Did you know the Caesar drink is similar to a Bloody Mary but is actually inspired by Italy.
Did you know National Caesar Day is the Thursday before Victoria Day in May. The next Caesar Day it is May 16, 2024!
As they say on Letterkenny: it’s hard to see a caesar and not want a caesar,
There isn’t a lot of “Canadian food” that is only found in Canada but the caesar drink is one exception.
And what better day to share a great caesar recipe than National Caesar Day – the Thursday before the May 24 long weekend.
It is also known as Canada’s unofficial start to summer – let’s hope it doesn’t snow like it did last weekend.
At its very simplest the caesar cocktail is made with vodka, Clamato juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
The glass is rimmed with celery salt and garnished with a stalk of celery.
Although that’s just the base.
Personally I think horseradish is a must but not everyone serves it. There are so many options for how to garnish a caesar.
Some pubs have caesar bars where you can decide if you want a celery stalk, piece of crispy bacon or spicy pickled green as your garnish.
I personally like adding just how much horseradish, Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce you need.
I like enough horseradish so it begins to taste like cocktail sauce – odd but true.
Caesars are considered a hangover cocktail and an essential to any Canadian brunch menu.
Origins of the Caesar Drink
The caesar is much like a bloody mary except we use Clamato juice – a strange concoction of clam and tomato juice.
It’s also very similar to the michelada in Mexico, which is also a hangover cure.
But surprisingly the caesar was inspired by Italy.
Walter Chell created the caesar recipe in 1969 as a signature drink for the opening of new new Italian restaurant in Calgary.
The caesar cocktail was meant to reflect the flavours of spaghetti alla vongole – spaghetti with clams and tomato sauce.
Classic Caesar Cocktail Recipe
The basic caesar recipe follows 1-2-3-4-5 rule.
You can use any vodka and change the ratio depending on how hot you like it but don’t skip the Clamato juice.
If you want to kick it up a notch throw in a tablespoon of horseradish, it’s not the classic recipe but it’s so delicious.
The Caesar Drink
Did you know the Caesar drink is similar to a bloody mary but is actually inspired by Italy.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 2 Dashes hot sauce
- 3 Dashes salt and pepper
- 4 Dashes worcestershire sauce
- 5 oz Clamato juice
- Celery salt on plate
- 1 lime
Instructions
- Create a celery salt rim on the glass by running the lime around the glass rim and turning the glass upside down to dip in the celery salt.
- Add all ingredients to glass with ice, garnish with a celery stalk.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 197Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2278mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 2gNutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although BaconisMagic.ca attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Love cocktails? Also check out:
Moscow Mule
Aperol Spritz Cocktail
Classic Whisky Cocktails
Cuba Libre Cocktail
Mexican Michelada
I’ve actually never been a huge fan of Caesar’s (bad Canadian), but I visited a local distillery outside of Edmonton that makes a garlic vodka, and had a caesar with that and it was good. The idea of horseradish in a caesar is really interesting. I do like cocktail sauce, so maybe it’s worth a try. It’s fun how many variations there are with the caesar.
I would never have a caesar without horseradish, mostly because I’m not a fan of tomato or clamato juice. You have to try it!
I make a “caesar light”
I even order it this way when I go out….though I have to tell the server overandoverandoveragain…apparently its like rocket science
Get the biggest glass ( I always order ice on the side cause ice is the bartenders best friend therefore you usually get a dinky little drink)
1.5-2 oz vodka
juice of half a lemon
3-4 shakes L&P
2-3 shakes hot sauce
ice….only when NOT at a bar or restaurant
fill remaining with 1/2 gingerale 1/2 clamato juice
lots of celery salt
stir before guzzling
refill
Bartenders must hate you. Keep your picky drinks for when your at home.
Wow if you order that at a bar, you’re the worst
Can you take me to a good place to try one of these when I come to Canada? None of my Canadian friends have ever told me about this before!
I was looking for the drinks famous on Canada, here I just found your article. I have a guest from Canada, Now I’m going to make this cocktail for them. Thanks for the share
Wow !! What this amazing drink, loved !! Thank you for sharing this wonderful!
I’m crazy about drinks, to tell you the truth, I’m in love with different types of drinks, but this one I still did not know, I’m already writing down the recipe to prepare for the evening, thank you.
Divine, just looking at the urge to drink
Canada’s national Caesar drink is a delight, I’ve had the opportunity to experience it on a trip I made to Canada, I loved it.
This drink is wonderful, thanks for sharing the recipe, I did it at home and it worked great 🙂
Very good drink! delicius i love!
Wow, thanks for sharing this wonderful drink with us, I loved it.
That reminds me, I could go for one now.
Wow !! What this amazing drink,
Thank you very much for sharing this recipe of this delicious drink, I made it to take with my wife and she loved it.
What a spectacular drink, I liked it a lot, for me it’s very new, thank you
I do not like tomatoes although will stand them in sauce or on pizza although it would not be my to go flavour in a drink. Moreover clamato juice does not sound very good. I only like gin/tonic or if I am denied that beer
Well to each their own I guess!
The ginger ale is an interesting twist. Must try that. A bit of horseradish does add a nice kick. At a good bar the garnish boosts the drink into the realm of game.
I like a tablespoon of dill pickle juice in mine.
I can totally see how that would be great, especially to cut the Clamato.
Hi Ayngelina,
I am a cocktail lover. Thank you for sharing how to make the Caesar drink. It is really good with more hot sauce And I love all the other cocktail recipes you shared. I’m gonna try them all!
Best,
Shang
Ii am cocktail lover. It is really good article. Thank you very much for sharing this recipe of this delicious drink.
I am looking for a Ceasar recipe that include raw tomatoes, spices and sauces like “Red Hot sauce, Tabasco and worcestershire.
Maybe clam juice.
The reason being each bottle of Clamato mix has 6 to 10 Tablespoons of Salt.
I am trying to remove this from a friends diet.
Can you help me?
Here is a recipe that makes Clamato using tomatoes: https://101recipes.com/juice/clamato-juice-recipe/