The unlikely Canadian travel drink that sounds repulsive until you try it

As the Air Canada flight attendant asks what I'd like to drink, I smile. For years I'd avoided the classic Canadian cocktail, the Caesar, because the thought of dried clam broth in Clamato juice sounded disgusting.

But after accidentally trying one, thinking it was a bloody mary, back in 2018 I'd been hooked and now I can't wait to start my Canada trip right.

Created by Calgary bartender Walter Chell in 1969 to celebrate the opening of a new Italian restaurant, the drink was inspired by a spaghetti with clams dish he'd had in Venice.

Again, sounds disgusting as a cocktail. But it turns out Walter was right and the combination of clam stock-infused tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce and pepper with a celery salt rim is a winner.

There's also a chance that the MSG in Mott's Clamato juice that features in so many Caesars might have something to do with it, but I try not to think about that too much.

In the 50-plus years since Walter served the first Caesar, the cocktail has become a national treasure found in almost every bar in Canada.