What is the difference between a Bloody Mary and a Caesar?

Many people ask what is the difference between a bloody mary and a Caesar cocktail. Well, I’m here to give you the answer! At first glance, they might look like the same cocktail but on the inside is where they differentiate.

Besides overall taste, there are a few key things that differentiate a bloody mary from a Caesar cocktail. While a bloody mary is typically served in the United States and various parts of the world, Canada decided to steal the bloody mary thunder and make Caesar the official cocktail of the entire country! I’m not jealous or anything….

If you’ve wondered what the difference between a bloody mary and Caesar cocktail is, here’s what makes them individually awesome!

Want to know what the difference is between a bloody mary and a bloody maria? Grab My Guide HERE!

Base and Flavors

Bloody Mary

The bloody mary, since it’s inception is made with a tomato juice base to cure hangovers. The bloody mary tomato juice base is full of nutrients, vegetables, and sodium, all essential to kick hangovers to the curb!

Throughout the years the bloody mary cocktail has taken on many forms. You can find red snappers made with gin, bloody Maria’s made with tequila, a green bloody mary, made with tomatillos, or as of late, bourbon filled bloody marys, usually accompanied with bacon. Because bloody marys are made with tomato juice, they tend to be a bit thicker consistency than the Caesar.

Depending on where you are in the country you can expect to find different flavor profiles of the bloody mary like the hair of the dog East Coast bloody marys, mild and hearty bloody marys of the Midwest, creole-inspired flavors of the South, or spicy and fresh bloody marys of the West Coast.

Did you know bloody marys are good for you?!?!?* Find out how HERE!

Caesars

Caesars are made with a different base. All Caesar cocktails are made with Clamato juice, a mixture of tomato juice and clam juice. Don’t knock it, before you try it! Funny enough, Clamato is used in micheladas and cheladas in the U.S. and Mexico, which consists of Clamato, hot sauce, lime, and beer.

Like a bloody mary, many variations of the Caesar cocktail have evolved over the years including Asian, American, and Indian influences but overall it has been a fairly consistent cocktail. The cocktail is not just a hangover cure, but a source of pride for the country and considered a national treasure. Meanwhile, I’m here down in California trying to convince people how yummy bloody marys are!

Personally, I prefer bloody marys because the tomato juice base gives you more flexibility to add different ingredients. Anyone in Canada who wants to invite me up and prove me wrong…..I’m accepting invitations :).

History

Bloody Mary

There is still some debate where the bloody mary originated. The Ritz Hotel in Paris and the Ritz-Carlton in New York City both lay claim to be the originator of the cocktail. From France to the United States the bloody mary carried names such as tomato cocktail, bloody mary, a bucket of blood (thank god it’s not called this anymore,) and red snapper. While I guess we will never know, it has been said the cocktail was first crafted for Hemingway and his circle to aid their immense hangovers from late-night “enlightened” escapades.

Caesar

The Caesar history is a bit different but somewhat similar…..The Caesar cocktail was also birthed in a hotel bar. In 1969, Walter Chell was tasked to create a new signature cocktail for the Calgary Inn’s new Italian restaurant. Although a publication in 1900 called Modern American Drinks and a 1951 Betty Crocker Cookbook both had clam juice cocktail recipes, Walter ultimately perfected the cocktail and its proportions in 69. In 2010, Parliament named the Caesar as the official cocktail of Canada.

The name Caesar is said to come about from a patron of Chell’s who shouted out, “that’s a damn good Caesar” and it’s stuck since it’s inception. Mott’s, a distributor of Clamato estimates 350 million Caesar’s are consumed each year in Canada.

National Holiday

Bloody Mary

National Bloody Mary Day aka National Hangover Day in the United States is celebrated on New Year’s Day. The one day a year where most of the population is hungover, there couldn’t be a more appropriate day to sip on a savory and stiff bloody mary!

Caesar

Named the official cocktail of Canada by Parliament, of course a national holiday needs to accompany such prestige. National Caesar Day is always the Thursday before the May 2-4 long-weekend as Canada’s unofficial start to summer!

So now you know the differences between a Caesar cocktail and the Bloody Mary. At first glance, they might look like the same thing, but after the first sip, you’ll immediately know the difference!