James Bond gets drunk in Washington: The Vesper

President Bartlet: “Can I tell you what's messed up about James Bond?”
Charlie Young: “Nothing.”
President Bartlet: “Shaken, not stirred, will get you cold water with a dash of gin and dry vermouth. The reason you stir it with a special spoon is so not to chip the ice. James is ordering a weak martini and being snooty about it.”

James Bond is widely known for ordering Martinis, shaken, not stirred. As the quote indicates above, it's an attempt at sounding like Dr. Awesome that essentially results in receiving a slightly watered down drink. Embracing this for the day, I decided to double down on my James Bond-y ness and not only have his weak drink, but also have one that he (or Ian Fleming) created... except with a local twist.

In Casino Royale (1953), James Bond is specific in describing the drink that he wants to the bartender.

"A dry martini," he said. "One. In a deep champagne goblet."
"Oui, monsieur."
"Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, and then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?"

Mr. Bond goes on to indicate that this drink is the Vesper, named after the beautiful and doomed double agent.

Now, some changes have to be made.

• Kina Lillet: It doesn't exist anymore, what is readily available, however, is Lillet Blanc.
• Gordon's: It is time to make this drink Washingtonian, while some Ebb and Flow Gin (Sound Spirits) would have been my choice, I've currently got a (still delicious) bottle of Voyager (Pacific Distillery).
• Vodka: Keep it in Washington, make it DryFly.
• Ice: Water it down a little less, use king sized ice cubes.

Please note that this is a drink made for those with a James Bond level tolerance. It's the size of 2 normal martinis. So watch out... and enjoy.

Vesper

3 oz Voyager Gin
1 oz Dryfly Vodka
1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
large lemon peel

Add liquid and ice.
Shake.
Strain into a large martini glass.
Express lemon peel and drop in.

Cheers to that's the SPIRIT for helping out with the quotes.