Felix Leiter, not Bond, is the one who orders it. In Ian Fleming’s Live and Let Die, Leiter asks for medium-dry Martinis made with House of Lords gin and Martini Rossi. House of Lords gin is believed to be Booth’s House of Lords Dry Gin, which is the closest match we can identify.
In the books
The drink comes from Leiter’s order in the novel, where he insists on the gin and the vermouth by name. Our catalogue records the reference from a single source, so we are cautious about identifying the exact bottle.
Finding it now
The Whisky Exchange describes a Booth’s House of Lords dry gin bottled in the 1960s for the export market, with a pale straw colour from a short time in cask; the bottle we found there is out of stock. Another dealer lists a 1970s bottling at 40% in 75cl, and Wine-Searcher shows a global average of about US$238 per 750ml, ex-tax. These are old bottles, so treat them as collectibles and check the seal and fill level. You must be of legal drinking age to buy. A separate House of Lords Limited Edition Gin, made for the House of Lords, is sold by the Houses of Parliament Shop at £45; it is a modern gin and not the bottle from the book. See also food and drink and the films.
Specifications
| Closest match | Booth’s House of Lords Dry Gin (export bottling, 1960s) |
|---|---|
| Strength and size | 40%; 75cl for a 1970s bottling |
| Colour | Pale straw, from short cask ageing (dealer description) |
| Availability | Out of production; collector bottles only |
| Do not confuse with | House of Lords Limited Edition Gin, 70cl, £45 (a modern gin) |
