Blue Nova " Caesar " Recipe

Rim the glass

Run the lemon wedge around the rim of a highball or Collins glass to wet it lightly. Spread the coarse celery salt on a small plate and dip the rim into the salt to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.

Fill the rimmed glass with ice cubes to chill while you build the cocktail.

In a cocktail shaker add the gin (2 oz), blue curaçao (0.5 oz) and fresh lemon juice (0.5 oz).

Add the garlic-infused Clamato (3 oz). If you don't have garlic-infused Clamato, use 3 oz Clamato plus a light pinch (about 1/16 tsp) of garlic powder or 1/8 tsp garlic paste to suggest garlic flavor.

Add Worcestershire sauce (0.25 tsp), hot sauce (3 dashes), prepared horseradish (0.5 tsp), sea salt (1 tsp) and freshly ground black pepper (0.25 tsp) to the shaker. These seasonings create the savory 'Caesar' backbone.

Add a generous scoop of ice (about 1 cup) to the shaker, cap it, and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.

Discard the ice from the chilled, rimmed glass and fill it with fresh ice.

Strain the shaken cocktail into the prepared glass over fresh ice. The blue curaçao will tint the savory tomato-Clamato base to a vivid blue-green 'Blue Nova' hue.

Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim and a celery stalk for stirring and aroma.

Taste and, if desired, adjust seasoning with an extra dash of hot sauce, a pinch of sea salt, or a light sprinkle of black pepper to preference.

Serve immediately with a straw and enjoy.