The good news is there is clam juice in this drink. The bad news is there is clam juice in this drink.

Clam juice may not be for everyone, but even those who don’t love it may find that the rest of the ingredients make this cocktail work. In any case, if you want the full Cedar Key, Florida experience, you really have to try this cocktail. There’s nothing quite like it.

Okay, okay, there are other parts of the world that have their own versions of clam digger cocktails. You know that. For instance, the Acapulco Clam Digger Cocktail is pretty popular, but, look, you’re not in Acapulco right now. You’re in Cedar Key. So let’s not think about it, and just try this one.

Of course, if you aren’t in Cedar Key and just wish you were (don’t we all), you can still make the this delish drink at home. It just won’t be completely authentic, unless you have some clams shipped in from Cedar Key, which you can do if you’d like!

In any case, if you want to make the Cedar Key Clam Digger Cocktail, here’s the recipe.

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. vodka
3 oz. clam juice from Cedar Key clams
3 oz. tomato juice
Dash of Tabasco
Dash of Worcestershire
Salt
Key lime

Make it
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a glass and garnish with a slice of Key lime.

So what do you do if you don’t have clams from Cedar Key and can’t make clam juice? You can use regular clam juice instead, and if your friends say anything, just tell them to (what else?), “Clam up.”

And if you’re so inclined, you can replace both the clam and tomato juice with the drink, Clamato, a mixture of tomato juice and clam broth. Which may or may not sound delicious to your taste buds, but some people swear by it. And other people drink it, and just swear. A little bit of either can’t be too bad.

Not a fan of tomatoes?

Check out these two fruity, summery options and get the party started!