The Story Behind The Bloody Caesar

The Bloody Caesar was created in 1969 by bartender Walter Chell to represent Canada’s Calgary Inn in a cocktail contest. Though skeptics claim that Chell drew most of his inspiration from the previously existing Clam Digger and Smirnoff Smiler recipes, he was the one to create the Caesarean empire in Canada. In 2009, the Bloody Caesar was declared the national drink of Canada and remains one of the nation’s most popular cocktails today.

The Bloody Caesar is a riff on the Bloody Mary, but with a briny twist. It calls for Clamato juice (a mixture of tomato juice and clam broth) instead of regular tomato juice, which adds an extra layer of umami flavor to the savory concoction. Just combine vodka, Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, and black pepper in a celery salt-rimmed Highball glass, and top it with a celery stalk and lemon wedge. The result might have you renouncing your U.S. citizenship and moving north of the border. Pretty good, eh?

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 4 ounces Clamato juice
  • 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 dashes hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish
  • 1 dash black pepper
  • Garnish: celery salt rim, celery stalk, lemon wedge

Directions

  1. Rim a Highball glass with celery salt.
  2. Add vodka, Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, and black pepper and stir to combine.
  3. Fill the glass with ice, then garnish with celery stalk and lemon wedge, squeezing it if you wish.

Rate This Recipe:

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(200 votes)

Yield: 1
Calories: 174
Updated: 2022-08-01

The Bloody Caesar Recipe

Bloody Caesar FAQ

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

The Bloody Mary is one of brunch’s best beverages, but for those who like theirs a little on the spicier and brinier side, a Bloody Caesar is the way to go. While both cocktails are vodka-based, the Bloody Caesar calls for Clamato juice, a combination of tomato juice and clam broth instead of the standard tomato juice typical of the Bloody Mary for a more savory, seafood-forward flavor. Furthermore, the Bloody Caesar leaves no holds barred when it comes to spice. With hot sauce, horseradish, and black pepper in the mix, the Caesar is certainly not for the faint of heart.

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