Oddjob is the handyman of the avaricious, gold-obsessed villain, Auric Goldfinger: “I call him Oddjob because that describes his functions on my staff”. These functions, it transpires, include everything from chauffeur and bodyguard to assassin and torturer (a role for which he employs his excruciating talent for massage). Oddjob is a formidable opponent of great stature and strength, with the skills of a martial-arts master. Likewise, this cocktail packs a flavoursome punch, but the rough edges of the Korean soju are rounded off by the sesame and the sherry. The dash of vinegar lifts the whole drink and shows how even a tiny quantity of a zingy ingredient can change the character of a cocktail completely. It is a little-known fact that soju is the world’s bestselling distilled beverage, knocking Brazil’s firewater, cachaça, into second place.
50ml (2fl oz) Jinro soju washed in sesame oil
2 teaspoons Palo Cortado sherry
1 dash of brown rice vinegar
FOR THE JINRO SOJU WASHED IN SESAME OIL, MAKES 150ML (5FL OZ)
2 teaspoons sesame oil
140ml (4½fl oz) Jinro soju (or other soju)
TO GARNISH
shiso leaf
To make the Jinro soju washed in sesame oil, add the sesame oil to the bottle of soju and freeze for 2–3 hours, then strain through a coffee filter.
To make the cocktail, measure the ingredients into a frosted mixing glass and top up with ice. Stir until very cold, then strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with a single shiso leaf.
ODDJOB
Bond said casually, “Why does the man always wear that bowler hat?”
“Oddjob!” The Korean had reached the service door. “The hat.” Goldfinger pointed at a panel in the woodwork near the fireplace.
Still holding the cat under his left arm, Oddjob turned and walked stolidly back towards them. When he was half way across the floor, and without pausing or taking aim, he reached up to his hat, took it by the rim and flung it sideways with all his force. There was a loud clang. For an instant the rim of the bowler hat struck an inch deep in the panel Goldfinger had indicated, then it fell and clattered on the floor.
Goldfinger smiled politely at Bond. “A light but very strong alloy, Mr Bond. I fear that will have damaged the felt covering, but Oddjob will put on another. He’s surprisingly quick with a needle and thread. As you can imagine, that blow would have smashed a man’s skull or half severed his neck. A homely and a most ingeniously concealed weapon, I’m sure you’ll agree.”
“Yes, indeed.” Bond smiled with equal politeness. “Useful chap to have around.”
GOLDFINGER
CHAPTER 11. THE ODD-JOB MAN
He said, “This won’t get us anywhere. We’re in this together, whether we like it or not. What do you want for breakfast or lunch? It’s a quarter past twelve. I’ve eaten. I’ll order yours and then come back and tell you the score. There’s only one way out of here and Oddjob, that Korean ape, is guarding it. Now then, breakfast or lunch?”
She unbent an inch. “Thank you. Scrambled eggs and coffee, please. And toast and marmalade.”
GOLDFINGER
CHAPTER 17. HOODS’ CONGRESS
Bond shouted back, “Shut up, you little fool! Run like hell!” But now she was dragging at him, checking his speed. Suddenly she tore her hand out of his and made to dart into an open Pullman door. Christ, thought Bond, that’s torn it! He whipped the knife out of his belt and swirled to meet Oddjob.
Ten yards away Oddjob hardly paused in his rush. One hand whipped off his ridiculous, deadly hat, a glance to take aim and the black steel half-moon sang through the air. Its edge caught the girl exactly at the nape of the neck. Without a sound she fell backwards on to the platform in Oddjob’s path. The hurdle was just enough to put Oddjob off the flying high kick he had started to launch at Bond’s head. He turned the kick into a leap, his left hand cutting the air towards Bond like a sword. Bond ducked and struck upwards and sideways with his knife. It got home somewhere near the ribs but the momentum of the flying body knocked the knife out of his hand. There was a tinkle on the platform. Now Oddjob was coming back at him, apparently unharmed, his hands outstretched and his feet splayed back ready for another leap or a kick. His blood was up. The eyes were red and there was a fleck of saliva at the open, panting mouth.
GOLDFINGER
CHAPTER 21. THE RICHEST MAN IN HISTORY
Oddjob is supposed to be Goldfinger’s “chauffeur”, but he first appears in the book in the passenger seat as Goldfinger drives up to Royal St Marks Golf Club.
Though Oddjob is described as seeming “squat”, Fleming later hints at his height when Goldfinger directs him to kick a mantelpiece. The mantelpiece is “about seven feet off the ground – six inches higher than the top of the Korean’s bowler hat”. This would place Oddjob’s height at around 6ft 6in (2m), a head taller than Bond’s 6ft (183cm).
Oddjob is one of the most famous characters associated with James Bond, gaining notoriety through the 1964 EON Productions film adaptation of Goldfinger and the 1997 Nintendo 64 video game GoldenEye 007.