I still remember when my friend introduced me to a Caesar made with gin instead of vodka. Let me tell you, it was game changing. I wasn’t even a gin drinker at the time, but still I loved it. So since it’s a long weekend, and as this drink is both brunch and late night worthy… I give you The Gin Caesar.
But hold up. Before we delve into the delicious ingredients that comprise this concoction, I want to talk about the garnishes. I mean, what is a Caesar without it’s fancy, over-the-top embellishments? Well, you can keep it simple and just use some pickled beans like the ones we shared a recipe for last week. And I did use those beans in this recipe, but I also added some homemade fried mozzarella, salami, basil, caper berries and a grape tomato for good measure. Man was it good. I don’t have a recipe for the fried mozzarella, but if you guys are interested I can certainly do one up!
To any non-Canadians out there, a Caesar is similar to a Bloody Mary except there is clam juice in the mix. Now before you get grossed out, it’s actually delicious and you should to try it first before placing judgement. It tastes much better than a Bloody Mary in my opinion, so give it a shot! I used French’s new Caesar mix instead of the traditional Mott’s Clamato juice. French’s drink had good flavour, with less of a celery taste than Clamato juice. Also, it is made in Canada, which I think we can all get behind!
For the Gin, I went with a local Seaweed Gin by the Newfoundland Distillery Co. It’s a strong flavoured gin that pairs well in a ceasar. If you don’t have access to their alcohol, they do sell online, or if you are new to gin, I recommend Tanqueray or Bombay Gin for a smooth drink. Hope you enjoy the Gin Caesar!
P.s. It’s best drank through a straw, don’t know why, but it makes a difference…
The Gin Caesar
Ingredients
- 1 cup Tomato Clam Juice such as French's caesar mix or Mott's Clamato
- 5 dashes Tabasco sauce or to taste
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tbsp Creamed horseradish
- 1 tbsp Pickle Juice from pickled beans
- 1 ounce Gin we used Seaweed Gin
- Celery salt
- 2 wedges Lime
- Garnishes
- 2 Pickled Beans homemade or store bought
- 1 Mozzarella stick homemade or store bought (optional)
- 1 slice Salami optional
- 1 leaf Basil optional
- 1 Caper berry optional
- 1 grape tomato optional
- 1 bamboo skewer optional
Instructions
- Pour celery salt onto a plate. Rub a wedge of lime around the rim of your glass, then invert glass and dip in celery salt. Squeeze the juice from 2 wedges of lime into your glass.
- Add pickle juice, horseradish, tabasco, worcestershire sauce, gin and tomato-clam juice into the glass. Stir until well combined, tasting to adjust seasonings as you like.
- Fill glass with ice, and garnish with pickled beans. If you want to be indulgent, gather remaining optional garnishes and pierce with bamboo skewer. Place skewer just inside glass, leaning against the rim so the mozzarella doesn't get soggy.
The recipe is credited to Nicole and Katherine – The former owner of SaltwaterDaughter.com.
