Cocktail Atlas

Vintage Vesper

The storied cocktail with elegance and strength.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Gin
Glass
Martini glass
Method
Shaken
Difficulty
Intermediate

Riff on: Dry Martini

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A clear Vesper served up in a martini glass with a long lemon twist

Vintage Vesper

Ingredients

Ingredients for Vintage Vesper. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
2 oz
1 oz
½ oz

Steps

  1. Shake all ingredients with ice until well chilled.
  2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
  3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Garnish Lemon twist

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 35 oz · 1050 ml before ice.

Vintage Vesper batch
AmountIngredient
16 oz · 480 mlGin
8 oz · 240 mlVodka
4 oz · 120 mlLillet Blanc
7 oz · 210 mlCold water, for dilution (approx.)

The water stands in for the melt from shaking: about 25% for a shaken drink. It is an approximation, so taste and adjust. Chill the batch at least 2 hours and pour over fresh ice.

Use a 2 liter pitcher, or split it between two 1 liter bottles.

Made it?

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Why it works

Gin and vodka together give strength with a softer botanical edge than gin alone. Lillet Blanc, a lightly sweet aromatized wine, takes the place of dry vermouth and adds citrus and honey notes. This version is shaken, as the recipe asks, which makes it colder and slightly lighter in texture than a stirred Martini.

Substitutions

  • Cocchi Americano is a good substitute for Lillet Blanc, with more bitterness.
  • Stir instead of shaking for a clearer, silkier drink.
  • A lemon twist is the classic garnish; express the oils over the glass.

Variations

Questions

What is Lillet Blanc?
A French aperitif wine flavored with citrus and quinine. Keep it in the fridge once opened.
Is this drink strong?
Yes. It is three ounces of spirit with half an ounce of wine.

Making it: Vintage Vesper

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