GoldenEye (1995)

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Trevelyan: “I might as well ask you if all the vodka martinis
ever silence the screams of all the men you’ve killed...”

Overview: After a six year absence, James Bond returns to the big screen, this time in the form of Pierce Brosnan. 007 goes up against the former 006, Alec Trevelyan, who plans to exact revenge on England with a hijacked Russian space weapon. Bond also gets a new boss, a female M with a taste for bourbon (the Minister’s kind of woman).

What does Bond drink?

  • Bond’s first drink is merely implied. Immediately after his race with Xenia Onatopp, Caroline (an MI6 employee who has been sent by M to “evaluate” 007) demands that Bond stop the car. He pulls his faithful Aston Martin DB5 to the side of the road, and opens the car’s armrest to reveal a chilled bottle of Bollinger Grande Annee 1988 and a glass. Caroline says, “James, you’re incorrigible...what am I going to do with you?” Bond replies, “Well, let’s toast your evaluation, shall we?” As he leans in to kiss her, he adds, “A very thorough evaluation.” While it’s safe to assume the champagne was consumed, we do not actually see Bond open the bottle.
  • While introducing himself to Onatopp at the Monte Carlo Casino (after beating her at chemin de fer), Bond gestures for a waiter to take their drink orders, and says, “Vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. And for you?” Onatopp replies, “The same.” Bond asks, “How do you take it?” Onatopp answers, “Straight up, with a twist.” Both Onatopp and Bond depart before the martinis arrive.
  • During 007’s meeting with M, she asks, “Would you care for a drink?” Bond replies, “Thank you. Your predecessor kept some Cognac in the top drawer of—” M interjects, “I prefer bourbon. Ice?” Bond says yes. M goes to the cabinet behind her desk, pours two drinks from a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Black Label, and adds ice from an ice bucket (blooper fans have noted that ice cannot actually be seen in 007’s drink). Both M and Bond drink several times (he takes three noticeable sips). Bond puts the glass down as he leaves M’s office.
  • Serious bourbon connoisseurs know that Jack Daniel’s is not a bourbon, but a Tennessee whiskey. Tennessee whiskey is filtered through maple charcoal after it has been aged in the barrel. True bourbon can not go through any extra process that adds color or flavor. In the Statistics section, we’ll go ahead and count Jack Daniel’s as bourbon, but we wanted you to know there is a difference.

Other people’s drinks:

  • In GoldenEye, the other characters seem to drink more than Bond does. At the reception before the demonstration of the Tiger helicopter, the guests are drinking glasses of champagne.
  • During Bond’s meeting with M, two decanters of liquor (possibly brandy or scotch) can be seen to her left.
  • When Bond meets with Valentin Zukovsky, the Russian goes to a large bar cabinet behind his desk and pours himself a drink from a bottle of Smirnoff Black Label vodka. He does not offer 007 a drink.
  • When Bond is being interrogated by Defense Minister Mishkin, General Ourumov appears to be drunk. During the subsequent tank chase, he drinks several times from a small silver flask. Later on the train, Ourumov takes a drink in front of Trevelyan.

Memorable quotes:

006: “Closing time, James. Last call!”
007: “Buy me a pint!”

Caroline: “I enjoy a spirited ride as much as the next girl, but...”

Zukovsky: “James Bond. Charming, sophisticated secret agent. Shaken but not stirred.”

Product placement: The aforementioned bottle of Bollinger champagne in the DB5’s arm rest is displayed prominently. Bollinger also gets a plug during the closing credits. While it’s only a mixer, Bond drives a tank through a Perrier truck in St. Petersburg, sending cans in every direction.

By the book: Named after Goldeneye, the Jamaican estate where Ian Fleming wrote the 007 series.

Total: Two. At least half of a bottle of champagne, and a Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.


Original material © 2001 The Minister of Martinis
theminister@atomicmartinis.com
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