If you are a James Bond fan, chances are that you passionately believe in the shaken and not stirred Vodka Martinis. However, in Ian Fleming’s book series as well as the movie adaptations, the British Secret Service Agent 007 consumes a wide range of drinks.
Perhaps no other fictional character can rival James Bond’s penchant to consume alcoholic beverages that range from beer to champagne with a plethora of cocktails thrown in between. Almost 6 decades and 25 movies have seen Bond drinking over 109 times!
So, let’s take a walk through the drinking intelligence of 007 in both the books and the movies. To be fair, a wider variety of cocktails appear in the books as in the movies which tend to stick with the safe Martinis with an odd curve ball thrown in here and there!
Created in the 1860s by Gaspare Campari. It contains equal parts of Campari and Sweet Vermouth, Soda, and an Orange Slice as a garnish.
This cocktail features in 3 James Bond books but not in their movie versions:
Casino Royale, 1953: In the 1st novel of the James Bond series, Bond takes a seat near the broad windows in the Hermitage Bar and orders an Americano while waiting for Mathis and Vesper.
The Americano, therefore, holds the title of the first cocktail ordered by James Bond.
From Russia with Love, 1957: The Americano cocktail makes an appearance once again in the 5th Bond book by Ian Fleming. Bond drinks two in a period of half an hour while in transit at Rome’s Ciampino Airport en route to Istanbul.
Further on in the book, he orders an Americano along with a bottle of Chianti Broglio during lunch in the restaurant car of the Orient Express train with Tatiana and Captain Nash.
From a View to a Kill, 1960: The 8th James Bond novel For Your Eyes Only contained 5 short stories. From a view to a kill is one of the short stories in this book where we get a lesson on the etiquettes of drinking in French cafés. We learn that while drinking outdoors in the sun, Bond always has an Americano. “Bitter Campari, Cinzano, a large slice of lemon peel and soda.” He always stipulates Perrier for soda since “expensive soda water was the cheapest way to improve a poor drink”.
A vintage cocktail from the earliest days that consists of Whiskey, Sugar, and Bitters. Stirred over ice and garnished with an orange zest or cherry.
This is another classic cocktail that 007 drank in the books but was completely absent from the movie versions.
Live and Let Die, 1954: The Old fashioned cocktail makes its first appearance in the 2nd James Bond novel. While on the train called “The Silver Phantom” en route to St. Petersburg with Soliatire, Bond orders Old Fashioned cocktails, “and stipulated ‘Old Grandad’ Bourbon”
Diamonds are Forever, 1956: James Bond has two Bourbon old-fashioned cocktails in this 4th James Bond novel in an “air-conditioned eating house that was as typical of “the American way of life” as the motel.”
Thunderball, 1961: In the 9th James Bond novel after an eventful day at the Bahamas, a tired Bond drinks a double bourbon old-fashioned before throwing himself down on his bed in his hotel room.
Truly an ultimate beer cocktail that consists of equal parts Guinness Beer and Champagne.
Diamonds are Forever, 1956: A quintessentially English drink that appears only once in this 4th James Bond novel. In fact, it is the only time it is mentioned in the entire book series.
After M has given James Bond his new assignment, he offers to buy the Chief of Staff, Bill, lunch at Scott’s saying that they will have “dressed crab and a pint of black velvet.”
Initially enjoyed as a digestif, the Stinger gradually found popularity as cocktail enjoyed almost anytime. It comprises of only two ingredients, namely 2 parts Cognac (or Brandy) and ¾ part Creme De Menthe. Shake over ice and serve in a chilled cocktail glass or over ice in an old fashioned glass.
This most un-Bond like cocktail appears in 2 James Bond books:
Diamonds are Forever, 1956: In the 4th book of the James Bond series, while dining at the famous 21 Club with Tiffany Case, Stingers are ordered with coffee.“Tiffany ordered a Stinger made with white crème de menthe and Bond ordered the same.”
Towards the end of the novel when Bond and Tiffany meet for “cocktails in the Observation Lounge and later to have dinner in the Veranda Grill”, after being on the ship for three days, Tiffany tells Bond that she would “like some more coffee, and a Stinger made with white Crème de Menthe” and then she asks for one more while they watch the Auction Pool with the line “will you stake your girl to another Stinger?”
Thunderball, 1961: Bond seems to have a taste for this cocktail as it makes an appearance once more in the 9th novel when Leiter and Bond go to the at the Nassau Casino bar, they have “coffee and a stinger at the bar” and then head to the tables.
A true godfather of cocktails that consists of equal parts Gin, Campari, and Sweet Vermouth. Stirred over ice and served with an orange twist.
Risico, 1960: One of the short stories in the 8th James Bond novel For Your Eyes Only. James Bond orders a “Negroni with Gordon’s gin” while waiting for his contact at the bar in Rome’s Excelsior hotel
A cocktail that is a cultural phenomenon on its own and consists of Bourbon, Mint Leaves, and Sugar Syrup. Gently muddle the mint leaves with the sugar syrup in a julep glass. Then add the Bourbon and fill the glass with crushed ice. Stir and garnish with a few drops of bitters & a mint sprig.
Goldfinger, 1964. The 3rd movie in the James Bond series was directed by Guy Hamilton and stars Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman.
Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) offers James Bond (Sean Connery) a Mint Julep at the Auric Stud farm in Kentucky while describing it as “traditional, but satisfying.” James Bond orders one with instructions to make it a “Sour mash, but not too sweet, please”.
When rum replaces the gin in the Tom Collins cocktail. It is an effervescent and refreshing cocktail that contains white rum, lime juice, sugar syrup that is shaken and served in a chilled Collins glass filled with ice and topped with soda
Thunderball, 1965: This 4th James Bond movie adaptation was directed by Terence Young and stars Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Desmond Llewelyn, Bernard Lee
In this movie, the sinister Emilio Largo and James Bond enjoy a Rum Collins when Bond visits Palmyra, home of the SPECTRE No. 2 in Nassau.
Well, there is nothing more appropriate than drinking rum in the Caribbean!
A cocktail that is so strongly associated with New Orleans that in 2008 it was declared as the city’s official cocktail.
Rye Whiskey, Sugar Cube, Peychaud’s Bitters, Angostura Bitters. Rinse a cocktail glass with Absinthe. Stir all other ingredients over ice and garnish with a Lemon Peel.
Live and Let Die, 1973: The 8th Bond movie was directed by Guy Hamilton, starring Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, and David Hedison.
When Bonds orders a Bourbon at the Fillet of Soul, the CIA agent Felix Leiter changes their order to 2 Sazerac cocktails with the comment “Where’s your sense of adventure, James? This is New Orleans. Relax!”
Since Absinthe did not become legal in America till 2007, the Sazerac served here would probably be without the Absinthe rinsed glass. Unless of, course, Mr. Big managed to smuggle it into his bars!
This German winter-holiday drink got its name from the hot irons that were once used to mull the wine. It roughly translates as “glow-wine”. This festive drink that is common to many European nations is basically a delicious hot, spiced, fragrant Mulled Wine.
For Your Eyes Only, 1981: The 12th James Bond movie that was directed by John Glen starring Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Topol, Julian Glover
When Bond along with Luigi Ferrara meets the Greek businessman Aris Kristatos at an outdoor ice-skating rink in the Italian ski resort of Cortina, he accepts his invitation to partake some Glühwein.
Well, it definitely seems appropriate to have a steaming cup of this traditional warm drink amidst the snowcapped peaks in order to keep oneself warm!
A cocktail with deep Cuban ties that is made up of White Rum, Simple Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Mint Leaves, and Club soda. Gently muddle the mint (just to bruise). Add the first three ingredients. Stir with ice. Top with soda and garnish with a mint sprig.
Die Another Day, 2002: This 21st James Bond movie adaptation was directed by Lee Tamahori, starring Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, and Rosamund Pike.
Keeping up the tradition of ordering local drinks whenever he can, the Mojito was resuscitated when it appeared in a scene in Cuba when Bond shares the cocktail with Jinx Johnson while outrageously flirting with her
