Cactus Club 14/20

Reviewed by Tyler Adam

Upon seating at The Cactus Club, a chique North Vancouver restaurant's Edmontonian installment, our enthusiastic waitress took drink orders and naturally a cool glass of the drink that gives this blog life was my simple request; and as a patron of this blog getting an idea of how this West Coast eatery can proliferate onto Albertan soil and brazenly represent our cocktail was my duty. Before too long a tumbler, filled to the salty brim with the intoxicating red elixir, is presented to me and my envy stricken table mates. The Caesar came as advertised - well spiced, impeccably garnished and with an amicable dose of a mid-shelf vodka. Being as objective as I can, I am comfortable saying that in terms of flavour this likely wasn't the most delicious Caesar I, as a connoisseur of sorts, have sampled but it was highly refreshing and is definitely up high on the list. I personally wasn't fond of the Borettane Onion, it was the other garnishes that impressed me. The onion was too sweet for my taste, and didn't necessarily compliment the rest of the drink but the Vermouth-soaked, Peruvian Pepper-stuffed Olive and the Fresh Bocconcini really took this drink home. The salty rim wasn't your typical store bought celery salt either, another refreshing twist. I'm kind of a sucker for tradition so the pickled flavour of the olive was my favorite of the 3 garnishes but the cheese was a really nice touch. Cactus Club has indeed put forth a really nice variant on a classic while staying true to the drink. Walter Chell would be proud.

Priced at 6.75 (5.50 on Sundays!) you get what you're paying for, albeit a little pricey, Cactus Club delivers on providing a classy variant on a refreshing cocktail.

Taste 4/5

Creativity 3/5

Garnish 4/5

Bang for your Buck 3/5

Total 14/20

Verdict: Go to Cactus Club for the food but certainly give this Caesar a try.

http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/