RED WINE CAESARS

I love red wine. I also love caesars. It was really only a matter of time before I tried them together in a cocktail — and it is so, so delicious! In fact, I don’t think I can ever go back — I’ve ruined traditional caesars for myself. The idea of the red wine caesar initially came to me on a beautiful summer day (a caesar Sunday, in fact!) at my family’s acreage. After a couple of caesars I thought, “Hey! I bet a splash of red wine would be really good in here!”. Well, it turns out that it wasn’t just the vodka talking! The addition of red wine adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the traditional caesar — it intensifies and enriches the flavours much like adding wine to a red pasta sauce or gravy would. And I didn’t stop there — my recipe also calls for a splash of olive juice (I’m dirty martini fan, as well!). If you’re looking for a sophisticated twist on the classic Canadian caesar, this cocktail is for you!

RED WINE CAESARS

This is kind of a savoury sangria, which seems like a strange concept, but I think it totally works. We all know how much I love sangria — which is probably why I like Red Wine Caesars so much! The richness of the red wine really makes all the other flavours sing, a splash of olive juice adds a briny element, while fresh lemon juice perks this cocktail up and makes it bright. The first time I had a traditional caesar served with lemon instead of lime I was skeptical — but it’s been my preferred citrus for caesars ever since!

Matt & Steve’s kindly supplied a few of their products for this post, and I have to say that I really enjoyed all of them! I’ve been a longtime fan of their picked beans (they’re makers of The Extreme Bean!) so I was eager to see what else they had to offer. Their products are made with good, simple ingredients (and “no artificial anything”), right here in Canada. They have 3 different varieties of beans, delicious stuffed olives, and caesar rimmer that comes packaged in a flat disc — you just pop the top off and it’s ready to use — how genius is that?! It saves you the step of shaking your rimmer out onto a saucer, and there’s also no clean up, which I love!

If you love caesars too, Matt & Steve’s is offering JustineCelina readers the chance to win a gift basket of entertaining essentials and caesar goodies, valued at $50 — mailed directly to you! If selected, your gift basket will include the following:

• Official Matt & Steve’s Extreme Bean Caesar Glasses
• Matt & Steve’s Beer Koozies
• 1 jar of Hot & Spicy Extreme Beans
• 1 jar of Garlic & Dill Extreme Beans
• 1 jar of Hot & Spicy B’nOlives
• 1 150gm tin of Matt & Steve’s Caesar Rimmer
• 1 plastic bucket

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered! 

INGREDIENTS

Red Wine Caesar

Serves 1

• Matt & Steve’s Caesar Rimmer
• 1 – 1.5 oz good vodka
• 1 oz Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec
• 6 oz Clamato juice
• 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce (or more if you like your caesars dirty)
• 2 dashes hot sauce
• Splash of Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Bn’Olive Olive Juice
• Splash of fresh lemon juice

Note: The wine you choose will depend on your personal preference and palette. I liked Malbec a little more than Cabernet Sauvignon, but the rest of my recipe testers preferred Cabernet Sauvignon in these caesars. Choose your favourite dry, full-bodied red wine — spicy or oaky notes pair well with caesar flavours. I personally think Argentinian Malbecs are especially good in this cocktail!

Garnish

• 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Extreme Beans
• 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Bn’Olives
• 1 small celery stalk

DIRECTIONS

1. Rim cocktail glasses with caesar rimmer. First, squeeze a thin layer of lemon juice onto a small saucer. Then, turn cocktail glasses upside down, first dipping the rim into the lemon juice to coat it. Then, coat the rim in caesar rimmer. The citrus base is what makes the rimmer stick!

2. Add as much ice as you like to each glass.

3. Pour a shot of vodka over top.

4. Add a shot of red wine.

5. Fill glasses with rest of the liquid ingredients, and a pinch of caesar rimmer. Mix thoroughly.

6. Garnish with 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Extreme Beans, 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Bn’Olives and 1 small celery stalk. Cheers!

Print

RED WINE CAESARS

Prep Time

10 mins

 

I love red wine. I also love caesars. It was really only a matter of time before I tried them together in a cocktail -- and it is so, so delicious! In fact, I don't think I can ever go back -- I've ruined traditional caesars for myself. The idea of the red wine caesar initially came to me on a beautiful summer day (a caesar Sunday, in fact!) at my family's acreage. After a couple of caesars I thought, "Hey! I bet a splash of red wine would be really good in here!". Well, it turns out that it wasn't just the vodka talking! The addition of red wine adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the traditional caesar -- it intensifies and enriches the flavours much like adding wine to a red pasta sauce or gravy would. And I didn't stop there -- my recipe also calls for a splash of olive juice (I'm dirty martini fan, as well!). If you're looking for a sophisticated twist on the classic Canadian caesar, this cocktail is for you!

Course: Drinks

Servings: 1

Author: Justine

Ingredients

Red Wine Caesar

• Matt & Steve’s Caesar Rimmer
• 1 - 1.5 oz vodka
• 1 oz Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec
• 6 oz Clamato juice
• 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce (or more if you like your caesars dirty)
• 2 dashes hot sauce
• Splash of Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Bn’Olive Olive Juice
• Splash of fresh lemon juice

Garnish

• 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Extreme Beans

• 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Bn’Olives
• 1 small celery stalk

Instructions

1. Rim cocktail glasses with caesar rimmer. First, squeeze a thin layer of lemon juice onto a small saucer. Then, turn cocktail glasses upside down, first dipping the rim into the lemon juice to coat it. Then, coat the rim in caesar rimmer. The citrus base is what makes the rimmer stick!

2. Add as much ice as you like to each glass.

3. Pour a shot of vodka over top.

4. Add a shot of red wine.

5. Fill glasses with rest of the liquid ingredients, and a pinch of caesar rimmer. Mix thoroughly.

6. Garnish with 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Extreme Beans, 2 Matt & Steve’s Hot & Spicy Bn’Olives and 1 small celery stalk. Cheers!

Recipe Notes

The wine you choose will depend on your personal preference and palette. I liked Malbec a little more than Cabernet Sauvignon, but the rest of my recipe testers preferred Cabernet Sauvignon in these caesars. Choose your favourite dry, full-bodied red wine -- spicy or oaky notes pair well with caesar flavours. I personally think Argentinian Malbecs are especially good in this cocktail!

MATT & STEVE’S GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

To enter to win a Matt & Steve’s gift basket of entertaining essentials and caesar goodies, valued at $50:

• Follow JustineCelina on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
• Leave a comment telling me what your favourite type of caesar is!

Contest open to Canadian residents until December 4th, 2015 at 11:59pm MST. PO BOX addresses are not permitted. Good luck!

Are you a caesar drinker? I know this recipe may seem a little crazy, but I promise that if you like red wine, caesars and olives, you’ll love them! If you end up trying a Red Wine Caesar, I’d love it if you tag me on social media or leave me a comment! You can also use the hashtag #justinecelinarecipes in your recreations. Have a great weekend everyone. Cheers!

Disclaimer: Some products provided by Matt & Steve’s. This post is not sponsored, and contains my genuine thoughts and recommendations.