Vesper Martini

The Vesper Martini is an elegant and timeless classic martini. However, where martinis are usually made with gin or vodka, the Vesper Martini includes both, together with a splash of Lillet Blanc.

The Vesper Martini was made famous by a certain fictitious British secret agent who insisted that it should be “shaken not stirred.”

The Vesper Martini is crisp, cool and herbal. It features the juniper notes of gin, the smoothness of vodka, and the citrusy, floral, and subtly honeyed flavors of Lillet Blanc. Perfectly elegant.

“Crisp, complex and cold. This is what you want in a Vesper Martini…it’s what you want in any Martini, to be fair,” shares Rico.

The Vesper Martini was created by an author of a literary franchise about a suave British secret agent. The Vesper Martini was featured in the first book of the series in 1953. The agent’s iconic preference for a “shaken, not stirred” Vesper Martini has become legendary. 

The Vesper is essentially a Dry Martini with Vodka added to mellow the Gin’s Juniper notes, mirroring Vodka’s rising popularity in Martini recipes at the time. In fact, the earliest known reference to a Vodka Martini appeared just a year before. 

The original Vesper recipe featured London Dry Gin, Vodka, and the aperitif wine Kina Lillet. However, with Kina Lillet no longer in production, Lillet Blanc has taken its place as a substitute.

• Stir to perfection
  As you stir your Vesper Martini in the Mixing Glass, stir until it’s both perfectly chilled and perfectly diluted. How can you tell it’s just right? When you like what you taste! Martinis are very personal, and since it’s your drink, the most important thing is that you make it to your liking.

• Use YOUR preferred gin and vodka
  As Rico demonstrates, you can make a Vesper Martini with whatever gin and vodka you have at home. However, if you have a favorite Old Tom Gin and a favorite Vodka, you should go with those. It’s all about the details.

• Shaken vs Stirred
  With countless Martini variations out there, even the slightest adjustment can result in a completely new cocktail. For the Vesper Martini, why not try both a shaken and a stirred version to see which suits your taste?

  You can also explore different types of Gin to create your own unique twist on this classic drink.

• Luxury vs Regular/Budget
  In this video on this page, you’ll see Rico makes two versions of the Vesper Martini – a luxury version using super premium products and a regular or budget-friendly version. 

  The recipe here is for a regular Vesper Martini…but if you’re feeling fancy and want to impress your guests, splash out and make the luxury Vesper with Beefeater Crown Jewel, Elyx Vodka and Lillet Blanc!

A Vesper Martini should be served in a Martini Glass and garnished with Lemon Twist. Because sometimes simplicity is perfection.

The Vesper Martini can be seen as a fusion of a Vodka Martini and a Gin Martini. While classic Martinis were originally crafted with Gin, Vodka later became a popular alternative. 

Unlike the traditional Martini, which combines Gin or Vodka with Vermouth, the Vesper incorporates both Gin and Vodka, replacing Vermouth with a splash of the fruity and aromatic French apéritif, Lillet Blanc.

The Vesper Martini is traditionally shaken, a method that introduces air into the cocktail, resulting in a colder and more diluted drink. 

Although the famous secret agent preferred his Vesper shaken, modern bartenders often opt to stir it. Try both methods and see which you prefer.

A classic Vesper Martini is made with London Dry Gin. However, we like to use Old Tom Gin, which is slightly sweeter than the juniper-forward London Dry Gin. But it’s your Martini, so if you have a favorite Gin, go with that.