Cocktails & Espionage: A C&D Tools Secret Worth Toasting To
Celebrating National Cocktail Day with a Twist of Mystery
March is a month of intrigue, of covert missions, whispered secrets, and, of course, damn good cocktails. This National Cocktail Day (March 24th) , we’re pulling back the curtain on something that most people don’t know about C&D Tools .
Ready for a little adventure? We’re talking spies, martinis, and a bit of design history you’ll want to raise your glass to.
The Bond Between Cocktails & Espionage
Picture this:
It’s March 17, 1952. Ian Fleming, former British naval intelligence officer turned writer, sits down at his golden typewriter and begins crafting the very first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.
Within those pages, 007 orders a cocktail that would become the stuff of legend, the Vesper Martini.
"Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel."
Bond’s love of the Vesper Martini was more than just a drink, it was a statement. Smooth, powerful, and just a little bit dangerous. The cocktail itself became a symbol of elegance, much like Bond’s entire persona: sleek, sophisticated, and always ready for action.
(Side note: If you’re shaking martinis, we’ll let you have your moment, but most of us prefer to stir, just for the record.)
Fast-forward to March 1977. The first teaser trailer for The Spy Who Loved Me drops in anticipation of one of the most iconic Bond films ever made. As always, Bond is blending action with elegance, sipping cocktails, dodging bullets, and driving the latest Aston Martin. It’s a cinematic cocktail of sophistication and danger, and it was in the spy world, after all, that Bond's preference for top-tier barware was forged.
But there’s more to this than just Bond’s taste in martinis. There’s something in the DNA of espionage that connects precision, tools, and the art of mixing a perfect drink.
And that, friends, brings us to our little C&D secret...
The Hidden Tool in the C&D Tools Logo
Now, let’s get to the heart of the story, the C&D Tools logo. You know it well. It's clean. It’s sharp. It speaks to quality, precision, and craftsmanship.
But here’s the twist: It’s not just a logo, it’s an homage to a piece of history that many don’t recognize.
You may look at our logo and think it is a toothpick through an olive, which is a reasonable assumption given we are a company that makes cocktail barware BUT you'd be wrong!
The C&D logo is inspired by the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, a tool so essential to spies and commandos during WWII that it became iconic. Designed for the OSS (the Office of Strategic Services, the WWII predecessor to the CIA) and British special forces, the Fairbairn-Sykes knife was built for efficiency, stealth, and precision.
Much like the world of espionage, where tools must be sharp, effective, and ready for action, C&D Tools reflects those same principles.
Every item we create is crafted with precision and purpose, making it the perfect tool for those who appreciate quality and attention to detail, whether it’s in a covert mission or your home bar.
And the secrets go deeper than that!
Here’s the kicker.
Our Hawthorne Strainer is designed directly from the logo, which itself was inspired by the Fairbairn-Sykes knife!
Think about it: our logo, inspired by a knife that represented the pinnacle of espionage tools, was then translated into our strainer design, so you can mix like a pro and keep a piece of that secret history with you every time you shake or stir.
A Visual Clue: The C&D Strainer & The OSS Knife
Still skeptical? Let’s lay out the evidence for you:
Take a good look at the C&D Hawthorne Strainer and compare it to the OSS Fairbairn-Sykes knife. Notice the symmetry? The sharp, clean lines?
The functional, precise design that’s all about getting the job done?
That’s not an accident.
It’s all connected, the sharp lines, the precision, the legacy of craftsmanship, and the strainer serve as a subtle nod to the world of espionage that so many of us love to fantasize about.
Because let’s face it, mixing cocktails and serving them with the best tools is a mission of its own kind.
Our Hawthorne Strainer, like the Fairbairn-Sykes knife, was designed for efficiency. It’s a tool meant for those who appreciate craftsmanship and the art of making things that last. And much like a great espionage gadget, it’ll do its job without fail, be it sifting ice out of your cocktail or serving up the perfect martini.
We didn’t just design the strainer off of any random object. We took inspiration from precision, durability, and the legacy of high-quality design that espionage and craftsmanship share. And here’s the thing: Every C&D Tool has a story. Whether it’s the history of espionage, the commitment to American-made quality, or the pursuit of perfection in mixology, every piece carries its own mission.
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It…
Mix a Vesper Martini: Bond’s way. Shaken or stirred, you do you.
Ingredients:
3 ounces gin
1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
Lemon peel, for garnish
Instructions:
- In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, vodka, and dry vermouth.
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker, shake OR stir (your call!)
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a thin slice of lemon peel, for garnish .
In both cocktails and espionage , details matter . From the tools to the recipe, it’s about mastering your craft, and having the best gear for the job. Because if you want to mix like a pro, you’ve got to have the right tools. 🍸🕵️♂️
Cheers,
Kris & Rebecca