Vodka Martini

 

A vodka martini, otherwise known as a vodkatini or a kangeroo, is an alternative to an ordinary martini if you’re not a fan of gin.

As I’ve previously mentioned and as most of you will undoubtedly know, the fictional spy James Bond is widely associated with martinis of all kinds. I often encourage male friends to try a martini by reminding them that 007 drinks them. In the film franchise, Bond usually drinks a vodka martini.

However in Ian Flemming’s original novel Casino Royale, Bond orders the following, “Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel.” And so the original Bond isn’t strictly a martini drinker. He in fact states “This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name.” and eventually names it a Vesper after Vesper Lynd, the first Bond Girl.

If however you wish to make a more traditional vodka martini, here are Tobias Steed’s instructions:

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50ml vodka

Dry vermouth

Lemon Zest to garnish

Add a couple of drops of vermouth into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir gently and strain out excess liquid. Add more ice, the vodka and stir again. Wait until the mixing glass/cocktail shaker has frosted, the strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a strip of lemon zest. This drink can also be served over ice in a rocks glass.

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Here I used a miniature of Absolut Vodka which i bought for this cocktail since I don’t drink vodka a lot (£2.45 from The Whiskey Shop). I used my old faithful Martini & Rosso Extra Dry Vermouth (£9.89 for 1L) and a lemon from Morrisons, if you’d care to know.

 

 

Recipe taken from ‘Hollywood Cocktails’ by Tobias Steed and Ben Reed. Price for Absolut taken from http://www.lincolnwhiskyshop.co.uk and picture from blacklightbottles.com. Price for vermouth taken from www.ocado.com.