“Risico”

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“Bond was suddenly hungry and thirsty. He poured out a large glass of Chianti and swallowed half of it.”

Published: Part of For Your Eyes Only, 1960.

Overview: In this short story, 007 is sent to Italy to destroy a Soviet-sponsored heroin pipeline. The tale prominently features a most un-Bond-like cocktail.

What does Bond drink?

• As Bond waits in the Excelsior Bar for Kristatos to arrive, he orders a Negroni, specifying Gordon’s gin. Later, at Colomba d’Oro, 007 has a glass of the house Chianti (which Kristatos has “commended”).
• As Bond takes the cramped Laguna Express to Venice, he spills Chianti on his tablecloth.
• Bond freely spends thousand-lire notes during a drinking excursion in Venice, stopping at Harry’s Bar, Florian’s and Quadri. Unfortunately, we do not learn what he drinks. The next day, 007 goes back to Florian’s and has an Americano.
• Aboard Colombo’s ship (the Colombina), Bond is taken to a small, blowsy saloon, which contains a trolley laden with food and drink. Colombo offers 007 a choice of gin, whisky or champagne. Bond pours himself a stiff whisky and soda. As they talk, Colombo washes down some sausage with a glass of champagne. After 007 swallows down his drink, Colombo takes the whisky bottle and refreshes it, pouring four fingers of liquor into the glass.
• After the Colombina departs Albania, Bond eats breakfast, which consists of a “mound of fried eggs and bacon, washed down with hot sweet coffee laced with rum.”

It’s not just for happy hour anymore: The recognition signal used by Kristatos at the Excelsior Bar is an Alexander (vodka and cream). Bond is amused by the “creamy, feminine drink...so much cleverer than the folded newspaper, the flower in the buttonhole....It also had the great merit of being able to operate alone, without its owner.”

Other people’s drinks:

• As she stages a scene in the restaurant, Lisl Baum throws half a glass of wine into Colombo’s face. When Bond escorts her to her hotel, he asks if she would like to go someplace for a drink. Lisl declines.
• Before they attack the heroin warehouse, Colombo hands his crewmen mugs of hot coffee and rum.

Brand names: Gordon’s Gin.

Total: Seven. One Negroni, one Americano, at least two glasses of Chianti, a whisky and soda, a straight whisky, and coffee laced with rum.