Celebrate the Caesar

The Caesar, a.k.a. the drink that became so popular that the Canadian parliament declared it the country’s office cocktail in 2009, turns 50 this year! To celebrate, mixologists at Fairmont Hotels throughout B.C. have rolled up their sleeves to create signature drinks for National Caesar Day on Thursday, May 16th, 2019! —Vita Daily

fairmont empress, victoria. In honour of the special day, the Fairmont Empress held a contest to name its concoction and the Seashuck was created. An Aquavit-based cocktail, it’s served with a side of garlic-and-dill-infused Aquavit and a freshly shucked oyster. Get it while you can—it’s only on the menu for National Caesar Day and is $25 in Q Bar.

fairmont vancouver airport, richmond. Jetside Bar at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport is featuring a Lemon Beer Caesar with local lemon pale ale from Four Winds Brewing in Delta, B.C., Absolute vodka, Grand Marnier, lemon juice and Mott’s Caesar mix. And the garnish? Pacific Northwest seafood is renowned among locals and travellers from around the world, and the airport is often the first (or last) place to savour it, so fresh dill and smoked salmon crown the cocktail. Offered only for National Caesar Day at $16 each!

fairmont hotel vancouver. The Anniversary Caesar, a mammoth and mouthwatering concoction that’s a drink AND a meal for two, was inspired by Walter Chell who (as the story goes) created the drink at Marcos, a restaurant in Calgary. The Notch8 drink includes a chorizo and roast-garlic calzone as a nod to its Italian lineage, and a deep-fried clam "po’boy" smothered in tomato sauce to reflect Chell’s love of spaghetti vongole. The mixologists took inspiration from the cowboys and cattle of the Rockies and included two smokey BBQ pork sliders, two Alberta Beef prime rib-stuffed Yorkshire puddings and two fried chicken skewers to the cocktail. And, to reflect the west coast and provide local flavour, two B.C. grilled prawn skewers were added. Garnishes provide crunch with a skewer of pickled vegetables and celery sticks to illustrate the evolution of the Caesar over the decades. The three ounces of vodka is mixed with Mott’s Clamato juice and topped with lime wedges. Only offered on National Caesar Day in Notch8, the cocktail is $99.

fairmont pacific rim, vancouver. The Coastline Caesar was created by Botanist head bartender Jeff Savage, who was inspired by Canada’s vast 265,523 kilometres of coastline. Using local ingredients and suppliers, the recipe profiles scents and flavours specific to the Pacific Northwest.

fairmont chateau whistler. The Mallard Bar’s 5 Decade Caesar, down and dirty but oh-so drinkable, celebrates five decades with each of the five flavour profiles. House-made Thai Chili and Orange Percolated Gin comes courtesy of a cold-drip system and a 10-hour timespan. Then, combining the gin with vodka, traditional Clamato juice is added for some saltiness while vine-ripened B.C. tomatoes balance with bitterness. A dash of both balsamic vinaigrette and miso add sour and umami respectively and a splash of Burrowing Owl’s Coruja hits the sweet spot. Muddled in the glass with a five spice mix ensures all the flavours remain intact. Available for $24 throughout 2019 in the Mallard Bar.

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