Well Mr. Bond, one of the ingredients is no longer produced, which makes creating your signature cocktail a bit difficult.

Bond’s martini is officially named the Vesper, after the double agent Bond is romantically engaged with in Casino Royale. The recipe from Ian Flemming’s 1953 book is “Three measures of Gordon’s, one fo vodka, half of measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, and then add a large slice of lemon peel.”

The missing piece

The ingredient in question is Kina Lillet, which was dropped from the market in 1986. While Lillet Blanc is similar it lacks the bitter edge that Kina would have given the drink. If you’re looking for that pleasant, bitter bite, Coochi Americano is another popular option. I’ve tried several variations of this recipe, so far this is the best alternative that I’ve found: