was reformulated in the 1980s and renamed Lillet Blanc.

Modern Vespers taste different from Fleming's original because Kina Lillet had quinine and a heavier bitterness that Lillet Blanc lacks. Some bars add a tiny dash of Angostura or a splash of Cocchi Americano to bring back the original profile.

What it tastes like

Cold, dry, and serious. The vodka adds weight and a touch of sweetness, the gin brings botanicals, and the Lillet rounds the edges with stone fruit and faint bitterness. Lemon twist provides aroma.

Shaken, not stirred. Most bartenders today stir it to keep the texture clean (shaking a clear drink bruises it slightly), but Bond's instructions are part of the drink's identity. Either method works; pick your priority.

The technique

60ml gin, 20ml vodka, 7.5ml Lillet Blanc. Shake or stir with ice for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora or coupe. Express a thin lemon peel over the surface and drop it in.

Use a high-proof gin (47% or higher) like Tanqueray No. Ten, Plymouth Navy Strength, or Sipsmith VJOP. The Vesper needs spirit weight to hold up to the shaking and the dilution.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

The gin

Use: High-proof London Dry (Tanqueray No. Ten, Sipsmith VJOP, Beefeater 24)
Skip: Soft contemporary gins under 40% ABV
Why: The Vesper is built on spirit weight. A weak gin disappears under the vodka and Lillet.

The vodka

Use: A high-quality grain vodka (Belvedere, Stoli, Ketel One)
Skip: Bottom-shelf vodka (Bond would not approve, neither will your tongue)
Why: You taste the vodka. Choose one with character.

The Lillet

Use: Lillet Blanc (the modern French aperitif)
Try: Cocchi Americano for a closer match to the original Kina Lillet
Why: Cocchi Americano has quinine, like the original. Lillet Blanc is the easier modern sub.

Variations

Other martini family classics for stirred-and-cold occasions.

Dry Martini

Negroni Cocktail

Dirty Martini

French Martini

Aviation Cocktail

Bee’s Knees

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Lillet Blanc?

Cocchi Americano is the closest match to the original. Dry vermouth (Dolin, Noilly Prat) works as a fallback but the drink loses fruit.

No high-proof gin?

Add 5ml extra gin and reduce vodka by 5ml. Brings the spirit weight back.

No vodka?

All-gin makes a martini-adjacent drink (called a Wet Martini at this ratio).

Want it less boozy?

Drop gin to 45ml. The drink loses Bond credentials but becomes more drinkable.

Want the original Kina Lillet flavour?

Add a single drop of Angostura bitters and a 2ml splash of Cocchi Americano on top of the Lillet Blanc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Vesper?

Gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc, with a lemon peel. Bond's original spec: 60ml gin, 20ml vodka, 7.5ml Kina Lillet (now Lillet Blanc). Shaken with ice and strained into a coupe.

How do you make a Vesper?

Combine 60ml gin, 20ml vodka, and 7.5ml Lillet Blanc in a shaker with ice. Shake (or stir) for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora. Express a lemon peel over the surface and drop it in.

Where does the Vesper come from?

Ian Fleming invented it in Casino Royale, published 1953. Bond names the drink after his love interest Vesper Lynd. The drink was a fictional creation that real bars adopted soon after.

Why does a Vesper taste different from the original?

Kina Lillet was reformulated and renamed Lillet Blanc in the 1980s. The original had quinine and was more bitter. Modern Vespers are softer. Cocchi Americano is the closest sub for the original profile.

Should a Vesper be shaken or stirred?

Bond says shaken. Most modern bartenders stir it for a cleaner texture. Either is correct. Shaking aerates the drink slightly and adds tiny ice shards; stirring keeps it silkier.

How strong is a Vesper?

Roughly 30 percent ABV in the glass after dilution. Bond drank them by the half dozen; mortals should pace differently.

Vesper vs Martini?

The Martini has just gin and dry vermouth. The Vesper adds vodka and uses Lillet Blanc instead of vermouth. The Vesper drinks rounder, with more weight and a touch of fruit.

Can I use any vodka?

Yes, but you taste it. Don't use the cheap stuff. A high-quality grain vodka adds body without flavour. Cheap vodka adds an off note.

What glass should I use?

A Nick and Nora or coupe. Bond uses a Champagne goblet in the novel; modern bartenders prefer something smaller to keep the drink colder.

Should I add ice to the glass?

No. The Vesper is served up. The chill comes from shaking or stirring with plenty of ice in the mixing glass.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated April 26, 2026 · 1 min read

1960's cocktail theme, All Vodka, Cocktail, Dry Gin, Photo, Pussy, Recipe, V, V Cocktails, Vodka, White Vermouth

Vesper

Vesper

Vesper

Ingredients

Instructions

Estimated Nutrition:

Where it came from

What it tastes like

The technique

Tell us what's in your cabinet.

One drink, one tip, one Tuesday a month.

Ingredient Spotlight

The gin

The vodka

The Lillet