Canadian National Dishes

Calgary Caesar Cocktail

The Calgary Caesar is a savoury Canadian cocktail made with vodka, tomato-and-clam juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lime and black pepper. A light celery-salt rim and crisp celery stalk keep the classic presentation simple. This four-drink home formula follows a familiar modern ratio; published accounts differ on the exact details of Walter Chell’s early version. A zero-proof option is included.

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Wide brunch-table view with one Caesar glass on the right and open table space on the left; the drink has ice, celery, lime and a seasoned rim.
A classic Calgary Caesar with a celery-salt rim, lime and celery.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 0 minutes
Total 15 minutes
Calories About 140 kcal per alcoholic serving
Ingredients ↓
Overview

Calgary Caesar Cocktail

The Caesar is closely associated with Calgary, where Walter Chell is widely credited with creating it in 1969 while working at the Calgary Inn. The University of British Columbia’s Dictionary of Canadianisms describes the Canadian drink as vodka, Clamato and spices, often with celery and seasoned salt. Earlier accounts vary on the precise origin details and original formula, so this recipe is a classic-style home version rather than a claim to Chell’s exact first mix. The savoury tomato-and-clam profile is what sets a Caesar apart from a tomato-juice cocktail such as a Bloody Mary.

Practical

Practical

  • Chill the Clamato before mixing so the drink stays cold without needing extra dilution.
  • Moisten only the outside edge of the glass with lime, then roll it lightly in celery salt. This keeps most of the salt out of the drink.
  • Use plenty of ice and stir gently from the bottom to combine the seasonings without making the drink watery.
  • Measure the hot sauce; a few drops can change the balance quickly. Let each drinker add more at the table if desired.
  • Make the zero-proof version by replacing the vodka with an equal measure of Clamato.
Ingredients

Ingredients

Rim and citrus

  • 8 g celery salt, for coating the outer glass rims; some will remain unused
  • 2 limes; juice one for 30 mL and cut the rest into wedges for the rims and garnish

Cocktail

  • 180 mL vodka, 40% alcohol by volume; 45 mL per drink
  • 480 mL tomato-and-clam cocktail juice, such as Clamato
  • 10 mL Worcestershire sauce
  • 5 mL hot pepper sauce
  • 1 g freshly ground black pepper
  • 800 g ice cubes, about 200 g per glass or enough to fill each glass

Garnish

  • 4 celery stalks, washed, trimmed and crisp
  • 4 lime wedges, cut from the listed limes
Directions

Directions

Method

  1. Prepare the fresh ingredientsWash and dry the celery and limes. Juice one lime to obtain 30 mL; cut the second lime into wedges. Chill the Clamato if it is not already cold.

  2. Salt the glass rimsSpread the celery salt on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the outside edge of each glass, then roll the damp outer rim through the salt. Do not dip the glass into the salt. Set the glasses upright so the salt stays on the outside.

  3. Measure and build each drinkFill each glass with about 200 g ice, or enough to fill it. Add 45 mL vodka, 120 mL Clamato, 2.5 mL Worcestershire sauce, about 1.25 mL hot sauce, 7.5 mL lime juice and a small pinch of black pepper to each glass.

  4. Stir and tasteStir each drink gently from the bottom until cold and combined. Taste; if desired, add a little more hot sauce, keeping the total for all four drinks within the measured 5 mL unless a drinker deliberately chooses a hotter variation.

  5. Garnish and serveAdd one washed celery stalk and one lime wedge to each glass. Serve immediately while cold. For a zero-proof drink, omit the vodka and add 45 mL extra Clamato to each glass; the non-alcoholic drink has different nutrition values.

Practical

Practical

Serving

Make ahead: Wash and chill the celery, chill the Clamato, and juice the lime shortly before serving. You can prepare the glasses’ salt rims in advance, but add ice and mix the drinks at serving time.

Make-ahead

Storage: Mix only what you plan to serve. Keep opened Clamato refrigerated and follow the package directions for storage and use after opening. Discard any unfinished drink rather than saving a partly consumed glass.

Storage and reheating

Serving: This is an alcoholic drink for adults of legal drinking age. A 45 mL measure of 40% vodka is approximately one Canadian standard drink. Alcohol has health risks; do not drive or operate machinery after drinking. Pregnant people should avoid alcohol. The zero-proof option is made without vodka, and anyone who abstains does not need to start drinking.

Control points

Control points

  • The drink tastes too saltyKeep the rim salt on the outside and use less of it; check the sodium level of the Clamato and sauces.
  • The drink is too spicyAdd more Clamato a little at a time and reduce hot sauce in the next glass.
  • The drink tastes flatAdd a small squeeze of lime and a little fresh black pepper, then stir gently.
  • The rim salt falls into the glassUse a lime wedge sparingly and roll only the outer rim through the salt.
  • The drink warms quicklyChill the juice and glasses beforehand and fill each glass with fresh ice just before mixing.
Nutrition

Nutrition

  • Serving sizeOne alcoholic Caesar cocktail, with ice and garnish
  • CaloriesAbout 140 kcal
  • CarbohydrateAbout 8 g
  • ProteinAbout 2 g
  • FatAbout 0 g
  • FibreAbout 1 g
  • SodiumAbout 780 mg

Rounded generic-ingredient estimates assume 45 mL of 40% vodka and 120 mL tomato-and-clam cocktail juice per drink, with measured sauces, lime and only the celery salt that adheres to the rim. Clamato, Worcestershire, hot sauce and rim-salt amounts vary by brand and preparation, so sodium can differ substantially. These values are not a laboratory analysis or product-label information. The zero-proof version has different values.

Clamato-style juice contains clam and tomato. Celery salt and celery garnish contain celery; Worcestershire sauce may contain anchovy or other fish. Check package labels for allergens and cross-contact statements, especially if serving someone with a shellfish, fish or celery allergy. Wash produce and hands, and use clean glasses and utensils. Garnish and ice do not reduce the drink’s alcohol content.

FAQ

FAQ

Is a Caesar the same as a Bloody Mary?

They are related savoury tomato cocktails, but a Caesar uses tomato-and-clam juice such as Clamato. A Bloody Mary is generally made with tomato juice.

Can I make this without alcohol?

Yes. Leave out the vodka and add 45 mL extra Clamato to each glass. Keep the same rim, citrus and seasoning, then adjust the hot sauce to taste.

What can I use instead of celery salt?

For a different rim, use a little plain salt mixed with finely ground celery seed if you have it. Check allergy needs first; celery seed is still celery.

Finish

Finish

  • Keep extra lime wedges on the table for anyone who wants more citrus.
  • Offer additional hot sauce separately so each drinker can adjust the heat.