Home

Vesper discovered in Camden?

Type of Post: 
Best of Show
Destination: 
Port Clyde, ME
Best of Show: 
Cocchi Americano at French & Brawn Market, Camden

Cocchi Americano LabelI first tried Cocchi Americano at Drink in Boston on my birthday a couple of years ago. It's an aperitivo made from moscato d'asti and one of the herbal ingredients is cinchona bark, the same ingredient that gives quinine its flavor and is found in a variety of other bitter aperitifs from France and Italy. I enjoy an aperitif now and then. especially with a rich shellfish dish, and I find Lillet Blanc too sweet for my tastes, so I tried to find the Cocchi Americano and never succeeded - until now.

I found this long-lost liquid at French & Brawn Marketplace in Camden, Maine, which is also a good place to find Maine Mustard Pickles from Morse's and other interestnig treats.

James Bond fans of a cocktailian bent may recall Bond's recipe for a Vesper cocktail, which he invented in Casino Royale. That drink called for Kina Lillet, a quinine-laced Lillet that is no longer made. I think the Cocchi Americano is a step in the right direction, although never having tried the original Kina Lillet I have no way of knowing how close or far the Cocchi and the Lillet Blanc are from the original Kina Lillet. I suppose the only solution is diligent and patient research with varying blends until I become a superspy.

Sigh.

Of course, this is strictly in the interest of Science. I will report back!

  • By John at 02/26/2012 - 13:09
  • Login to post comments

superspy researches #1

Richmond and I tried the Vesper "by the book", down at the club. Adhering as closely as possible to the text from Casino Royale with expert advice from Esquire magazine, we used three parts Tanqueray to one of Stolichnaya vodka and a half of the Cocchi Americano. Naturally it was shaken,not stirred.

It was delicious, but it made a Moonraker-sized cocktail so we pondered and cogitated and just a little inebriated we collected our thoughts:

It's obvious that the cocktail, while tasty, owes something to its literary roots. The story is that it was created for Fleming by a friend to celebrate Bond. Looking at the recipe, we see:

  • Russian Vodka and British Gin
  • The components are famously shaken, not stirred
  • Kina Lillet to add a bitter note to the herby Vermouth 

It sounds like the sort of thing you might come up with to commemorate a cold-war superspy. That's my theory.

Back to the drink:

I thought the drink was a bit strong/dry at 8:1, but not unreasonable considering the circumstances. But the Cocchi Americano, while Vermouthy and with a touch of bitter, I find too sweet. Of course, we have no way of knowing if the original Kina Lillet was just as sweet, but for my next Vesper, I may add a dash of Orange Bitters, or go half-and-half Cocchi Americano and Martini and Rossi Dry Vermouth.

  • By John at 03/14/2012 - 23:17
  • Login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.