Shaken or stirred? Does it look like I give a damn...

It is one of the most iconic scenes in popular culture... the enigmatic James Bond ordering his signature cocktail - the Vodka Martini - with his signature catchphrase - "Shaken, not stirred"! No one can do it quite like Bond... the fighting, the charm, the women... he just always seems to win... so what's the deal with the Martini? And why shaken instead of the more tradition stirred option?

The first reference of Bond's Martini inclination and catch phrase appear in Ian Flemming's novel "Diamonds Are Forever" (1956) and was first brought to life on screen through Sir Sean Connery in the 1964 epic, Goldfinger. Since then it has appeared in nearly every instalment of the Bond franchise. In the 2006 remake of Casino Royale, Daniel Craig (appearing in his first Bond film) shakes things up when asked by the bartender if he wants his martini shaken or stirred by replying, "Does it look like I give a damn?".  The phrase has subsequently appeared in numerous films, TV shows and video games, and has been voted as one of the top 100 movie quotes in the last century!

So what does Bond have his Martini's shaken instead of stirred? According to research done by biochemists in Canada, shaking your Martini results in there being a higher antioxidant count than in its stirred counterpart - although I doubt 007 would care. The real reason for this preference is due to Flemming's belief that stirring a drink reduces its flavour. Enough history... let's get onto the drink itself!

The Martini is considered the original cocktail and the classic version uses gin as its base ingredient. As Bond has shown through his standard order of a Vodka Martini, there are a number of variations to the original cocktail - I will go back to basics and explain how to make the original "original cocktail". Here's how you do it:

Martini

Glass: Martini (chilled)

Ingredients: 55ml Gin
                      15ml Dry Vermouth (Cinzano)

(can easily replace the Gin with Vodka if you so wish)

Method: Add the ingredients and ice to the shaker. Shake or stir depending on your preference, and then double-strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish the drink with olives or a thin swirl of orange peel.

Result: a deliciously cool, dry and slightly spicy drink! A worldwide favourite for a reason.

Until next time... Happy drinking!