Original Caesar

Canada Day is right around the corner, but the coronavirus pandemic is still in the back of our minds, and physical distancing guidelines are in place, so what’s the best way to celebrate our country’s birthday? Why not throw a virtual Canada Day cocktail party?

Thanks to the internet and so many communication platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts, you can easily take your Canada Day cocktail party online! 

How can you make it feel less like a conference call and more like an inclusive celebration? For starters, keep the attendees to a manageable number so you can still connect and talk. Then check out these ideas for how to make your cocktail party memorable and fun.

Send Out Care Packages Before the Party
After you’ve assembled your guest list, why not put together a little box of decorations and favours, like a Canadian flag, red and white face paint, t-shirts, and red and white glasses or headbands. You can even put together some cocktail ingredients or add a mini bottle of champagne and send them out or drop them off in advance to those invited. 

Bestow a "Best Dressed" Award  
Who can dress most Canadian? It’ll be a fun surprise for everyone the moment they turn on their cameras. Encouraging guests to dress up will help build anticipation for the call and really give the party a fun feel. Have guests vote on the best dressed participant.

Plan Some Online Games
Canada Day trivia, or jeopardy are activities you can all partake in from afar. In addition to catching up, and chitchatting, mixing some games into the party will help you forget you aren't all physically together. 

Create Signature Cocktails & Share Cocktail Recipes
Plan for some fun cocktails to sip during your virtual party.

You can be the one in charge of sending cocktail recipes to everyone beforehand, or you can do a cocktail recipe exchange and have everyone choose a favourite and share their recipe. To make it even more interactive, you could have each person on the call demonstrate how to make their favourite drink. 

Here’s a few ideas for Canadian cocktails to get your party started.

Original Caesar
Any Canada Day celebration requires the Caesar. It is the epitome of a Canadian cocktail since it was invented in Canada.

Here's the real story (which you can even mix into Canada Day trivia): The Caesar was created by a restaurant bartender at the Calgary Inn after he was given the responsibility of creating a unique new cocktail to open the inn's restaurant, called Marco's Italian in 1969. Since the restaurant's food was Italian, he wanted the drink to capture what he loved most about his favourite Italian dish, spaghetti vongole, a red sauce with clams. Thus, the Caesar has both clam and tomato flavours!

Use Alberta Pure Vodka for the most Albertan take on this real Canadian cocktail. You can find the full recipe here. 

Royal Treatment
Lovely lavender-hued and Canadian Empress Gin is the key ingredient for this cocktail that tips its hat at Canada's history with England. 

Ingredients:

• 1½OZ Empress 1908 Gin 
• 3OZ White Cranberry Juice 
• Sparkling Wine 
• Kiwi, Berries, Mint Leaves 

In a stemless wine glass, pour in gin and cranberry juice. Top it off with sparkling wine and garnish with fruit and mint. Stir slightly and serve.

Upper Canada Punch
Do you remember your high school history where they explained Upper and Lower Canada? This cocktail is a nod to a bygone era. The black tea base is also a tip of the hat to our history with England.  

How can you make this drink great for Canada Day? Choose Alberta Cask Strength Rye Whiskey and Pilliterri Team Canada Red Wine to add a splash of red and white. 

Ingredients:

• 1 litre black Tea
• 1 bottle Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
• 500 ml Pilliterri Team Canada Red Wine
• 500 ml Appleton Rum
• 8 oz Brandy
• 1 .5 oz Benedictine Herbal Liqueur
• 500 ml Orange Juice
• 8 oz Lemon Juice

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl with a block of ice to slowly melt.

Summer Stunner
This cocktail is an excellent option for whiskey drinkers. Of course, you need to use Innis & Gunn Canadian Whiskey Cask Ale for a real Canada Day celebration.  

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Forty Creek Double Barrel whiskey
• .5 oz Ginger syrup*
• .5 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 oz Innis & Gunn Canadian Whiskey Cask Ale
• Garnish: Lemon wedge

*Ginger syrup: In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup fresh ginger juice Add 1 cup sugar, and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Store the syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Directions

Combine the whiskey, syrup and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled coupe. Top with the beer.

Stay safe while celebrating with our virtual Canada Day cocktail party ideas! And don’t forget to pop over to your local Co-op Wine Spirits Beer store for all your cocktail supplies.