The Caesar Drink: Canada’s National Cocktail

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. This year it is May 14, 2020!

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 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 drink.

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 and 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 drink and an essential to any Canadian brunch menu.

Canadian Caesar cocktails with tomato juice and spicy vodka decorated with pickle and olive garnish on stone slate background on rustic table. Summer drinks and alcoholic cocktails.

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 drink was meant to reflect the flavours of spaghetti alla vongole – spaghetti with clams and tomato sauce.

Canadian Caesar drink and ingredients: pepper chili, lime, celery, ice and shaker.

Classic Caesar 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

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

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: 2g

Nutritional 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.

The Caesar Drink: Canada’s National Cocktail

Origins of the Caesar Drink

Classic Caesar Recipe