The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (2024)

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The Caesar co*cktail, 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
The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (1)

Although the Caesar (the co*cktail, 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 co*cktail. 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 co*cktails. 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 co*cktail go down more smoothly than a Bloody Mary.

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (2)

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 co*cktail, 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 co*cktails 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.

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (3)

Fill each glass with ice cubes. Divide the vodka equally between the 4 glasses. Pour Clamato juice into each glass.

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (4)

Season each Caesar with several dashes of Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, to desired spiciness. Stir each co*cktail with a stir stick. Garnish with celery sticks, olives and remaining lime wedges. Serve.

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (5)

More of my favorite co*cktails:
Cookin' Canuck's Kamikaze co*cktail 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 co*cktail

Printable Recipe

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (6)

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary

The Caesar co*cktail 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 co*cktails

Calories: 157.6kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

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 co*cktail 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: 1co*cktail | 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.

The Caesar co*cktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a Bloody Mary and a Canadian Caesar? ›

They each have a vodka base, but Bloody Marys feature tomato juice, while Caesars make use of clamato, a combination of clam and tomato juice. Also, even though both are popular brunch drinks, the Caesar is really only well-known in Canada.

What is Bloody Caesar in Canada? ›

The Caesar, also known as the Bloody Caesar, is considered Canada's national co*cktail. The key ingredients are vodka, clam juice, tomato juice, spices and Worcestershire sauce. It is typically served in a highball glass rimmed with celery salt and garnished with a celery stalk, olives and lime.

What is the Canadian take on the Bloody Mary called? ›

So Chell took some vodka, a bit of Worcestershire and a little Tabasco, added a mix of clam and tomato juices and dubbed it the “Bloody Caesar.” It sounds rather odd, but it's the national drink of Canada and has been so practically since Chell invented—or should I say “invented”—it.

What does "dirty caesar" mean? ›

Make it a muddy caesar/dirty caesar

This means it comes with extra hot sauce (spicy) and extra Worcestershire sauce (dirty). The great thing about a Bloody Caesar is that they're super easy to customize to your taste. Simply add any 'extras' to your glass then pour the Calamato over the top.

What is the most popular co*cktail in Canada? ›

The Caesar, also known as the Bloody Caesar, is considered Canada's national co*cktail. Walter Chell was charged with mixing a co*cktail to mark the opening of the Calgary's Inn's new Italian restaurant and invented the Caesar in Calgary, Alberta, in 1969.

Is Bloody Mary a British drink? ›

While the origin of the name "Bloody Mary" and its recipe are debated, its birthplace is not. The most common backstory dates back to Paris in the 1920s at Harry's New York Bar. Harry's opened in 1911 after an American jockey had a New York bar disassembled and shipped to Paris.

What is Canada's national co*cktail? ›

The Caesar, also known as a Bloody Caesar, is the national drink of Canada. It has all the elements of a Bloody Mary co*cktail, with additional Clamato juice, a brand of tomato/clam flavour juice available in the US and Canada.

What is a Clamato drink in English? ›

Clamato /kləˈmɑːtəʊ/, /kləˈmeɪtəʊ/, /kləˈmætoʊ/ is a commercial drink made of reconstituted tomato juice concentrate and sugar, which is flavored with spices, dried clam broth and MSG. It is made by Mott's. The name is a portmanteau of clam and tomato. It is also referred to colloquially as "clamato juice".

What is the national drink of the USA? ›

Bourbon (whiskey), named for Bourbon County, Kentucky, is a corn whiskey aged in charred oak barrels. It was proclaimed the U.S. National Spirit by an act of Congress in 1964.

What is a Bloody Mary called in France? ›

Translation of "bloody mary" in French. Noun. bloody mary m. Mary sanglante. Marie la Sanglante.

What do you call a beer served with a Bloody Mary? ›

In Wisconsin, it's a chaser, a beer back, side beer, and, rarely, a pony. In Minnesota, it's called a snit. Whatever it's called, Wisconsinites love their Bloody Marys with a beer chaser.

What is a Scotch Bloody Mary called? ›

The Rodeo Mary takes a popular co*cktail recipe and adds a bold twist. Once you try a bloody mary with Pendleton®️ Original Whisky, you will never go back. Use Pendleton Original for sweet notes of vanilla, honey, and butterscotch to balance out the salty and savory flavor of your favorite bloody mary mix.

What is the difference between a Bloody Mary and a Bloody Caesar? ›

Caesar is kind of like a Bloody Mary, but with clam juice.

Why do Canadians call a Bloody Mary a Caesar? ›

In 2010, Parliament named the Caesar as the official co*cktail of Canada. The name Caesar is said to come about from a patron of Chell's who shouted out, “that's a damn good Caesar” and it's stuck since it's inception. Mott's, a distributor of Clamato estimates 350 million Caesar's are consumed each year in Canada.

What is beer and tomato juice called in Canada? ›

Clamato is also added to beer in various beer co*cktails, such as the michelada; the most basic is known as a "beer 'n clam", "Clam Eye", or "Red Eye" in Western Canada, which adds Clamato to pale lagers.

What's the difference between a Bloody Mary and a Bloody Maria? ›

The most obvious difference between a Bloody Maria and a Bloody Mary is the liquor – Bloody Marias are mixed with tequila, while Bloody Marys use vodka. Some recipes stop there, but tequila's rich, savory profile makes it an ideal base to build a delectable drink upon.

What is the difference between a Bloody Mary and a dirty Bloody Mary? ›

A Dirty Bloody Mary is a variation of the classic Bloody Mary co*cktail. It typically includes the addition of olive brine, giving it a 'dirty' twist. This addition adds a savory, salty depth to the traditional mix of tomato juice, vodka, and various seasonings.

Which came first the Caesar or the Bloody Mary? ›

The Bloody Caesar was invented after the Bloody Mary. Essentially, it's the Canadian version of the drink. It was created back in 1969 in downtown Calgary. Walter Chell, who was inspired by an Italian dish that used tomato sauce and clams, decided to put his own unique spin on the Bloody Mary.

References

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