37 replies to this topic

[yuta_rule]

I'm here in San Francisco (Oakland), I wanna find a real decent bar that's either standalone or within a hotel which serves the Vesper Martini...any idea where I should go?

[Bryce (003)]

I'm here in San Francisco (Oakland), I wanna find a real decent bar that's either standalone or within a hotel which serves the Vesper Martini...any idea where I should go?

Well, the Britannia Pub in Santa Monica does now serve both the "Vesper for two" and a "Joyce" if you tell them Bryce sent you.

As to SF, either the lobby bar of the Hilton on O'Farrell or Foley's (just two blocks down towards Union Square) are certainly capable.

They both "Know my name".

[RazorBlade]

I don't get up to SF often enough to recommend any gin joints. I don't have any trouble finding a Vesper around these parts. I reckon any bar swanky enough to serve a martini ought to know how to stir one up.

[Pam Bouvier]

Equinox, a top the Hyatt Regency, in San Francisco, makes a great Vesper. Plus they have a fabulous view of the city.

[yuta_rule]

Wow, thanks guys!You guys are getting me all excited, definitely gonna check out those places very soon! Thanks a bunch!

[valentin_ice]

[/quote]

Well, the Britannia Pub in Santa Monica does now serve both the "Vesper for two" and a "Joyce" if you tell them Bryce sent you.

[/quote]


Hey Bryce,

I just visited the Brittania for the first time last night and they were completely puzzled by my drink order!

I forgot to mention your name - could that have been it? Or do they no longer offer Lillet Blanc?

(By the way, were you at the trivia contest at the aero theater a few weeks ago?)

VI

[darkpath]

Equinox, a top the Hyatt Regency, in San Francisco, makes a great Vesper. Plus they have a fabulous view of the city.

Is that the hotel near the Moscone Center. If so, does Equinox have a giant (2 meter diameter) round window? It sounds like the hotel I stayed at for business a number of years ago.

On the other hand, casa darkpath does seem to offer a decent Vesper with Bombay Saphire Gin, Absolut Vodka, and Lillet Blanc. The only shortcoming at casa darkpath is the lemon twists are still cut crudely. I suppose I must work on that.

[Bryce (003)]

Hey Bryce,

I just visited the Brittania for the first time last night and they were completely puzzled by my drink order!

I forgot to mention your name - could that have been it? Or do they no longer offer Lillet Blanc?

(By the way, were you at the trivia contest at the aero theater a few weeks ago?)

VI

Didn't know you were about VI. Depends on who might have been tending the bar, but they do know it and certainly myself. They don't have the proper vermouth at Britannia, but they do a fine variation.

I'll look into it, but if you want a true Vesper for sure, PM me. Would love to meet up for some proper "shop-talk".

[Flash1087]

Have a lot of you run into problems ordering a Vesper? Long ago I decided to swear off drinking before I was even old enough to do so, but I figure when my 21st rolls around, if I'm going to break chastity, I want to drink a Vesper. Is this something I'm gonna have a hard time ordering?

[Iceheart]

Does anyone from OZ know if the burswood hotel in perth serves them

thats what ill do on my 18th

im gonna go to the burswood and order my very first Vodka Martini - Shaken not stirred

- just for the sake of it

Iceheart

[Bryce (003)]

Flash -

It's not so much the liquor as it is the vermouth. The Lillet blanc is very distinctive and rare to find in the states. Most dry vermouth is just that. Very dry and almost harsh IMO, but the Lillet is softer, yet not sweet. Difficult to describe. Yet, when combined with the gin and vodka, well, you'll never forget it.

While my beloved pub does a great martini, my other preferred restaurant does Fleming's creation justice simply because they carry the Lillet.

It has been funny (to me at least) that since CR, the restaurants and pubs I frequent and "Know my name" have inquired about the "Bond martini" and what it's supposed to be.

Also, realise that you'll be paying full price for three shots of high end gin and one of vodka for one cocktail.

As the lovely lady stated from her introduction: "I'm the money."

The cocktail that bears her name will require some, but she's worth "every penny of it" with the right ingredients.

[Iceheart]

so what price exactly would something like that cost???

and what are the official ingredients to a Vodka martini??

Iceheart

[Bryce (003)]

With a proper tip, I'll say a "proper" Vesper will run you north of $20 US.

Now, we all know the Vesper recipe, but a classic vodka martini is simply vodka and vermouth. How much vermouth is up to you.

Dryer = more vermouth

Lighter = less vermouth

Most bars serve and prepare them with less than a 1/4 measure of vermouth.

I prefer a lemon peel but if I opt for an olive, I like two. One to munch on halfway through and one to enjoy after the drink.

Remember: "Martini's are like breasts. One isn't enough, two are perfect and three is too many."

[Iceheart]

Remember: "Martini's are like breasts. One isn't enough, two are perfect and three is too many."

I AM NEVER GOING TO FORGET THIS!!!! lol

i love that - who told you that???

lol

Iceheart

[Flash1087]

$20 for one drink? Well, if it's the only time I'm gonna drink, I may as well go all-out on it.

Think they'll just let me supply my own Lillet Blanc? I'll give the rest to my dad.

[RazorBlade]

Wow, I need to get back out to LA. I taught my bartenders here how to make a Vesper. Some of them knew but most had to be taught. I love Bombay Sapphire. Good stuff.

[bill007]

.....but I figure when my 21st rolls around, if I'm going to break chastity, I want to drink a Vesper......

.....thats what ill do on my 18th.....

CAUTION: The Vesper is a v-e-r-y strong alcoholic beverage. That's 4 ounces of alcohol in o-n-e drink. I drink these at home. Only after I've asked Mrs. bill007 to hide my car keys.

I'm a...uh-hum, seasoned sage when it comes to imbibing. And two of these rascals float my boat, big-time.

For those of you desiring to partake for the very-first-time, prepare the following sentence for the-day-after: "I did WHAT last night?"

[darkpath]

CAUTION: The Vesper is a v-e-r-y strong alcoholic beverage. That's 4 ounces of alcohol in o-n-e drink. I drink these at home. Only after I've asked Mrs. bill007 to hide my car keys.

I'm a...uh-hum, seasoned sage when it comes to imbibing. And two of these rascals float my boat, big-time.

I absolutely must second that caution. My friend, who I believe fancies himself as the seasoned imbiber was quite startled by the effect of the first one, and quite stunned that I was even willing to make and serve a second.

Edited by darkpath, 09 April 2007 - 01:54 PM.

[Bryce (003)]

Remember: "Martini's are like breasts. One isn't enough, two are perfect and three is too many."

I AM NEVER GOING TO FORGET THIS!!!! lol

i love that - who told you that???

lol

Iceheart

I've known the quote for years and I'm almost certain it was Groucho Marx. The last time it was quoted to me was by our own Zencat while imbimbing on the Sunset Strip after a screening of LALD at the Director's Guild.

[MHazard]

I taught the bartender in the bar in the Hotel Frontenac in Quebec City to make one. I think in general you have to be prepared to do like Bond and direct the bartender how to do it. In a good well stocked bar with Lillet (which is widely available in Boston at least) you won't have too much trouble. At the risk of blowing my own horn slightly, you might be interested in the Vesper thread we have going under the Fleming literature section. We have traded different Vesper recipes and other Bond drink info. My personal Vesper recipe is: 3 parts Boodles or Brokers Gin
1 part Belvidere Vodka
1/2 part Lillet Blanc
I occaisionally, depending on my mood also add a two dashes of bitter, which a writer in Esquire suggests makes the drink taste more like it would have in the 50's when Fleming wrote CR and Lillet had a more bitter recipe. Obviously it is then shaken, not stirred, and poured into a martini glass over a lemon twist. In any case, enjoy.

[Flash1087]

CAUTION: The Vesper is a v-e-r-y strong alcoholic beverage. That's 4 ounces of alcohol in o-n-e drink. I drink these at home. Only after I've asked Mrs. bill007 to hide my car keys.

I'm a...uh-hum, seasoned sage when it comes to imbibing. And two of these rascals float my boat, big-time.

For those of you desiring to partake for the very-first-time, prepare the following sentence for the-day-after: "I did WHAT last night?"

Well, I appreciate the warning, but if nothing more I'm sure this will ensure I go right back to not drinking.

[MarcAngeDraco]

CAUTION: The Vesper is a v-e-r-y strong alcoholic beverage. That's 4 ounces of alcohol in o-n-e drink. I drink these at home. Only after I've asked Mrs. bill007 to hide my car keys.

I'm a...uh-hum, seasoned sage when it comes to imbibing. And two of these rascals float my boat, big-time.

I absolutely must second that caution. My friend, who I believe fancies himself as the seasoned imbiber was quite startled by the effect of the first one, and quite stunned that I was even willing to make and serve a second.

I must agree with these warnings, the Vesper is a rather serious drink and doubly dangerous because they go down so easily. I prefer to make mine at home, partially due to the strength and partially so that I can make them to my exact specifications. (Also, most places where I have enquired have not even had Lillet on hand).

[darkpath]

(Also, most places where I have enquired have not even had Lillet on hand).

Now why is it, that Lillet is so rare? I literally found it on the shelves of the very first store I tried when I bought my bottle for my home. Either I am insanely lucky, or the stores carry it more often than the bars and restaurants. Either way, I'm perplexed.

[HornedFrog]

The Vesper is now my official favorite drink. I would like to add that the freshness of the Lillet can have a big effect on the taste of the drink. I prefer to drink mine at home with Gordon's/Smirnoff Black. I may try it with Tanqueray this weekend. Also, I like to keep my Gin & Vodka in the freezer. With a drink like this, you can never get it too cold.

[R. Dittmar]

At the risk of being pedantic, I'll point out that the original Vesper from Casino Royale called for Kina Lillet - an old discontinued product that was heavily dosed with quinine. Technically, it's not even possible to recreate the recipe unless you find a dust-covered 50 year old bottle of booze in somebody's basement. I think that Kingsley Amis didn't even believe that a drink made with Kina Lillet would be drinkable given how bitter it would be. He thought that Fleming was probably just too bombed to remember which version of Lillet vermouth he was downing when he dreamt up the drink. There are actually several very clever references to this in the movie when Vesper talks about the "bitter aftertaste" when she learns that Bond named the drink after her.

For what it's worth, I'd suggest that if you want to start enjoying the martini you don't have to sweat the vermouth too much. Martinis are all about the gin or vodka and many purists call for a bare minimum of vermouth. When I shake one up, I just shake a bit of vermouth with ice and pour it down the drain. Then I shake the vodka and/or gin to finish the cocktail incorporating only what's coating the ice. For maximum Bond suaveness, experiment with vermouths and pick your favorite. I'm actually fond of a sweet red vermouth that gives a bit of pink color to the drink. For the full Vesper experience ask for gin and just a shot of vodka and your favorite vermouth. Name your concoction after the lovely lady you're dining with.

[Bryce (003)]

True, true good sir.

Hence, the suggestion somewhere above of a dash of bitters. You're notion of a slight rinse of vermouth is a another good tactic. I actually have a vermouth spray mister. I generally (when not using the Lillet) give an empty shaker one good blast and then add the ice and gin and vodka. It works quite well when using one of the harsher dry vermouths.

As to naming it for any lovely lady you're dining with, it's a fine idea, but with a true Vesper, well "a rose by any other name"...

I was quite proud of one line I came up with. Dining with a friend before Christmas, I ordered a Vesper.

She teased me about being so exact in ordering it. When it arrived, I sipped it and stared over the rim at her with a fixed gaze as she did look quite lovely. I commented "Magnificiant."

She met my gaze inquiringly "That good?"

I smiled back "I wasn't talking about the martini."

[bill007]

The Vesper is now my official favorite drink. I would like to add that the freshness of the Lillet can have a big effect on the taste of the drink. I prefer to drink mine at home with Gordon's/Smirnoff Black. I may try it with Tanqueray this weekend. Also, I like to keep my Gin & Vodka in the freezer. With a drink like this, you can never get it too cold.

Excellent suggestion, HornedFrog. TCU fan, are ya'? And, welcome to CBn and the Forums.

I smiled back "I wasn't talking about the martini."

Always the smooth operator, 003. Keep livin'it.

[Bryce (003)]

Always the smooth operator, 003. Keep livin'it.

I wouldn't be very good at my job if I didn't.

[Flash1087]

Man, I could never be that suave. Is there some kind of correspondence course I can take for this before I order that first Vesper?

[SecretAgent007]

Shouldn't the Vesper be served in a champaign goblet? I believe that's how it was ordered in Fleming's CR.