Kina Lillet (1887–1986): A liqueur made with white wine mixed with fruit liqueurs and flavored with quinine. The “Kina” in its name is derived from quinine’s main ingredient: the bark of the kina-kina (or cinchona) tree.
What type of alcohol is Kina Lillet?
Kina Lillet (1887–1986): A liqueur made with white wine mixed with fruit liqueurs and flavored with quinine. The “Kina” in its name is derived from quinine’s main ingredient: the bark of the kina-kina (or cinchona) tree.
Is Kina Lillet still available?
Kina Lillet, the aromatized wine that gives the Vesper its distinct, bitter edge,
no longer exists
. And that’s a damn shame. Kina Lillet is a key ingredient in many early 20th-century cocktails, including the Vesper and the Corpse Reviver No. 2.
What is a substitute for Kina Lillet?
Cocchi Americano ($18)
With herbal complexity, soft sweetness and a bitter bite, Cocchi is one of the best substitutions for Kina Lillet. Using the aperitif in a Vesper creates a cocktail that is dry, bright and citrusy, with a sharp bitter backbone.
Is Kina Lillet vermouth?
In the book, Bond spells out the recipe very clearly to a barman, and the drink he describes is a sort of hybrid between the classic gin martini and the then-upstart vodka martini, with a notable twist: for a flavor modifier, instead of the martini’s signature dry vermouth, Bond specifies Kina Lillet.
Who drinks Lillet?
The French
often drink Lillet by itself, chilled neat or on the rocks, just as many Italians would enjoy a vermouth. But straight-up, Lillet is more delicate than a white vermouth, tasting much more like a wine. You can see why many French enjoy a small glass of Lillet, with 17 percent alcohol, after work.
Which Lillet is the best?
Lillet Blanc
is arguably the most famous of the range, a dry-style aperitif which is pale straw in colour, with citrus tones and herbal notes.
What is James Bond’s drink of choice?
The Vesper, also known as the Vesper Martini
, was made famous by James Bond. The cocktail was invented by none other than Bond author Ian Fleming. The drink first appeared in his book “Casino Royale,” which was published in 1953, and the cocktail is named for the fictional double agent Vesper Lynd.
Is a martini better with gin or vodka?
Gin offers a more complex and botanical flavor, while
vodka can
give your martini a smoother, more modern taste. It all comes down to your own personal preferences and utilizing the spirit that best caters to your own unique pallet.
Is James Bond martini gin or vodka?
Although there is a lot of discussion on the Vesper, it is only ordered once throughout Fleming’s novels and by later books Bond is
ordering regular vodka martinis
, though he also drinks regular gin martinis.
Why did they stop making Kina Lillet?
Kina Lillet was notably a key cocktail ingredient in both James Bond’s Vesper and the Corpse Reviver No 2. However, this changed in 1985 when Bruno Borie acquired the brand from the Lillet family. In response to dwindling sales,
the drink was reformulated and the quinine was removed
.
How do you drink Lillet red?
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle cherries lightly. Add Lillet Rouge, gin, and bitters. …
- Pour into a collins glass, including the ice. Top off with a splash of seltzer water.
- Squeeze the orange twist over the drink to express citrus oils, then drop into drink. Garnish with a whole cherry.
What kind of martini did James Bond drink?
The Vesper martini
is “shaken, not stirred,” just like that famous line from James Bond. Here’s the actual instruction from James Bond for the Vesper: “Three measures of Gordon’s (gin), one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel.
Why does James Bond drink shaken not stirred?
Shaking rather than stirring a Martini has two principal effects. One:
the rapid movement of ice in shaker melts more of the ice than gentle stirring
, thereby diluting the drink. Two: the drink is likely to be cloudy rather than clear.
How long does an unopened bottle of Lillet last?
How Long Does Lillet Last? As long as it’s unopened, Lillet
lasts for years
, given that you store it properly. When you open it, its shelf life decreases significantly. Put it into a fridge, and you can enjoy it for 4 to 6 weeks, maybe even longer.
Can you drink vermouth straight?
“I enjoy vermouth on a
king cube
with some type of citrus twist—orange twists tend to complement the darker vermouths better, and lemon complements the lighter vermouths.” Vermouth can also be served neat in a chilled glass or over frozen grapes (like the vermouth service at New York’s Caffe Dante).