Bonzer Exploring The Cocktails Of James Bond 007

It’s hard to think of certain types of cocktail without fictional secret service agent James Bond being brought to mind. This is particularly the case with Martinis , or any cocktail which is ‘shaken and not stirred’. Throughout the many novels and film adaptations, the suave MI6 operative has enjoyed numerous classic cocktails, sometimes even with an original twist of his own creation. With the latest film in the series, Spectre being recently released, we thought it would be the perfect time to run through some of the finest cocktails that Bond has enjoyed over the years, and often popularised in the process. So, let’s take a look at the favourite cocktails of James Bond 007, starting with the first book he appeared in Casino Royale in 1953, all the way through to 2015’s Spectre movie.

Casino Royale Americano and Vesper Martini
In this original entry of the James Bond series, he orders his first cocktail the Americano.An Americano is often enjoyed before a meal and has a long history dating back to the 1860s. It was originally called the Milano Torino due the origin of its primary ingredients, but was later renamed as it proved to be highly popular with American tourists during prohibition. The drink is also enjoyed in the subsequent books From Russia With Love and For Your Eyes Only . Later on in the story, Bond orders a Vesper Martini a drink of his own invention, but one which is still enjoyed today.

Americano ingredients and recipe:
● 1 ounce of Campari
● 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
● Club soda
● Lemon twist or a slice of orange
● Ice cubes
❖ Pour the Campari and sweet vermouth into an ice cube filled Old Fashioned glass
❖ Add the club soda to taste
❖ Garnish with the lemon twist or slice of orange

Vesper Martini ingredients and recipe:
● 3 measures of Gordon’s Gin
● 1 measure of vodka
● ½ a measure of Kina Lillet (now Lillet Blanc) or otherwise Cocchi Americano
● Lemon peel
❖ Pour the gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc into a cocktail shaker and shake
❖ Pour the mixture into a champagne glass
❖ Garnish with the lemon peel

Diamonds Are Forever Old Fashioned, Black Velvet, and Stinger
In Diamonds Are Forever , bond makes his way through a fair share of cocktails. The Old Fashioned makes an appearance as it also does in Live and Let Die and Thunderball . So too do the lesser known Black Velvet and Stinger cocktails which we also take a look at how to create below.

Old Fashioned ingredients and recipe:
● 3 ounces of bourbon whiskey
● A couple of dashes of Angostura bitters
● 1 sugar cube
● 2 slices of orange
● 1 Maraschino cherry
● Ice cubes
❖ Place the sugar cube into an Old Fashioned glass and pour the bitters onto it
❖ Add one of the slices of orange
❖ Use a cocktail muddler to muddle these ingredients together
❖ Fill up the glass with ice cubes
❖ Add the bourbon whiskey
❖ Stir the ingredients together
❖ Garnish with the second slice of orange and the Maraschino cherry

Black Velvet ingredients and recipe:
● 4 ounces of Champagne (Bond is very partial to Bollinger , amongst others)
● 4 ounces of stout
❖ Pour in the Champagne
❖ Slowly pour the stout into the Champagne

Stinger ingredients and recipe:
● 1 ¾ ounces of Brandy
● ¾ of an ounce of white crème de menthe
● Crushed ice
❖ Add the crushed ice into an Old Fashioned glass
❖ Pour the brandy and white crème de menthe in and stir together

Thunderball Rum Collins
The Rum Collins is a variation on the classic Tom Collins cocktail which dates back to 1876. It is the Caribbean version of the drink and is sometimes known as the Ron Collins, due to the word Ron meaning rum in Spanish. It’s the ideal drink for Bond to enjoy while in Palmyra, Bahamas home to his nemesis in the movie, Emilio Largo.

Rum Collins ingredients and recipe:
● 2 ounces of light rum
● The juice of 1 lime
● Club soda
● 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
● A slice of lemon
● A Maraschino cherry
● Ice cubes
❖ Shake the rum, lime juice, and powdered sugar in a Boston shaker
❖ Pour the mixture into an ice cube filled Collins glass
❖ Add the club soda to taste and garnish with the lemon and Maraschino cherry

Dr. No Dry
Vodka Martini
The Dry Vodka Martini is surely James Bond’s most famous cocktail of choice and is the drink which brought the phrase ‘shaken and not stirred’ to public notoriety. In the movie, the phrase is spoken by the film’s namesake villain Dr. Julius No, and Bond (played by Sean Connery) doesn’t actually utter it himself until the Goldfinger film of 1964. Whatever its origins, it’s remained a classic cocktail to this day and is now as popular as the Gin Martini that it originally evolved from.

Dry Vodka Martini ingredients and recipe
● 1 ½ ounces of premium vodka (do not use a cheap substitute in this cocktail)
● ¾ of an ounce of dry vermouth (the less vermouth used, the drier the Martini will be)
● A lemon twist or 3 olives
● Ice cubes
❖ Pour the vodka and vermouth into a mixing tin filled with the ice cubes
❖ Shake the mixture don’t stir it!
❖ Strain off the liquid into a chilled Martini glass or else a cocktail glass
❖ Garnish with the lemon twist or olives

 

Goldfinger Mint Julep
The film and novel Goldfinger is named after its antagonist, Auric Goldfinger. He and Bond meet at his horse ranch in Kentucky, so aptly enjoy a cocktail that is still consumed to this day in very large numbers at the annual Kentucky Derby a mint julep.

Mint julep ingredients and recipe:
● A handful of mint leaves
● 2 sugar cubes
● 2 ½ ounces of bourbon whiskey
● A sprig of mint
● Crushed ice
❖ Place the mint leaves and sugar cubes into a pewter julep cup, Collins, or double Old Fashioned glass
❖ Use a muddler to muddle the mixture until the sugar has broken down
❖ Add the bourbon whiskey
❖ Add the crushed ice and stir
❖ Garnish with the spring of mint
Risico may be an unfamiliar title to all but the most dedicated Bond fans. It is actually part of the short story collection For Your Eyes Only. In the book, the Negroni in question is enjoyed with a generous splash of Gordon’s Gin.

Negroni ingredients and recipe:
● 1 ½ ounces of Campari
● 1 ½ ounces of sweet vermouth
● 1 ½ ounces of Gordon’s Gin
● An orange twist or slice of orange
● Ice cubes
❖ Add the ice cubes to an Old Fashioned glass
❖ Pour in the liquids
❖ Garnish with the orange twist or slice of orange

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Vodka Tonic with Angostura Bitters
If you’re busy fighting the world’s most devious criminals, you don’t always have too much time to create complicated cocktails, so most of James Bond’s drinks of choice are usually very quick to prepare. None more so than the Vodka Tonic he enjoys in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service , which is accentuated with a little Angostura bitters.

Vodka Tonic with Angostura bitters ingredients and recipe
● 2 ounces of premium vodka (do not use a cheap substitute in this cocktail)
● Tonic water
● A couple of dashes of Angostura bitters
● A wedge of lime
● Ice cubes
❖ Pour the vodka into an ice cube filled highball glass
❖ Add tonic water to taste
❖ Add the Angostura bitters
❖ Garnish with the wedge of lime
Die Another Day Mojito Die Another Day is a film that is not based on an original novel by James Bond creator and author Ian Fleming , but the filmmakers made sure there are plenty of Bond trademarks in it, including a classic cocktail. As much of the film is set in Cuba, this time it’s appropriately enough a Mojito.

Mojito ingredients and recipe:
● 2 ounces of light rum (do not use a cheap substitute in this cocktail)
● Club soda
● 2 teaspoons of sugar
● A handful of mint leaves
● 1 lime cut into two halves
● A sprig of mint
● Ice cubes
❖ Add the mint leaves, sugar, and a splash of club soda into a highball glass and muddle with a
cocktail muddler until the sugar has dissolved
❖ Squeeze both halves of the lime into the glass, then leave one half in the glass
❖ Pour in the rum, stir the mixture, then add the ice cubes
❖ Top up with the remaining club soda and garnish with the sprig of mint

Skyfall and Spectre
In the previously released Bond film, Skyfall , there was a little bit of a public outcry as Bond’s official drink of choice in the film was… Heineken. Yes, that’s right, a bottle of lager! This was obviously a classic example of sponsored product placement, but many viewers just didn’t seem to think it fit with Bond’s image even though in the novels he was occasionally partial to Löwenbräu, Red Stripe, and Miller High Life, so perhaps this is not so out of place after all. In the most recent film Spectre, Bond thankfully returns to form, indulging in the iconic vodka Martini as well as numerous other Champagne and whiskey drinks. This time the vodka in question is the premium brand Belvedere , so we imagine product placement was again in full swing. At least it was a bit more in line with his traditional image on this occasion!

At Bonzer we love to create classic cocktails and stock the cocktail supplies you need to make all manner of exotic drinks, so if you have any questions about our cocktail equipment , cocktail accessories, or any of our other products or services, please email sales@mitchellcooper.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1825 765 511.
So, why not treat yourself to one of the James Bond cocktails mentioned above and let us know how you fared in the comments section? After all, you only live twice!
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Bonzer’s New Heritage Range Cocktail Strainers

 

Since the 1930’s, Bonzer has been leading the way in the cocktail industry and even inventing new bar equipment in the process, such as the Hawthorne Strainer and the Twisted Bar Spoon style. In our latest advancement in the field of cocktail equipment, we are proud to announce our brand new Heritage Range Cocktail Strainers.
The Heritage Range consists of four cocktail strainers which are designed with performance and style in mind, namely: the Hawthorne Strainer, Fine Strainer, Julep Strainer, and the Sprung Julep Strainer. Here, we take a look at the individual features of each of the strainers and examine how they can be used to their fullest to make perfect cocktails every time.

Bonzer Two Ear Heritage Hawthorne Strainer

 

The Bonzer Two Ear Heritage Hawthorne Strainer is the ideal all round cocktail strainer and is a refinement of the industry standard Hawthorne Strainer that Bonzer first invented. Its weight is evenly balanced and its distinctive ‘Devil Horn’ shaped prongs or ‘ears’ rest on the mixing tin for a firm and tight fit. It has an antique style spring which helps it to stay snug and also prevents any ice overspill. Made in the UK, this strainer is highly durable and is the result of years of refinement.

Bonzer Heritage Sprung Julep Strainer

 

The Bonzer Heritage Sprung Julep Strainer makes it easy to quickly switch between drinks, and its antique style spring provides a rigid fit that ensures ice cannot escape. As this strainer has no ears, you can strain directly from the glass, and it works best when creating drinks which are stirred and not shaken. Back in their aviation heyday, Bonzer provided the official barware for Concorde , and a similar strainer was a permanent guest aboard all their flights, ensuring its passengers were suitably well looked after and relaxed. This flexible and efficient strainer is still lovingly made in the UK.

Bonzer Heritage Julep Strainer

 

The Bonzer Heritage Julep Strainer is perfect for throwing drinks, as it features a unique ridge design which allows for more control when pouring. Its one piece design ensures it is both hygienic and durable, and will be your bartender’s best friend for years to come.

Bonzer Heritage Fine Strainer

 

The Heritage Fine Strainer has a wide collar and a fine mesh, which has been designed for straining drinks that have been shaken. The round base of the mesh means the flow won’t be impeded by a buildup of waste, so nothing gets in the way of your creation.

Bonzer Heritage Strainer Set

 

The complete Bonzer Heritage Strainer Set provides even the most adventurous bartender with the tools they need to create all types of classic and modern cocktails. Whatever drinks are requested, you can be sure that the Heritage range offers a complete practical solution that will look after your customers and your bar for many years to come.

Various finishes available

All Heritage Strainers are available in a choice of four finishes: gold, copper, silver, and stainless steel.
Gold : gold is known for its ability to never tarnish, and these gold plated strainers will last a lifetime, but will also give your bar the look of luxury that can set it apart from the competition.
Copper : the copper strainers are copper plated and are perfect for fashionable establishments which want their barware to stand out from the crowd, while still keeping a sense of authenticity.
Silver : our silver strainers are electroplated with nickel silver and so remain hard wearing, whilst retaining that feeling of premium, old fashioned class.
Stainless steel : these strainers are made from food grade 304 stainless steel and as such are dishwasher safe and designed to withstand even the most busy of commercial establishments.

Which cocktail strainer is right for you?

The Heritage Range includes strainers for all types of mixology, however each has its own advantages and limitations when making cocktails.

In general, Hawthorne strainers tend to be most suitable when using mixing tins, but are harder to clean then Julep strainers.

Julep strainers usually work best when using cocktail glasses rather than tins. The are easier to control and easier to clean, but can be slower to use.

Fine mesh strainers are best used when you need to create a perfectly smooth cocktail.

You’ll probably find a use for each of these in your bar, so why not buy the Strainer Set and find your own personal favourite!

Designed with your business in mind.

We created the Heritage Range so that establishments could have a set of tools that covered all manner of cocktails. Each strainer is unique in design and function, but they all share some similar features.

All Heritage Strainers feature a curved and comfortable ergonomically designed handle, which allows you to use whatever straining method you prefer. Furthermore, the wide handle provides the perfect space for branding that will be seen clearly by your customers, and will be uniform across the range.

Should you so desire, we can brand your products using screen printing, pad printing, etching, engraving, or impact branding.
All Heritage Strainers come in retail packaging, either boxed individually, or as part of a full set.

Form and function combined

Our years of experience have allowed us to understand the exact needs of the professional mixologist, so we designed these strainers with you in mind. As you are no doubt aware, the appearance of an establishment is often judged as much as the quality of the cocktails it produces, and with the Heritage Range, you can be sure your customers will have a positive first impression and will feel in expert hands.

So, if you’re appetite has been whetted and you would like to find out more about our Heritage Range Cocktail Strainers, please email us at sales@mitchellcooper.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1825 765 511.

 

 

5 Bonzer Products We’re Looking Forward To In 2015

Recently we looked at some of the products that made a big impact in 2014. Now, we want to look forward and take a look at the products that we’re most excited about in 2015, including brand new ranges (PressDome, Nemox Gelato) and fresh versions of classic products (Bonzer Heritage Barware, Bonzer Portioners). So, without further ado, here are five Bonzer products to keep an eye out for over the next 12 months:

1. Bonzer Heritage Barware

We are always looking to build on our range of barware products. In 2014 we released four brand new Barware Kits as well as unique items like the Coolbar Glass Froster, Aladin 007 Cocktail Smoker and Ice Ball Mould. In 2015 we are going to start the year by launching our Heritage Barware range in April. The range will consist of four strainers and will take its design influence from previous and current Bonzer barware products, offering a uniform appearance and shared handle design. They will be packaged in craft cartons with large black images of the products printed on the front.

Here’s a sneak peek of the range:

 2. Pac ‘n’ Vac Storage Containers

Fresh from winning the Food Preparation Equipment Award at last year’s The Caterer’s Product Excellence Awards, we are expecting a big year for our Pac ‘n’ Vac range of vacuum storage containers. Available in a variety of sizes and guaranteed to keep your food fresh for longer, the containers are being picked up by customers both UK and overseas, with recent new fans including The Restaurant Group (Frankie & Benny’s / Garfunkel’s) adding them to their kitchens.

3. Nemox Gelato

We exclusively launched the Nemox Gelato in the UK last year and are very happy to see its popularity grow. Dubbed “the ice cream machine of the future”, it’s a product that can deliver artisan-crafted ice cream for even the most discerning of diners.

4. Bonzer PressDome

The Bonzer PressDome is a brand new product for 2015. A range of vacuum lid covers that form a strong seal to retain both freshness and heat. They are proving extremely popular in the healthcare industry, with both hospitals and care homes seeing how they help them deliver better quality food.

5. Bonzer Portioners

More and more businesses in the bar and catering industries are looking at portion control as a way of reducing costs. This is one area where we were ahead of the curve. Our Portioners have been around for some time now, and offer a great way for catering businesses to reduce costs by using measured portions.

In May we will be launching a new range of Portioners to complement our current range.

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