When Ian Fleming wrote the first novel in the James Bond series, we'd bet that he had no idea about the impact of what he was creating.

His "007" character was inspirational, aloof, skilled, swanky, stylish...but most of all, he was a martini drinker.

In the book Casino Royale, not only does Mr. Bond order a martini cocktail, but specifies the mix for the bar tender. We proudly present the original mix with our own little twist.

Vesper II Covert-ini

Ingredients

• 4 oz of Boodles Gin
• 1 teaspoon of Hangar One vodka
• 1 oz Kina Lillet
• 1/2 teaspoon Lillet Blanc
• 2 drops lemon oil
• 2 very thin, long pieces of lemon rind

The Mix

• Pour your Gin, Kina Lillet, and Lillet Blanc into a cocktail shaker that has been half-filled with cracked ice.
• Shake well for one full minute.
• Strain into 2 well chilled Champagne flutes.
• Add half of the vodka to each glass.
• Add 1 drop of lemon oil to each glass.
• Add 1 lemon rind to each glass.
• Spin up a good spy music CD and dance your tuchas off...but do it discreetly. (We suggest any album by the Chicago band, "Spies Who Surf")

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Ok, so although it was a kid's cartoon, Bullwinkle (and his sidekick Rocky) was a vehicle for ensuring the children of the 60's and 70's were very clear on the distinction between good and evil as it related to the politics of the time.

Each week I (yes, the one and only Martiniguy) would watch as the bumbling (though lovable) moose and squirrel would easily foil the exploits of the (most obviously) Russian secret agents Boris and Natasha.

Though I do not recall any raucous martini cocktail parties, I always suspected that Boris, Natasha, Bullwinkle, Rocky, and even the Canadian Mounty got together after the curtain dropped and shook up a snoot full.

Boris and Natasha, although equally bumbling at times, most certainly were presented as stylishly cool...and this following recipe is our interpretation of what they would likely have mixed.

Ingredients

• 6 oz Red Army Vodka
• 2 very thin slices of cucumber
• 1 teaspoon of sour cream
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon
• 1/8 teaspoon (or tiny pinch) sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red caviar

The Mix

• Pour the Red Army Vodka into a shaker 1/2 full of cracked ice and shake for a full minute.
• Let the shaker stand for another full minute.
• Strain the vodka into 2 freezing martini glasses.
• Top each glass with a slice of cucumber.
• On top of each cucumber slice, add (in the following order): small dallop of sour cream, tiny bit of caviar, drop of lemon juice, tiny bit of salt.
• Toast the following...pronounced as such: "za VA-sheh zda-RO-v'yeh!"*

*This toast translates closely to: "My grand-grandfather said: I have a desire to buy a house, but I have no opportunity. I have an opportunity to buy a she-goat, but I have no desire. So, let's drink to having correspondence of our wishes and opportunities!"

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John Drake was a spy with class and style. A cool, self assured operative for the British agency "M9" in the 1960's, this cat was smooth.

We present a martini worthy of serving in any super secret safehouse, in any exotic locale.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of Blavod Black vodka
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth chilled
• 1 teaspoon of cherry juice
• 2 fresh cherries

The Mix

• Pour the Blavod into a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice.
• Shake for a full minute.
• Strain into 2 freezing martini glasses.
• Top each glass with 1/2 ounce of sweet vermouth.
• Drizzle half of the cherry juice atop each cocktail
• Drop a cherry into each glass

Take advantage of the moment--but don't give up any super secrets!

Would you like a printable version of this martini recipe?