A Martini for Every James Bond

The MI6 agent’s martini order leaves a lot of questions. We’ll go ahead and fill in the blanks for him — with a complete martini recipe for every Bond from Connery to Craig! 

“Vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred.”

We all know how Bond likes his cocktails, but the general order still leaves a lot of questions for bartenders. Does 007 want it dry or dirty? Any garnish preference? Does the British spy even know what shaking actually does to a martini??

While Bond has occasionally offered the bartender more instruction (or in one scene during Casino Royale, less), there’s a lot of flexibility here. But hey, Ian Fleming’s original literary character’s been played onscreen by several actors since the 1960s, to the point that it’s one of the longest-running cinematic franchises in history (the longest is Godzilla). From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, each actor’s brought a different take to the iconic secret agent.

So if you’re looking to match your movie viewing with a cocktail pairing, here’s a special martini for each Bond:

Sean Connery – Classic Stirred Vodka Martini

• 2 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Dry Vermouth
• Olive Sprig

Pour vodka, then dry vermouth into a cocktail shaker over ice. Stir gently for 40-60 seconds, then strain out into a clean martini glass (chill the glass prior if desired). Garnish with a sprig of no more than three olives. 

If enjoying a stirred martini feels wrong to you, consider this: Connery’s Bond doesn’t actually order a shaken version of cocktail himself until 1964’s Goldfinger.  Then in 1967’s You Only Live Twice, he’s offered a “stirred, not shaken” martini and responds with “perfect.”

There’s more! Connery first brought Bond to life in 1962’s Dr. No, which, coincidentally is a film adaptation of the first book where the spy orders a martini “shaken and not stirred.” Unlike the novel, however, it’s cinematic villain Dr. Julius No who says the phrase onscreen.

As we know, villains are evil and often wrong about the world. Stirring a cocktail is a much less aggressive way to combine flavors and doesn’t dilute the ingredients as fast as shaking with ice. The result is a much smoother, soft-bodied vodka martini with more flavorful balance.

George Lazenby – Dry Gin Martini (with a Side Shooter)

• 2 1/2 oz. Gin
• Splash of Dry Vermouth
• Lemon Peel
• Side shooter of Bourbon

Pour the gin in a cocktail shaker over ice. To keep it dry, deliver only a small splash of vermouth. Shake vigorously for no longer than 10 seconds, then strain into a martini glass and garnish with a fresh lemon peel. If you’re feeling adventurous, pour a small bourbon shooter for the side.

George Lazenby never ordered a martini during his only turn as Bond. However, crime lord Marc-Ange Draco tells his assistant, Olympe, to go get a dry martini for Bond, “Shaken, not stirred.” In the spirit of a totally different Bond from Connery, now’s the perfect time to make that a dry gin version for your movie viewing!

Wondering what’s up with the shooter though? In Fleming’s book version of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Bond drinks. A lot. Not so much martinis, but tons of other cocktails, beer, and most notably, a tremendous amount of whiskey. Hey, a shot alongside a main drink is nothing new.

If the whole thing leaves you feeling a little uneasy, well, that fits right in with the public’s initial reactions to Lazenby’s one-and-only Bond film. With its surprise downer of an ending, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was poorly received. Modern retrospective reviews have since been a lot kinder.

Roger Moore – Extra Dry Gibson Martini

• 3 oz. Vodka
• Cocktail Onion

Pour the vodka over ice in a shaker. Since there’s no vermouth in this extra dry version, you’ll want to go ahead and shake it for about 10 seconds to add some texture. Strain and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a cocktail onion and enjoy!

Just like Lazenby, Roger Moore’s Bond never orders a martini for himself — even after seven movies! He does, however, have many a drink ordered (or already made) for him. But when choosing a martini specifically for pairing with these Bond movies, it’s tough to forget the fact that the late Moore himself revealed he couldn’t drink most martinis because of the sugar — he was diabetic.

So with this in mind, the martini recipe above contains no sugar! And seeing as Moore’s movies were known for their crazy villains, go ahead and add a cocktail onion to quirk things up (if you’re also diabetic, check to make sure it’s one without sugar in the pickling ingredients).

Timothy Dalton – Champagne Martini

• 1 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 2 oz. Champagne
• Raspberry

Make sure the champagne is chilled to start. When ready, pour the vodka into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake for no longer than 10 seconds. Then strain into a cocktail glass. Pour a “floater” of champagne over the top, going slowly to not overflow the glass. Drop a raspberry (or two!) in to unleash hints of tangy flavor, and celebrate your cocktail mastery.

If you’re wondering what champagne is doing anywhere near a Bond beverage, you haven’t been playing close attention to the movies. Timothy Dalton only did two Bond movies, but he gets brownie points for actually verbally ordering a martini in both. But what’s also notable is the champagne Dalton’s Bond quaffs in 1989’s Licence to Kill. The bubbly was Bollinger, which has been dubbed the “official” Bond Champagne and appeared in a total of 15 Bond movies as of 2021!

Bollinger actually made its Bond debut during the Moore Bond days — and even further back in the literary world with Fleming’s Diamonds Are Forever. But Dalton’s era gives it the royal treatment. The spy orders Bollinger RD when he arrives to his suite in the Hotel El Presidente. Three Bollinger bottles can additionally be seen during the wedding of Felix Leiter. Later at the casino, a bottle of Bollinger can be spotted in a cooler when Pam Bouvier drinks the martini Bond initially ordered for himself.

Pierce Brosnan – Mojito Martini

• 2 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Lime Juice
• Simple Syrup
• Fresh Mint

Add several leaves of fresh mint (more if you’re really craving minty refreshment) to a cocktail shaker. Drizzle in some simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) for sweetness, then add the lime juice. Use a bar muddler or spoon to gentle muddle the ingredients for about 5 seconds. Then top with a scoop of ice and add the vodka. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and enjoy your boldly beachy Bond cocktail.

Pierce Brosnan’s Bond remained popular throughout his run, but his martini orders weren’t anything out of the ordinary. This Bond pretty much stuck with the dry vodka version throughout all four movies. Except that time when he didn’t.

In 2002’s Die Another Day (Brosnan’s last Bond movie, better known as that one co-starring Halle Berry) the British agent whips out a pretty abrupt surprise by ordering a mojito at a Cuban bar. It’s what he’s sipping on while Berry pays homage to Ursula Andress.

What’s really interesting though is that the mojito was a relatively unknown cocktail at the time. Bond’s order launched it into bars around the U.S. and England and onward into global popularity. But to still pay homage to Brosnan’s long-running vodka martini preference, this mojito martini is the ideal movie and cocktail pairing.

Daniel Craig – Vesper Martini

• 3 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Lillet Blanc
• Lemon Twist

Pour the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc into a shaker over ice. While you can enjoy it shaken, stirring with bring out more delectably distinctive layers of flavor here (not to mention create a smooth body). Stir or shake until evenly chilled, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a thin, long lemon twist for extra classy nuance.

Ian Fleming both invented and named the Vesper Martini in the book, Casino Royale. But it wasn’t until its 2006 film adaptation that the cinematic spy brought the cocktail to the masses. This was Daniel Craig’s debut as Bond, after all, along with the intro of his complicated love interest, Vesper Lynd. Boozy and complex, the Vesper marked the start of a new era.

Wondering whether you should shake or stir? Up to you. As Bond says in response to the bartender’s question in Casino Royale, “Do I look like I give a damn?”

Now, it’s worth noting that the dirty martini makes an appearance in 2015’s Spectre. Definitely meant for fans of olives, the dirty martini stands out with its hazy, off-yellow appearance from the addition of olive brine to an otherwise regular gin or vodka martini. Add additional splashes of dry vermouth and more brine if you want to get extra dirty — you know, in honor of all those rough-tastic fight sequences throughout Craig’s Bond movies.

*Bonus* David Niven – Martini Mocktail

• 2 oz. Ginger Beer
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
• Honey
• Lemon Peel

In a tall glass or cocktail shaker, pour the ginger beer and juices over ice. Stir gently for 10 seconds (definitely don’t shake, as the carbonated ginger beer will foam and create too much pressure). Set aside. In a cocktail glass, drizzle honey quickly around the inside. Strain the beverage into the glass, and garnish with a lemon peel. Nobody will ever know it’s a non-alcoholic martini unless you tell them, you master of ruses.

If you’re wondering who is this man and why the heck he’s on this list, there’s a small bit of ’60s pop culture that’s escaped your path. Long before Craig’s Casino Royale, there was the 1967 spy parody, Casino Royale. Starring David Niven as “the original James Bond” forced out of retirement, the film does loosely follow Fleming’s novel. That said, it’s pretty strange stuff even for a parody.

For this Bond that’s not really Bond, this non-alcoholic mocktail martini makes perfect sense. But hey, if the multiple Bonds, hallucinogenic torture or that awkward bagpipe dancing scene in Casino Royale get too weird for you, you can always spike it with some gin or vodka.