Secret agents. Double agents. Public relations agents...

If you've been reading my posts the last couple of weeks, you'll notice that I have been getting bombarded with all things Bond. I only posted the two or three things I thought the most interesting. Or funny. (You'd be amazed at the incredible variety of stuff that gets tied-in to a major motion picture release.)

Then I got an email that started: "Bond got it wrong." Ok. I'm listening. It went on to explain that cinema's most famous drinker of martinis "shaken, not stirred" wasn't drinking a martini. And what he was drinking was meant to be stirred, not shaken. Interesting.

Apparently, the email continues, when Bond creator, Ian Fleming, was writing Casino Royale he wanted a unique cocktail for his hero. A fan of the classic martini, made with Plymouth gin, the same English gin used in the original martini, (and, as you are guessing by now, the people who sent me the email), Fleming decided to give it a twist. He added vodka to the mix and dubbed it The Vesper Martini. Why the Vesper? Vesper Lynd is Bond's beautiful assistant/Russian double agent in the book.

To toast with a Vesper Martini of your own you'll need:
3 oz. Plymouth Gin
1 oz. Absolut vodka
1/2 oz. Lillet vermouth

Stir until ice cold.
Impress date with knowledge of martini history.
Serve in chilled martini glass with large, thin slice of lemon peel.
Enjoy.

www.plymouthgin.com

This comes courtesy of The Ultimate Tailgater's Handbook, written by my friends over at TheUltimateTailgater.com.

A classic to keep you warm while you're out tailgating this weekend.







Hot Buttered Rum

4 ounces dark rum
1 tablespoon butter, plus 1 teaspoon for topping
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
Nutmeg
Powdered cloves
Boiling water
Cinnamon sticks

In a large mug combine the rum, 1 tablespoon butter, brown sugar, and a pinch each of the nutmeg and cloves. Add the boiling water to fill the mug, and stir the contents until the sugar has dissolved. Pour into two serving mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and top with the remaining 1 teaspoon butter.

Makes 2 servings.

Halloween is over, so that can only mean one thing: Anheuser-Busch is rolling out this holiday season’s limited-edition brews. You can read the details on their Mich Celebrate Chocolate, Mich Celebrate Vanilla Oak, and Bud Brewmasters’ Private Reserve here.

I’m thinking great guy gift for your boss, coworkers, poker buddies, doorman, girlfriend’s dad… or just to have on hand for a special toast.

I’m not sure what they were thinking with the bottle designs on the Chocolate and Vanilla Oak, but trust me, it’s what’s inside that counts.