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FUEL_OIL_BLACK_PEPPER_VODKA_MARTINI

                                              January 22, 2007


"Moonraker" (1955)
by Ian Fleming                                          (Page numbers
                                                        from Signet
                                                        paperback)

    "When M. poured him three fingers from the
    frosted carafe Bond took a pinch of black
    pepper and dropped it on the surface of the
    Vodka.  The pepper slowly settled to the
    bottom of the glass leaving a few grains on
    the surface which Bond dabbed up with the
    tip of his finger.  Then he tossed the cold
    liquor well to the back of his throat and
    put his glass with the dregs of pepper at           (How do you toss
    the bottom, back on the table.                      off a drink *and*
                                                        leave dregs on
    "M. gave him a glance of rather ironical            the bottom?)
    inquiry.

    "'It's a trick the Russians taught me that
    time you attached me to the Embassy in
    Moscow,' apologized Bond.  'There's
    often quite a lot of fusel oil on the
    surface of the stuff -- at least there
    used to be when it was badly distilled.
    Poisonous.  In Russia, where you get a lot of
    bath-tub liquor, it's an understood thing to
    sprinkle a little pepper in your glass.
    It takes the fuel oil to the bottom.
    I got to like the taste and now it's a habit.
    But I shouldn't have insulted the club
    Wolfschmidt,' he added with a grin. "

                    -- p.38


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