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Vesper

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description Vesper Overview

The Vesper cocktail, created in Oscar Wilde’s play *The Importance of Being Earnest*, combines gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet – a fortified wine derivative – resulting in a complex, dry drink with a distinctive bitter-citrus flavor profile.

help Vesper FAQ

Who created the Vesper cocktail, and why is it associated with James Bond?

Ian Fleming introduced the Vesper in his 1953 novel Casino Royale, where James Bond names it after Vesper Lynd. It was not created in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.

What is the original Vesper recipe from Casino Royale?

Bond orders three measures of Gordon's gin, one measure of vodka, and half a measure of Kina Lillet. The drink is shaken until ice-cold and finished with a large thin slice of lemon peel.

Can I still make a Vesper with authentic Kina Lillet?

The original Kina Lillet is no longer produced, so a modern Vesper cannot exactly reproduce Fleming's recipe. Lillet Blanc, Cocchi Americano, or another quinine-forward aperitif can provide a practical substitute.

Is a Vesper shaken or stirred?

The Vesper is traditionally shaken, following Bond's instruction in Casino Royale to shake it very well until ice-cold. That makes it different from the classic stirred dry martini, which usually uses gin and dry vermouth.

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