When The Handmade Cocktail Company learned that Britain's most dapper and charming secret agent was forced to partake in a particular lager-beer recently, they rushed to produce a ready-to-drink Vesper so that he would never be kept wanting for his favourite cocktail again.
The concept of the ‘Vintage Cocktail’ range is simple – you get all the ingredients for a superb cocktail pre-mixed, all you have to do is pour it over ice, stir (Don't shake - that would be madness - just don't tell him we said that), then strain off into your glass and garnish (in this instance with a twist of lemon). Each bottle carries a stamp showing its year of manufacture.
The nose opens with a bouquet of heady juniper and zingy vodka with the floral dimension of the vermouth swiftly following.
The palate displays supreme elegance with the vodka laying a refreshing citrus quality on top of the delicate botanical balance of the gin, beneath this there is an underlying honeyed sweetness leading to drying notes of pine resin.
The finish retains floral juniper notes, with a hint of quinine bitterness, and lingers for a surprising long time with notes of juniper, cream and a slight herbaceousness.
The key to this cocktail is balance, the gin, vodka and vermouth play-off each other to create a sum greater than the total of their parts. It is easy to see why this cocktail is needed after a mission defending Queen and Country!
