James Bond is wrong: a Martini Consists of Gin (not Vodka) and Vermouth
The Martini Manifesto: Part One.
Here is my proposal for the closing sequence of the last ever 007 film.
James Bond sidles up to the bar and next to the beautiful mistress of the murderous leader of an international criminal syndicate. He murmurs nonchalantly, Vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. The bartender turns around and replies,Wrong on all counts! A martini is made with gin and it should be stirred, never shaken. If you want a cold shot of vodka, just say so. Humiliated, his cover blown, Bond realizes it’s time to hang up the Walther PPK and retire. Back at MI-6, Moneypenny gently but firmly talks Bond into trying a proper martini. He becomes a convert to the elixir of gin and vermouth and drives off with Moneypenny and a case of London Dry in the boot of the Aston DB5.
The Bond movies, for all their virtues, have done a grave disserve to the cause of civilized tippling. Justly world renowned, the martini cocktail is, along with jazz and blue jeans one of America’s great contributions to world culture. It is sublime in its simplicity, refinement and elegant balance of flavors and sensations. Indeed, it is deceptively simple, consisting only of three ingredients: London Dry gin, dry vermouth and the trace amount of water that is introduced when…
