National Caesar Day
National Caesar Day celebrates Canada’s beloved national cocktail – the Caesar, also known as the Bloody Caesar. This unique drink combines vodka, clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce, served in a celery salt-rimmed glass with various creative garnishes.
Quick Facts
When is it?: Thursday before Victoria Day weekend in May
Tagged as: Canada’s National Cocktail Day
What’s the hashtag?: #NationalCaesarDay
When was it founded?: 2015
Who founded it?: Mott’s Clamato
History
The Caesar cocktail was invented in 1969 by Walter Chell at the Calgary Inn (now the Westin). Inspired by the Italian dish Spaghetti alle Vongole, Chell created this distinctive drink for the opening of the hotel’s new Italian restaurant. Parliament officially recognized it as Canada’s national cocktail in 2010.
Timeline
• 1969: Walter Chell invents the Caesar in Calgary
• 2009: Calgary declares May 13 as Caesar Day
• 2010: Parliament names Caesar as Canada’s national cocktail
• 2015: First official National Caesar Day celebration
• 2019: 50th anniversary celebration with Dan Aykroyd’s special recipe
2025 Dates
| Year | Month | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May | 15 | Thursday |
| 2026 | May | 14 | Thursday |
| 2027 | May | 13 | Thursday |
| 2028 | May | 18 | Thursday |
| 2029 | May | 17 | Thursday |
| 2030 | May | 16 | Thursday |
How It’s Observed
Canadians celebrate by enjoying Caesars at bars, restaurants, or home. Many establishments offer special Caesar menus, build-your-own Caesar bars, and unique variations of the classic recipe. Coast-to-coast celebrations include Caesar crawls and festivals.
Fun Facts About Caesar
• Canadians consume over 400 million Caesars annually
• The drink remains uniquely Canadian with limited popularity outside the country
• The original recipe took three months to perfect
• The cocktail’s garnishes have evolved to include everything from hamburgers to lobster
Quiz
- Who invented the Caesar?
- In which city was it created?
- What year was it officially named Canada’s national cocktail?
- What inspired the creation of the Caesar?
-(Answers: Walter Chell, Calgary, 2010, Spaghetti alle Vongole)
FAQs
Q: What’s in a classic Caesar?
A: Vodka, clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery salt rim, garnished with celery and lime
Q: Why is it called a Caesar?
A: The creator’s Italian heritage influenced the name
Related Celebrations
• International Cocktail Day
• World Bartender Day
• Canadian Food Day
• Victoria Day
• Calgary Stampede