The Caesar is a wildly popular part of entertaining for many Nova Scotians. Despite its East Coast base — namely the clam juice component — this cocktail was actually invented by Mr. Walter Chell, who worked at the Calgary Inn in Alberta.
In 1969, Chell blended cooked clams, tomato juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, lime, vodka and a stick of celery to create what we know today as the Caesar. It sounds like a bizarre combination, but it works.
We’re offering up a classic recipe and some colourful new twists, including an East Coast-inspired version complete with lobster claw garnish.
The Classic Caesar
Ingredients:
Celery salt
1 1/2 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
5 oz Clamato or your favourite Caesar mix
5 dashes Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes hot sauce
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Celery stick, for garnish
Lime wedge, for garnish
Directions:
1. Rim a glass with celery salt and fill with ice.
2. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir to mix.
3. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with celery stick and lime wedge.
The Kimchi Caesar
Ingredients:
Celery salt
1 piece nori, finely chopped*
1 1/2 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
5 oz Caesar mix
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Dash Sriracha
Dash soy sauce
Dash lime juice
Dash kimchi juice**
Pickle, for garnish
Kimchi, for garnish
Mini spring roll, for garnish, optional
Fresh chili, for garnish, optional
Directions:
1. Place celery salt and nori in blender. Pulse until well mixed.
2. Rim a glass with celery salt and nori mixture and fill with ice.
3. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir to mix.
4. Garnish with pickle, kimchi, mini spring roll and fresh chili.
*Nori is dried seaweed. Find it in the sushi or international section of most grocery stores.
**Strain the pickling liquid from a jar of kimchi, which is available at most grocery stores.
The Tandoori Caesar
Ingredients:
Garam masala
1 1/2 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
5 oz Clamato or Caesar mix
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot sauce
Dash tandoori paste
Radish
Directions:
1. Rim a glass with garam masala and fill with ice.
2. Add liquid ingredients and stir to mix.
3. Garnish with a radish.
The Jerk Caesar
Ingredients:
Jerk seasoning
Celery salt
1 1/2 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
5 oz Clamato or Caesar mix
2 tsp Jamaican jerk sauce
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Dash lime juice
Pepper, freshly cracked
Jerk chicken wing, for garnish, optional
Pineapple, for garnish
Directions:
1. Rim a glass with jerk seasoning and fill with ice.
2. Add liquid ingredients and stir to mix
3. Garnish with a pineapple and jerk chicken wing (optional).
The East Coast Caesar
Ingredients:
Sea salt
Pepper, freshly cracked
1 1/2 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
5 oz Clamato or Caesar mix
Dash Worcestershire Sauce
3 dashes hot sauce
Lobster claw (de-shelled), for garnish
Dill sprig, for garnish
Directions:
1. Combine sea salt and freshly cracked pepper.
2. Rim a glass with sea salt mixture and fill with ice.
3. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir to mix.
4. Garnish with lobster claw and dill.
