Cocktail Hour

Before I begin, let me get one things straight: I am not a big drinker.  In fact, more often than not, I’m the designated driver. 

With that being said, I will now say that I love cocktails and cocktail hour.  I love watching the bartender mix all sorts of colourful drinks with even more colourful names. I love the fancy glasses, garnish, straws, and swizzle sticks that come with my cocktail. I love how one specific drink can help set the mood for the whole evening.

Like mimosas at a bridal brunch.  Or French Martinis at an Oscar Party.  Or Bloody Caesars at a holiday party.

Of all the cocktails, I think Bloody Caesars are my favorite.  In fact, the Caesar was one of the reasons I fell in love with my husband.  We were on our first plane ride together and without talking about it first, both ordered one as our beverage.  As it turns out, both of us always enjoy a Caesar while flying.  Just one of the many little things that it turned out we had in common.

Besides airplanes, we both enjoy having Caesars at steakhouses, brunches, and hotel lounges.  But until recently, not at home.  Why not?  Well, it always seemed so complicated and labour intensive. 

Not anymore.  A little while ago, I was introduced to Mott’s new pre-made Bloody Caesars.  Normally, I am not a huge fan of premixed cocktails; they just don’t taste fresh.  But this one was different; it really did taste like a freshly-mixed drink. The Mott’s Chief Mixing Officer, Clint Pattemore, who made my drink, was on hand to give some great tips on how to re-create this classic cocktail at home.  Here are a few of his tips on how to make the perfect Caesar:

1. When it comes to ice, less is less.  Most people think that if they add too much ice, it’ll water down the drink.  In fact, the opposite is true; the more ice you add, the colder the drink stays.  The colder the drink stays, the less the ice melts.  Hence, your drink is less watery. So go ahead and fill it to the brim with the ice.

2.  Run a lemon wedge around the rim of the glass before dipping it in celery salt.  But not too much.  Otherwise it’ll look and feel really messy.

3.  If you’re going to spice your drink, do it before adding in the Motts Caesar mix.  Spicing it could mean basil muddled in the bottom of your glass, a couple shots of hot sauce, or even some chopped chipotle pepper.  

4. Try garnishing your drink with something other than the normal celery.  Try adding a twist of lime, cucumber spears, or spicy pickled green beans (my favorite).

Learning about these new twists on one of my old favorite drinks is coming at the perfect time; next week I’ll be hosting a holiday brunch and I know that this will be the perfect easy drink to prepare for my guests.  They look impressive, taste amazing, and are beyond easy to prepare.  

So what about you?  Are you a fellow Caesar-lover?  Or is there another special cocktail you like to make for the season? And if so, do you have your own unique tips and touches?  Let me know…I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting drink ideas.