Vesper Martini

The era of the three-martini lunch has come and gone.  Blame Kennedy, blame Carter, but really, blame yourselves for not being able to handle three delicious glasses of ambrosia.  (For the record, I'm on the floor after one.)

Like the Old Fashioned, the Martini (nee Martinez) is one of those classic cocktails that has been around since the dawn of time (or circa 1850) and keeps getting better with age.

Whatever your poison there is a flavor for you:

sweet (Cosmos), 

salty (Dirty), 

chocolaty (blegh), 

or somewhere in between (stay tuned).

Bottom line--and bottoms-up--there are as many ways and opinions on how to make a martini as there are Baldwin brothers.  However, when talking about the martini there is one, culturally obvious person to start with:Bond. James Bond.

In the novel Casino Royale, Fleming's Bond orders a Vesper Martini and conveniently lists the recipe as:

2 measures Gin

1 measure Vodka

1/2 measure Lillet

Twist of Lemon