If you’re planning to watch “The Voice” reruns over the holiday break and want to channel your inner Michael Bublé, we have the perfect cocktail to go along with it. And no, it doesn’t involve mulled wine or boozy coquito. Instead, it centers on a traditional Canadian libation that the Burnaby singer enjoys sipping on every Christmas, often alongside his favorite holiday side dishes.
Michael Bublé Loves a Christmas Caesar Cocktail
“When I travel…one of the things that we talk about when we get to the bar or whatever is ‘Do they have Caesar mix? Do they have Clamato?'” Bublé said in an interview with Canadian Living. “Not only is [a Caesar] delicious, not only is it festive, but I think it’s so distinctly Canadian.”
Bublé learned his favorite Caesar recipe from his brother, sticking to the basics: vodka, Worcestershire sauce, spices, and tomato-clam juice. In his version, he simply adds more hot sauce because he prefers extra heat. If this cocktail sounds a lot like a Bloody Mary, you’re not wrong. The two drinks share a similar base, with one briny ingredient setting the Classic Canadian Caesar apart. Read on to learn what makes a Caesar, how to mix one, and how to elevate it with simple upgrades.
What Is a Caesar Cocktail?
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Despite its name, this cocktail has no relation to the salad. In Quebec, people often call it a Bloody Caesar, while most Canadians simply abbreviate it to Caesar. The drink follows the same basic path as a Bloody Mary: vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, spices, and hot sauce, then takes a new turn with a splash of clam juice. While you can definitely grab a bottle of salty clam juice, most people opt for Clamato, a ready-to-use tomato and clam beverage.
Each sip of a Caesar cocktail delivers layers of flavor: sweetness from the tomato juice, sharpness from the vodka, savoriness from the Worcestershire sauce, subtle heat from the hot sauce, and brininess from the clam juice. Like a Bloody Mary, Canadians often enjoy a Caesar during brunch or as a hangover remedy—unless you’re Bublé, who saves them for sipping on during Christmas.
How To Make Michael Bublé’s Caesar Cocktail Recipe at Home
Ingredients:
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1 tablespoon celery salt, or as needed
- 1 cup ice, or as needed
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 8 ounces Clamato juice
- 1 celery stick, plus other garnishes
Directions:
- Sprinkle celery salt onto a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a highball glass to moisten it, then press the rim into the salt. Fill the glass with ice.
- Add the vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Top the glass with tomato-clam juice and stir gently to combine. Add a pinch of celery salt, then garnish the glass with a lime wedge, a celery stick, and any extra garnishes you prefer.
How to Upgrade the Caesar Cocktail
While this classic Caesar drink recipe shines as is, simple swaps and hacks can take it to the next level:
- Switch the booze. Caesar cocktails usually rely on vodka, but you can add tequila, mezcal, or gin for a change in flavor.
- Use kimchi juice. When the Clamato runs short (or when you want something different), pour a little kimchi juice into this cocktail. You’ll still experience that briny kick, and the gentle heat from the fermented fruit adds a new layer of flavor. This trick also helps you use up that leftover kimchi liquid.
- Have fun with the garnishes. Just like a loaded Bloody Mary, a Caesar welcomes bold toppings. Go for crispy bacon strips, tangy olive skewers, or a few plump cocktail shrimp.
