The Caesar mixed drink is a cocktail that is tremendously popular in Canada. Made with vodka, Worcestershire sauce, clam-tomato juice, and other ingredients for flavor, the Caesar cocktail is a great cocktail for people who enjoy savory mixed drinks similar to the Bloody Mary. Having a Caesar drink recipe in your back pocket will expand your drink mixing repertoire of vodka drinks.
History of the Caesar Drink
The Caesar cocktail is a uniquely Canadian mixed drink invented in 1969 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at what is now the Westin Hotel. At the time, the hotel was called the Calgary Inn, and the restaurant manager Walter Chell was asked to come up with a signature drink for the opening of the hotel's Italian restaurant. Chell took his inspiration for the drink from an Italian pasta recipe, spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clam sauce). You may also see the drink called the Bloody Caesar, although it's best known as the Caesar.
Easy Caesar Drink Recipe
Like the Bloody Mary, there are a number of different recipes for the Caesar. The best way to mix a Caesar is to roll it; that is, to pour it back and forth between two pint glasses.
Caesar Cocktail Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- Ice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces clam-tomato juice
- Pickled vegetables for garnish
How to Mix a Ceasar Cocktail
- Run the lime wedge around the rim of a pint glass.
- Spread the celery salt in a thin layer on a saucer. Dip the rim of the pint glass in the salt and fill the glass with ice. Set aside.
- In a pint glass or a Boston shaker, combine the lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, vodka, and clam-tomato juice.
- Roll the drink between two glasses for about 30 seconds to mix.
- Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with pickled vegetables.
Caesar Garnish Variations
Savory cocktails are fun to garnish because you have so many options. Consider some of the following garnish ideas:
- Celery stalk
- Dill pickle
- Capers
- Olives
- Lemon and lime wedges
- Whole pickled chili pepper
- Pickled bean
- Pickled asparagus
- Slice of cooked bacon
- Cherry tomato
- Pickled onions
Recipe for a Smoky and Spicy Caesar Drink
If you like your drinks a little spicier, then this variation will bring the heat.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- Ice
- 2 ounces bacon-flavored vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle pepper sauce
- 4 ounces clam tomato juice
- Pickled chili pepper for garnish
Instructions
- Run the lemon wedge around the rim of a pint glass.
- Mix together the celery salt, garlic salt, smoked paprika, and chipotle chili powder. Spread in a single layer on a saucer and dip the glass into the mixture to rim. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
- In a pint glass, combine the bacon flavored vodka, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, chipotle pepper sauce, and clam tomato juice.
- Roll between two glasses for 30 seconds to one minute to mix.
- Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with the pickled chili pepper.
Ultimate Caesar Drink Recipe
With savory cocktails like the Caesar, you can add all kinds of interesting flavors to suit your own personal palate. This variation on the classic Caesar cocktail features premium liquor and interesting flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 lemon wedge
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon sriracha powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Ice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces premium vodka
- 3½ ounces tomato juice
- ½ ounce clam juice
- ½ teaspoon sriracha
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Gherkin, cocktail onion, and pickled asparagus for garnish
Instructions
- Run the lime wedge around the edge of a pint glass. Set the wedge aside for garnish.
- Mix together the celery salt, sriracha powder, sea salt, and pepper. Spread in a thin layer on a saucer and dip the rim of the glass into the mixture.
- Add ice to the glass and set aside.
- In a pint glass or Boston shaker, combine the lime juice, vodka, tomato juice, clam juice, sriracha, Worcestershire sauce, and Old Bay seasoning.
- Roll between two glasses to mix.
- Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with the lemon wedge, gherkin, cocktail onion, and pickled asparagus spear.
Caesar Drink Versus Bloody Mary
There are a lot of similarities between the basic Caesar Drink and the classic Bloody Mary. The primary difference lies in the use of clam-tomato juice in the Caesar versus tomato juice in the Bloody Mary as well as the rim of celery salt. In general, the Caesar is slightly spicier than the Bloody Mary with a distinct briny edge from the clam-tomato juice. However, by adding additional ingredients, such as Old Bay seasoning or hot sauce to your Caesar along with interesting garnishes, you can make the Caesar your own and let it stand apart from its better-known cocktail sibling.
