What is Lillet, the aperitif in James Bond's Vesper cocktail?

Lillet Blanc is an essential ingredient in the classic Vesper cocktail. Photo: Michael Cheang/The Star

Back in 2011, I teamed up with Malaysian bartender Amanda Wan to recreate some of the most iconic drinks in pop culture, including the White Russian from The Big Lebowski, the champagne cocktail from Casablanca, and of course, the Vesper, the drink James Bond supposedly invents on a whim in 2006’s Casino Royale.

But since then, something about the Vesper has always bothered me. You see, the original recipe Bond recites in the movie goes: “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake over ice, then add a thin slice of lemon peel.”