A Caesar, sometimes referred to as a Bloody Caesar after the similar Bloody Mary, is a cocktail popular mainly in Canada. It contains vodka, clamato juice (a blend of tomato juice and clam broth), Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, celery, salt and black pepper, served in a salt-rimmed glass.

It is not well known in the U.S., and many Canadians living abroad prize a bartender who can mix a good Caesar.

History

The cocktail was invented by bartender Walter Chell at the Owl's Nest Bar in the Westin Hotel in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1969, to accompany the opening of a new restaurant. In its original form, it contained tomato juice and mashed clams; Clamato had only just been released (coincidentally) by the American Mott's company that very year, and was not yet widely known or available.

In the early 2000s, Mott's began marketing pre-mixed Caesars in 12-ounce bottles.

Ingredients

• Lime juice and salt or celery salt on rim
• 2 parts Vodka
• 3 parts Mott's Clamato™ juice; or if unavailable, equal parts clam juice and tomato juice. Important: not just tomato juice!
• Worcestershire sauce
• Tabasco sauce, or other hot sauce
• Horseradish (optional)
• Salt and pepper (optional)
• Garnished with
  • Stalk of celery
  • Slice of lime

To be served with plenty of ice in a tall glass.

Variations can include substitute or additional ingredients, like cayenne pepper or lemon juice, garnish of spicy pickled green bean or asparagus.

External links

• The Caesar at hotwired.com (http://hotwired.wired.com/cocktail/96/40/index4a.html) - history and a recipe.
• A Cincinnati Post article on clamato juice (http://www.cincypost.com/2004/05/19/clam051904.html)