Vesper Martini recipe
Gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc, shaken and strained into a martini glass, garnished with a lemon zest.
By Kris Barton · Updated - 2 mins total
- 4 ingredients
- Martini glass
What Ingredients do you need to make a Vesper Martini?
Gin
Gin is a distilled alcohol drink made from Juniper Berries and is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world.
Its popularity is growing year on year, with sales in the UK rising beyond £3 billion per year.
For Gin, we recommend:
Vodka
We compared 12 different brands of Vodka and determined that Smirnoff was the overall best option. Given the current climate with Russia, that may seem like a questionable choice, but Smirnoff isn’t made in Russia, it’s made all over the world.
It actually has a history of Russian persecution and the creators were forced to flee Russia.
Lillet Blanc
Lillet Blanc is classed as an aromatic wine.
It’s a blend of 85% Bordeaux wine, mostly Sémillon, and 15% macerated liqueurs, mostly citrus liqueurs using the peels of sweet Spanish/Moroccan oranges and the peels from green Haitian oranges.
The mix is then stirred in oak vats until it’s properly blended.
What does Lillet Blanc taste like?
With its blend of wine and macerated liqueurs, Lillet Blanc has a pleasantly fruity, yet not overly sweet, taste.
What does Lillet Blanc add to a Martini?
Lillet Blanc adds a fruity contrast to the harsher Vodka and Gin ingredients. But that doesn’t mean it’s not boozy: far from it, after all Lillet Blanc is a blended wine.
What can I use instead of Lillet Blanc?
If you can’t pick up Lillet Blanc, then you should use a dry White Vermouth.
What’s the difference between Lillet Blanc and White Vermouth?
Lillet Blanc is a more delicate drink than White Vermouth, especially if you drink it straight like the French often do.
Whilst both drinks are types of wine, Lillet Blanc has more fruity overtones and isn’t nearly as dry as most brands of White Vermouth tend to be.
What Equipment do you need to make a Vesper Martini?
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bond says “shaken, not stirred”. And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed cocktail shaker comparison.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
Jigger
It’s important to get the mix of any cocktail right. The measurements are set for a reason – to specify a tried, tested, and tasty drink.
A jigger is going to help you get those perfect measurements – after all, it is what the pros use.
For a jigger, we recommend:
Cocktail Glass
This cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
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Recipe card
Vesper Martini
- Prep
- 1 min
- Making
- 1 min
- Total
- 2 mins
- Serves
- 1
- Glass
- Martini glass
Ingredients
Makes 1 drink.
Method
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Use a jigger to measure out the gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc into the cocktail shaker.
- Shake well until cold to the touch.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with lemon zest.
Want more like this? Browse our full collection of martinis.
Vesper Martini FAQs
What Ingredients do you need to make a Vesper Martini?
To make a Vesper Martini, you need 60ml / 2oz gin, 20ml / 0.6oz vodka and 10ml / 0.3oz Lillet Blanc, plus lemon zest to garnish. There’s more about gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc above.
What Equipment do you need to make a Vesper Martini?
You’ll need a cocktail shaker, a jigger and a cocktail glass.
What alcohol is in a Vesper Martini?
A Vesper Martini contains 60ml / 2oz gin, 20ml / 0.6oz vodka and 10ml / 0.3oz Lillet Blanc.
Is a Vesper Martini shaken or stirred?
A Vesper Martini is shaken. Shake it with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain it into a martini glass.
Can I make a Vesper Martini without a cocktail shaker?
A cocktail shaker is best, but a clean jam jar with a tight lid works too. Add ice and the ingredients, screw the lid on and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds, then strain it into your glass through a small sieve.
What glass is a Vesper Martini served in?
Serve a Vesper Martini in a martini glass.
How do you garnish a Vesper Martini?
Garnish a Vesper Martini with lemon zest.
How do I make a Vesper Martini for a group?
The recipe makes one drink. Multiply every measure by the number of drinks you want: for 4, you’d need 240ml gin, 80ml vodka and 40ml Lillet Blanc. Shake one or two drinks at a time, so there’s room in the shaker for the ice.
