Vesper

Bond famously ordered his Vesper 'shaken, not stirred' — but stirring is the correct technique for a spirit-forward cocktail. Stirring gives a silky, clear result; shaking makes it cloudy and over-diluted. The Vesper is a large drink — 4½ oz of liquid — so stir for a full 35 seconds to achieve proper dilution and chill.

The original Vesper used Kina Lillet, which is no longer produced. Cocchi Americano Rosa is the closest modern substitute — it has the same quinine bitterness and floral character. Use a bold London Dry gin like Gordon's (Bond's original choice) or Tanqueray. The vodka softens the gin's botanicals and adds a clean, neutral backbone.

The Vesper was created by Ian Fleming in his 1953 novel 'Casino Royale,' where James Bond orders it from the bartender at the Casino Royale. Bond names it after Vesper Lynd, the female lead. The original recipe called for Gordon's gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet — a now-discontinued French aperitif wine. Cocchi Americano Rosa is the most faithful modern substitute.

Classic Vesper

Use Cocchi Americano (the non-rosa version) instead of Cocchi Rosa. The classic Cocchi Americano is more bitter and less floral — closer to the original Kina Lillet. This is the most historically accurate modern version.

Reverse Vesper

Swap the gin and vodka proportions: 3 oz vodka, 1 oz gin. The result is cleaner and more neutral — the gin's botanicals become a subtle background note rather than the star. A good option for vodka lovers who want to explore the Vesper format.