Clover Club
A pre-prohibition cocktail with a delicate balance of gin, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and egg white, creating a silky, tart, and slightly sweet drink.
Prep Time
6 min
ABV
18-20% ABV (approx.)
Servings
Flavor Profile
What is this drink?
The Clover Club is a genuine pre-Prohibition era cocktail named after a Philadelphia men's literary club where it was served in the late 19th century. It combines gin with raspberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, and — critically — egg white, which when dry-shaken creates the silky, pillowy foam that defines this cocktail's texture. It fell out of fashion during Prohibition and has been beautifully rehabilitated by the craft cocktail revival.
Why you'll love it
The Clover Club is a masterclass in balance — the tartness of lemon, the sweetness of raspberry, and the botanical depth of gin are unified by the egg white's silky texture into a cocktail that is simultaneously light and complex. The pink color and delicate foam make it as beautiful as it tastes.
When to serve
The Clover Club is perfect for elegant gatherings, cocktail parties, brunch menus, or any occasion that calls for a sophisticated, visually beautiful cocktail that showcases craft technique. It pairs wonderfully with light appetizers and cheese.
Pro tip
The dry shake is not optional — shaking the egg white without ice first for at least 15 seconds emulsifies the protein and creates a dramatically more stable, voluminous foam than simply adding ice from the start.
Gin
The botanical foundation — gin's juniper and herbal notes provide the structural complexity that prevents the Clover Club from tasting like raspberry lemonade with foam on top.
Raspberry Syrup
The sweet, fruity element that gives the cocktail its distinctive blush color and berry sweetness — a quality homemade or Monin raspberry syrup makes a significant difference.
Egg White
The transformative ingredient — dry-shaken egg white creates the cocktail's signature silky texture and pillowy white foam that turns a simple sour into a genuinely luxurious experience.
Swap Options
Replace raspberry syrup with fresh muddled raspberries strained through a fine sieve for a more intense, complex berry flavor. Swap gin for vodka for a cleaner, less botanical version that lets the raspberry flavor dominate. Use aquafaba (chickpea liquid) instead of egg white for a vegan version that produces excellent foam. Try blackberry or strawberry syrup for fun flavor variations on the same framework.
Directions
Step 1
Combine ingredients
In a shaker, combine gin, raspberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, and egg white.
Pro Tip
- →Use fresh lemon juice for brightness.
Step 2
Dry shake
Shake vigorously without ice to emulsify the egg white.
Pro Tip
- →Dry shaking creates a silky, foamy texture.
Step 3
Shake with ice
Add ice cubes and shake again until chilled.
Pro Tip
- →Chilling the mixture ensures a refreshing cocktail.
Step 4
Strain and serve
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Pro Tip
- →Avoid large ice cubes in the final glass; serve straight up.
Step 5
Garnish
Garnish with a fresh raspberry on top.
Pro Tip
- →Place gently on foam to maintain the texture.
Different ways to make this drink your own
Fresh Raspberry Clover Club
Replace raspberry syrup with freshly muddled raspberries strained through a fine sieve for a more intense, complex berry flavour with greater nuance and natural acidity. Fresh raspberries produce a brighter, more vibrant result than syrup, and the colour is even more vivid and beautiful in the glass.
Vodka Clover Club
Swap the gin for vodka for a cleaner, less botanical version that lets the raspberry flavour take full, uncontested control. Without juniper and other botanicals in the background, the raspberry's pure berry sweetness and the lemon's brightness come forward cleanly. This is a more accessible version for guests who don't enjoy gin.
Strawberry Clover Club
Replace raspberry syrup with homemade strawberry syrup or fresh muddled strawberries for a sweeter, more summertime variation. Strawberries lack the tartness of raspberries, so increase the lemon juice slightly to maintain the drink's essential sour-sweet balance. The colour shifts from deep pink to a softer, warmer blush.
Tools that make this drink come together
Cocktail Shaker
A cocktail shaker is essential for the Clover Club's dry shake technique. First, shake all ingredients without ice to emulsify the egg white and build foam, then add ice and shake again to chill. This two-stage shaking produces the dense, stable foam that defines the cocktail's character.
Fine-Mesh Strainer
Double strain through both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh sieve for the smoothest, most elegant result. This technique removes ice chips and any egg white fragments that haven't fully emulsified, producing a perfectly smooth, beautifully foamy cocktail with a clean, professional appearance.
Jigger
Precise measurement of lemon juice and raspberry syrup is critical — the balance of sour, sweet, and spirit defines the cocktail. Too much raspberry syrup creates a cloying, one-note drink; too little and the flavour seems thin. A jigger ensures consistent, well-balanced results across multiple servings.
Can't Find These?
Aquafaba (the liquid from a tin of chickpeas) substitutes for egg white with similar foam-building properties — use the same volume. A sealed jar shaken vigorously replaces a cocktail shaker for a home preparation. Raspberry jam (a teaspoon, strained) can substitute for raspberry syrup in a pinch.
The right glass makes a real difference
Nick and Nora Glass or Coupe
A Nick and Nora glass or vintage-style coupe is the ideal vessel for a Clover Club, its elegant stem and wide bowl displaying the cocktail's beautiful deep-pink colour and the stable, pristine foam cap to maximum effect. Chill the glass in the freezer for ten minutes before use to keep the cocktail cold and prevent the foam from collapsing prematurely.
Alternatives
A martini glass creates a classic, angular presentation. A small wine glass works adequately. A stemless coupe-style glass is a practical modern alternative. The foam is the drink's defining visual feature — choose a glass that allows it to sit proud and visible at the surface.
Perfect food pairings to complete the experience
Raspberry Macarons
Delicate French macarons filled with raspberry buttercream or ganache create an intentional, beautiful echo of the Clover Club's central flavour. The almond shells' gentle sweetness and the raspberries' tartness mirror the cocktail's flavour profile with elegant precision.
Smoked Salmon Rillettes on Toast
Smooth, lightly smoked salmon rillettes on thin, crisp toast rounds are a refined, savoury pairing for this elegant cocktail. The rich salmon and the drink's fruity acidity create a pleasing contrast, and the cocktail's pink colour looks particularly striking alongside the salmon's pale rose.
Lemon Curd Tartlets
Buttery pastry cases filled with sharp, golden lemon curd alongside a Clover Club is a citrus-lover's pairing that works because both the tartlet and the cocktail share bright, clean acidity as a defining characteristic. The curd's richness against the cocktail's lightness creates pleasant textural contrast.
Brie and Raspberry Jam Crostini
Toasted baguette rounds topped with ripe, runny brie and a small spoonful of good raspberry jam create a sweet-savoury accompaniment that deliberately echoes the Clover Club's raspberry character. The brie's creaminess contrasts beautifully with the cocktail's refreshing acidity.
Prep in advance for effortless serving
Make Raspberry Syrup
Simmer 200g of fresh or frozen raspberries with 200g of sugar and 150ml of water for ten minutes, strain through a fine sieve, cool, and bottle. This syrup keeps refrigerated for up to two weeks and produces a more consistent, vibrant-coloured Clover Club than commercial alternatives. Make a batch at the weekend for weekday cocktail convenience.
Pre-Squeeze Lemon Juice
Squeeze lemon juice up to 24 hours ahead and store in a sealed container in the fridge. Fresh lemon juice loses a small amount of brightness overnight but remains excellent in a mixed drink. Having it measured and ready enables rapid assembly when making multiple Clover Clubs for a group.
Chill Glasses in Advance
Place coupe or Nick and Nora glasses in the freezer at least 20 minutes before serving. A well-chilled glass is non-negotiable for a Clover Club — it keeps the cocktail cold after pouring and helps the foam cap remain stable and attractive for longer after the drink is served.
Separate Egg Whites in Advance
Separate egg whites from yolks up to 24 hours ahead and store the whites in a covered container in the fridge. Cold egg whites can be used directly from the fridge — they don't need to reach room temperature for cocktail use. Having them ready eliminates cracking eggs at the moment of serving.
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