Combine 1 tablespoon coarse steak spice and 1 teaspoon celery salt on a small plate. Run the lime wedge around the outside rim of a highball or pint glass to moisten it, then dip and twist the glass rim into the spice-salt mixture until evenly coated. Set glass aside.

Mix cocktail

Combine liquids and seasonings

In a cocktail shaker (or mixing glass) filled with ice, add 2 oz Smirnoff vodka, 4 oz Clamato juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz pickle brine, 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 3 tsp Tabasco (adjust to heat preference), 1 tsp steak spice, 0.5 tsp celery salt and several cranks of freshly cracked black pepper.

Stir or roll

Stir the mixture briskly for 15–20 seconds to chill and dilute slightly. If you prefer a slightly frothier texture, cap the shaker and roll back and forth between the shaker and a mixing glass once or twice (do not hard shake, to keep clarity).

Assemble

Fill the rimmed glass with fresh ice (about 1 cup). Strain the chilled cocktail into the prepared glass over the ice.

Garnish

Garnish with a dill pickle spear and an optional pickle slice or wheel on a cocktail pick. Taste and add an extra dash of Tabasco, a sprinkle of steak spice, or a squeeze of lime if desired.