Bloody Caesar

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (18 ratings)

Serve in a Collins glass

Ingredients:
2 oz Ketel One Vodka
4 oz Clamato juice
12 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
7 drop Hot pepper sauce (red vinegar-based e.g. Tabasco)
3 dash Worcestershire sauce
2 pinch Celery salt
2 grind Black pepper
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Garnish: Pickled bean

How to make:

ROLL rather than shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice and fine strain into ice-filled glass.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Cocktail of the day:

1st July 2025 is Canada Day

Review:

A peculiarly Canadian fishy twist on the classic Bloody Mary.

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History:

Virtually every bar in Canada can make you a Bloody Caesar, it's pretty much Canada's national drink. It may seem odd that a drink invented in Canada took the name of Rome's most famous emperor, but though its origins are Canadian its inspiration is very much Italian.

Charged with inventing a signature drink to celebrate the opening of Marco's Italian restaurant at the Calgary Inn in 1969, Walter Chell was inspired by the flavours of Spaghetti Vongole (spaghetti with clams) and named his new cocktail after the Roman emperor.

The typical finish to what Canadians simply call a Caesar is to wet the rim with lemon juice and then dip the glass in celery salt. However, the Caesar actually lends itself to an array of garnishes. Celery and a lime wedge are more traditional, but since the Caesar has become so popular, restaurants and bars have felt the need to customise the garnish to make their version unique, adopting anything from olives and peppers to pickled asparagus and shrimp. Some drinks end up looking more like an appetiser! I've gone for the elegant and deliciously crunchy green bean to garnish ours.

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Juniper Lately’s Avatar Juniper Lately
2nd November 2024 at 21:04
Speaking of hangovers, my dad and his brothers, following a night of too many caesars and too much beer, would frequently begin the day with a red eye made with… beer and Clamato juice! 🤢
Gary Nijman’s Avatar Gary Nijman
30th June 2023 at 18:27
I have even seen a slim pepperoni stick used as garnish!
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
1st July 2023 at 07:52
I used a Pepperoni to garnish my Bit Of An Animal cocktail. Tasty!
24th September 2022 at 04:41
I rub the lemon rind and add celery salt to the rim of the glass.
27th February 2022 at 04:08
Best drink bar none! Add a spoonful of hot horseradish for an amazing kick. The virgin version is delicious too and great for a hangover.
Myxo Gastrid’s Avatar Myxo Gastrid
19th October 2022 at 00:02
good call, the horseradish is key!