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The Caesar cocktail, Canada's brunch (or anytime) drink is similar to a Bloody Mary, with a few key changes. Once you try one, you'll never go back. 158 calories and 7 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
Although the Caesar (the cocktail, not the salad) is a drink reminiscent of my wayward twenties and several queasy morning-afters, I still have a very soft spot for this tomato-based cocktail. Okay, I wasn't actually that wayward, though perhaps my story about the Kamikaze shots had you thinking otherwise. At the end of a long dinner shift at the restaurant where I worked during some of my university years, the staff would line up at the bar with the vodka, Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce to make some stiff cocktails. Who said these babies need to be relegated to brunch on Sundays?
If you've never heard of a Caesar that doesn’t involve romaine lettuce and creamy dressing, you're not alone. It likely means that you are neither a Canadian nor a regular visitor to my maple-leafed homeland. In fact, you are probably thinking that the drink in the picture looks suspiciously like a Bloody Mary. However, there are several distinct differences, starting with the Clamato juice. This juice, as the name suggests, is a mixture of tomato juice and clam broth and is found on the shelves of most supermarkets in the United States. I know the flavor combination sounds questionable, but you really can't taste the clams. At least I can't. In fact, I prefer it over tomato juice because it is not as thick and makes the cocktail go down more smoothly than a Bloody Mary.
The Clamato juice is mixed with vodka, kicked up with Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce (I like mine spicy) and served in a glass rimmed with celery salt. Traditionally, it is served with a rib of celery, but I also toss in a couple of pimento-stuffed olives. The big ones. I always save them to the end because, after marinating in the cocktail, they become little drunken orbs of joy.
So, who the heck thought of this crazy drink combination? As the story goes, the Caesar was invented in 1969 by Walter Chell, who was given the task of coming up with a signature drink for a new Italian restaurant opening in Calgary. Chell found inspiration in the classic Italian dish, Spaghetti alle Vongole (Spaghetti with Clams). The Caesar became an instant sensation and continues to be so popular that, in 2009, a petition was started to make the Caesar into Canada's national drink. Move over Molson...here comes the Clamato.
If a petition isn't enough to convince you, then perhaps this purported statistic will: Over 350 million Caesars are consumed each year in Canada. There are only 34 million people living in Canada. So, either we're filling up the mountain water holes with Caesars (which might explain some of those drunken moose stories) or we think these cocktails are pretty darn tasty. So, get out there and pick up some Clamato juice and I'll raise my Caesar-filled glass to you. Eh?
The recipe:
Spread the celery salt onto a small plate. Rub the rim of one 12-ounce glass with a lime wedge. Turn the glass upside down and dip the rim of the glass into the celery salt. Repeat with remaining 3 glasses.
Fill each glass with ice cubes. Divide the vodka equally between the 4 glasses. Pour Clamato juice into each glass.
Season each Caesar with several dashes of Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, to desired spiciness. Stir each cocktail with a stir stick. Garnish with celery sticks, olives and remaining lime wedges. Serve.
More of my favorite cocktails:
Cookin' Canuck's Kamikaze Cocktail or Shot
Cookin' Canuck's
Creative Culinary's Grapefruit, Lime & Maraschino Martini
Family Style Food's Italian Greyhound with Rosemary Sugar
Inspired Taste's Pear & Cranberry Cocktail
Printable Recipe
The Caesar Cocktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary
The Caesar Cocktail is Canada's version of the Bloody Mary and it is so flavorful and easy to make. Perfect for brunch! 158 calories and 7 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Beverages
Cuisine: Canadian
Keyword: Bloody Mary
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 Cocktails
Calories: 157.6kcal
Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck
Ingredients
- ¼ cup celery salt*
- 1 lime cut into 8 wedges
- Ice cubes
- 6 ounces vodka
- 32 ounces Clamato juice
- several dashes of Worcestershire sauce for each
- several dashes of Tabasco sauce for each
- 4 long ribs of celery*
- 8 pimento-stuffed olives optional*
Instructions
Spread the celery salt onto a small plate. Rub the rim of one 12-ounce glass with a lime wedge. Turn the glass upside down and dip the rim of the glass into the celery salt. Repeat with remaining 3 glasses.
Fill each glass with ice cubes. Divide the vodka equally between the 4 glasses. Pour Clamato juice into each glass.
Season each Caesar with several dashes of Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, to desired spiciness. Stir each cocktail with a stir stick.
Garnish with celery sticks, olives and remaining lime wedges. Serve.
Video
Notes
*Not included in nutritional information.
Weight Watchers Points: 7 (Freestyle SmartPoints)
Nutrition
Serving: 1Cocktail | Calories: 157.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.3g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 895.9mg | Sugar: 8.2g
Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
More Beverage Recipes (Tipsy & Non-Tipsy)
- Strawberry Smoothie (without yogurt)
- Cranberry Kamikaze Shots or Cocktail
- Blackberry Tea Recipe
- Blueberry Banana Smoothie {Vegan}
Reader Interactions
Comments
Scott
I'm an American & my wife is Canadian. She introduced me to the Caesar in 2007 when we met. It wasn't long after that I gave up bloody marys and I ;loved my bloody marys. Note that in Canada in the grocery stores spices & seasoning section they have Caesar Seasoning.
This really adds to the drink.
I took it on myself to master a good caesar for my Canadian wife. We server them with Celery, Spicy Beans, Olives, and sometimes a pepperoncini. Its a staple drink in this house.
Don't let the "clam" in the clamato scare you. Another interseting variation when you find it is to use Camaranazo which is a tomato & shrimp mixture. This is also very good.Reply
Glen Frankland
I've made several variations on the venerable Caesar and they're all good.
One ingredient that puts them over the top is an oz or so of kimchi juice.Reply
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