John Ridley and the $9,800 Martini

Posted on March 28, 2005

John Ridley who wrote the screenplays for the hit feature films Three Kings and U-Turn, decided to order one of the Algonquin Hotel's special-ordered martinis, which contain a several-carat diamond submerged in the vodka. Ridley shared his experience with the $490 a sip drink last month on National Public Radio. After downing the drink, he then sold the 1.5-carat diamond and donated the proceeds to the Walter Reed Society, which assists relatives of troops under care at the Army hospital, to bring awareness to the charity.

"When it comes to war, most people get in their heads one of two outcomes: Either the troops will come back to their loved ones, or they'll be killed," he said.
"But it gets out of people's minds the number of people injured. No matter how you feel about the war, you have to think of these soldiers."

So, how did the $9,800 martini taste? Unfortunately, not so good. He ordered a vesper martini, the drink made famous by Ian Fleming in the original James Bond novels. The original vesper uses gin and Lillet instead of vermouth, which Ridley didn't care for at all. But since the charity netted $8,000 on the deal, everyone--except Ridley's wife--is happy. Mrs. Ridley thought the whole stunt was silly and called him an idiot.