James Bond first ordered his trademark drink when he met CIA agent Felix Leiter in an early chapter in Ian Fleming’s debut Novel Casino Royale, first published in 1953. And here is the extract of Fleming’s book if you didnt get time to read it yet:

“‘A dry martini,’ he said. ‘One. In a deep champagne goblet.’
‘Oui, monsieur.’
‘Just a moment. Three measures of gin, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?’
‘Certainly, monsieur.’ The barman seemed pleased with the idea.
‘Gosh, that’s certainly a drink,’ said Leiter.
Bond laughed. ‘When I’m . . . er . . . concentrating,’ he explained, ‘I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink’s my own invention. I’m going to patent it when I can think of a good name.’

‘Vesper,’ she said. ‘Vesper Lynd.’… She smiled. ‘Some people like it, others don’t. I’m just used to it.’
‘I think it’s a fine name,’ said Bond. An idea struck him. ‘Can I borrow it?’ “

So next time out with your friends, order a Vesper rather then a Watermelon Martini, the Vesper is  in the know , Watermelon out of season anyway. Kina Lillet was created at the end of the 19th century in where wine-based tonics flavoured with quinine were popular. The same tonic which is used in Tonic water, and Gin and Tonic, and the Vesper Martini with Gin and Kina Lillet The ingredient acts as a muscle relaxant and has been used for centuries to treat malaria.

PS: we can arrange a Cocktail Masterclass for you and your friends where everybody gets behind the bar to shake his own drink(s) with our mixologists.