Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe (2024)

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This cocktail is a Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe, perfect for brunch or to cure a hangover. This cocktail consists of vodka, clamato juice, spices and a few secret ingredients, similar to a Bloody Mary, but so much better!

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Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe (1)

On my travels I’ve been asked “What are some classic Canadian dishes?” and after many years of repeating the usual suspects: poutine, Nanaimo bars, butter tarts, etc., I’ve started to realized that maybe the Caesar truly is the greatest culinary contribution my country has given the world.

What, you’ve never heard of the Caesar? It is like a Bloody Mary – but so much more. It is a hangover cure in a glass, the quintessential patio sipper, and my personal welcome home gift to myself whenever I land back on a Canadian airstrip.

This drink was invented in the city I call home, Calgary. I spent years slinging this cocktail behind a bar and can proudly say that this Caesar recipe, as strange as it may seem at first, makes me patriotic like nothing else in this world.

Ingredients You Need

No, we aren’t going to just throw some vodka into some tomato juice – we deserve better even if we may not realize it yet. Our Caesar recipe begins with our Caesar mix, don’t doubt the ingredient list just yet instead just learn to trust the process – have I led you wrong yet?

Caesar Mix

  • Worcestershire sauce –A fermented condiment used to enhance savoury food and drinks. Essentially bottled umami.
  • BBQ sauce –Any will do, whether it be generic superstore brand or some specially blended craft sauce. Personally I like something a bit on the sweeter side with some rich colour.
  • Pickle juice –Any recipe worth its salt will introduce an element of acidity and this right here is a splash of that. That pickle juice at the bottom of the jar full of pickling spices is the ideal scoop so don’t shy away from the floaties.
  • Soy sauce –I’d recommend low sodium as the base of our drink, Clamato, is plenty salty on its own. If regular sodium is all you have though just use a bit less.
  • Tabasco sauce –Caesars should burn going down, that’s just a fact of life. I love to use half green and half red tabasco for this recipe but either color will do. In fact you can use any colour you want, as long as that sauce comes packaged in a bottle with tabasco on the label.
  • Horseradish –I always keep a bottle of well loved extra hot in the fridge. This ingredient is in my opinion, the hangover cure key. Even if you feel fresh as a daisy be sure to add a dollop.
  • Onion powder –Just a little will go a long way.
  • Steak spice –In an ideal world I would make sure every home had a little bottle of Montreal steak spice for any and all occasions, but if it’s not available where you live any old kind will do.

Caesar

  • Vodka – The flavors here are so strong that the taste profile of nice vodka will get completely lost. I just use whatever’s laying around.
  • Clamato juice – The star, the foundation on which our cocktail desires are built, the mighty but humble Clamato. A combination of tomato and clam (yes, clam) juice. Don’t be scared of it, there’s a reason this cocktail is a national treasure and clamato is that reason.
Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe (2)

How To Make A Caesar

  • Assemble:Measure Caesar mix ingredients into a bowl and combine thoroughly. In a glass filled to the brim with ice, pour an equal amount of vodka and Caesar mix. Top with Clamato juice and garnish as your heart desires, information on garnishes listed below. That’s it! Now just sit back and enjoy!

Some tips

  • If you are not on speaking terms with vodka, gin or tequila are perfectly good substitutions.
  • Rim your glass! Before adding any ice, place a lime wedge with a slit cut in the middle on the rim of the glass and slide it around the rim full circle, then dip the glass head down in powdered Caesar rim, proudly displayed in most Canadian grocery stores right near the front door. Can’t find any? Mix a heaping spoonful of steak spice with half a teaspoon each coarse salt and black pepper as well as a quarter teaspoon garlic powder.
  • Garnishes are optional but highly encouraged. Most pubs here at home will throw a stick of celery and a wedge of lime in your glass but we’ve also been treated to extreme beans, pickle spears, beef jerky sticks, bacon strips, pickled onions, etc. A busy local downtown bar even throws in a big cube of cheese.
  • Are you a fan of Mexican Micheladas? Or American Red Eyes? Well the Caesar is your new best friend, just add clamato juice, tabasco and Worcestershire sauce to your beer along with a healthy squeeze of lime wedge.

Storage

This Caesar mix recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 days.

Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe (3)

Looking for More Cocktails? Try These:

  • Mulled Wine
  • Grenadine Sunrise
  • Pomegranate Elderflower Spritzers
  • Red Grapefruit and Basil Mimosas
  • Sangria Blanco
  • The Best Mojito

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe (4)

4.70 from 73 votes

Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe

Prep 10 minutes minutes

Total 10 minutes minutes

Rate RecipePrint Recipe

This cocktail is a Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe, perfect for brunch or to cure a hangover. This cocktail consists of vodka, clamato juice, spices and a few secret ingredients, similar to a Bloody Mary, but so much better!

Video

Ingredients

Caesar mix

  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ½ tablespoon BBQ sauce
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce (low sodium)
  • ½ teaspoon tabasco sauce
  • ½ teaspoon horseradish
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon steak spice

For Ceasars

  • 2 cups ice
  • 4 ounce vodka
  • 4 cup Clamato juice ((tomato juice with spices and clam broth))

For garnish (optional)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  • Combine all the caesar mix ingredients and mix well.

  • Wet the rim of 4 glasses or jars (you can either use water, or use a fresh lemon or lime) then dip the glass rim into a plate with caesar rim seasoning. See video.

  • Fill all glasses half way with ice. Divide the caesar mix equally among the 4 glasses. Add 1 oz of vodka in each glass and a cup of the Clamato juice. Mix well using a long spoon.

  • Garnish with extreme beans, pickles and lime wedges. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. You can use tequila or gin if you don’t want to use vodka. Alternatively, this cocktail can be made virgin with no alcohol.
  2. You can use anything you like for garnish. Traditionally, Caesars are made with a lime wedge and a stalk of celery.
  3. Clamato juice is tomato juice that is seasoned with spices and clam broth. If you can’t find it, you can use this Caesar mix for a Bloody Mary and just use tomato juice.
  4. If you don’t like your Caesars spicy at all, you can leave out the tabasco.
  5. Use more or less of the Caesar mix depending on how dirty you’d like it.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1glassCalories: 151kcal (8%)Carbohydrates: 21g (7%)Protein: 2g (4%)Sodium: 579mg (25%)Potassium: 716mg (20%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 12g (13%)Vitamin A: 1280IU (26%)Vitamin C: 51.6mg (63%)Calcium: 106mg (11%)Iron: 3.5mg (19%)

© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Classic Canadian Caesar 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 Canada's national cocktail? ›

The Caesar, also known as the Bloody Caesar, is considered Canada's national cocktail. The key ingredients are vodka, clam juice, tomato juice, spices and Worcestershire sauce.

Why is it called a caesar in Canada? ›

In 2010, Parliament named the Caesar as the official cocktail 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 does a 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 Canadian take on the Bloody Mary called? ›

In America, the bloody mary is a brunch-time favorite — but in Canada, its elevated sister, the Caesar, reigns supreme. The Caesar is more than just a Canadian take, however; it's the recipe evolved — sharing almost all the same ingredients and adding in a few more pops of flavor.

What is it called when you put tomato juice in beer? ›

What is a Beer and Tomato Juice Drink Called? A cocktail made with beer and tomato juice has several names depending on what region you're ordering it in. Popular names include Red Eye (what we call it), Red Beer, Spicy Beer, Michelada, or Chelada. In theory, a Red Eye is a take on a Bloody mary.

What is the most famous drink in Canada? ›

Coffee. Coffee is Canada's favorite beverage, especially because it provides that energy boost needed to kick into action. In this country, we always appreciate a little help to wake up, especially in the heart of winter, Canadians don't really have a national coffee drink, they just love coffee a lot, in all its forms ...

What is the quintessential Canadian cocktail? ›

A Caesar is a cocktail created and consumed primarily in Canada. It typically contains vodka, Clamato, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, and is served with ice in a large, celery salt-rimmed glass, typically garnished with a stalk of celery and wedge of lime.

What is Canada's best selling cocktail? ›

Invented in Calgary in 1969, the Caesar is Canada's most popular cocktail, with 350 million Caesars consumed annually. It's our favourite brunch cocktail, and a reliable hangover cure. This clam tomato based cocktail is also a preferred aperitif, a standby nightcap and an almost-guilt-free meal replacement.

What is the US national drink? ›

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

What is the best vodka for Caesars? ›

Which vodka to use?
  • Buy Absolut Lime Vodka.
  • Chopin Potato Vodka. Buy Chopin Potato Vodka.
  • Tito's Handmade Vodka. Buy Tito's Handmade Vodka.
  • Dillon's Vodka. Buy Dillon's Vodka.

Does Canada have a signature drink? ›

The Caesar is Canada's national cocktail. Created in a hotel bar in Calgary in 1969, it's been the only-in-Canada favorite game night, summer patio, and 'hair of the dog' Sunday brunch cocktail.

What does "make your drink dirty" at Sonic mean? ›

Photo: Sonic Drive-In gave guests the option to “make it dirty” by adding coconut cream and lime to any drink. The chain, a subsidiary of Inspire Brands, introduced that option at the beginning of February in response, in part, to what it saw consumers doing on social media.

Who invented clamato? ›

It is made by Mott's. The name is a portmanteau of clam and tomato.

What is the drink in Letterkenny? ›

For those wondering, Gus N' Bru is Letterkenny's Liquor of Choice. Hicks, Pheasants, and generally anyone looking to fight Wayne has taken a swig of this Irish Whiskey.

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

The only major difference between Bloody Marys and Bloody Marias is the liquor. Bloody Marys are made with vodka, and Bloody Marias are not. A Bloody Maria calls for tequila instead, and all Texans are nodding their heads right now. There's no question that we can thank the Tex-Mex culture for this clever tweak.

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

Like a dirty martini, a dirty Bloody Mary typically contains olive or pickle brine, along with the other traditional ingredients. Try splashing some brine in yours for a salty, savory punch!

What was the original name for Bloody Mary? ›

The cocktail is said to have been created on the spur of the moment, according to the bar's own traditions, consisting only of vodka and tomato juice. It was originally referred to as a "Bucket of Blood".

What is the Bloody Mary side beer called? ›

What Is a Snit? A snit is three to five ounces of beer consumed with or after a Bloody Mary. Similar to how a pickleback is consumed after a shot of whiskey, the snit is a smooth pairing for the piquant spiciness of Bloody Marys.

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