Dukes Hotel Vesper and Flemming 89 for Bond's 50th Anniversary.

Just when you thought it was safe to got back to the internet - safe from James Bond references that is - here comes another one.  With the release of Bond 26 "Skyfall" a mere 19 days away, the Dukes Hotel (pictured above) have chosen to utilise this most auspicious occasion, that of the release of another Bond movie & the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise, to bring to everyones attention that actually, The Duke's bar is where Bond's famous author Ian Flemming used to drink, and is said to have coined the phrase "shaken not stirred".

The eponymous Bond classic drunk by him following a catastrophic loss in Casino Royale is on the menu, and is named the "Vesper" after the character in Casino Royale Vesper Lynd, and is made from 3 parts No.3 London Dry Gin, Lillet Blanc, Angostura bitters and in honour of the supposed real life Vesper Lynd, Polish Born Christine Granville, spy and reporter, 1 measure of Polish Potocki Vodka.

Not content with merely one Bond themed cocktail, award winning head bartender Alessandra Palazzi has also created the Flemming 89, this particular cocktail has some sort of marketing affiliation with the Jermyn Street Perfumier Floris, who are famous for being Bond's scent of choice with their No. 89 fragrance.  The cocktail utilises a hefty 75ml measure of Vodka with vanilla beans, sugared rose, English vermouth, Lillet, a few drops of chocolate liqeur, a Vodka float and a spritz of rose liqeur.

The cocktails are immensly popular, despite a £17 pound price tag, the Vesper sells at the rate of 50 pr night, and the Flemming 89 at £19 plus service fares similarly well, but then when you are the spiritual home of Bond and it's creator, sticking the Bond name on something does deserve somewhat more than the attention warranted to a conventional bar creating any "Bond themed cocktails".