Clover Club

Clover Club is a classic gin-based cocktail with raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. It is sweet, tart, and frothy, and is often served in a coupe glass with a garnish of raspberry or lemon twist.

Clover Club recipe

• 4.5cl Gin
• 1.5cl lemon juice
• 1.5cl raspberry syrup
• 1 egg white or 20 ml aquafaba or 4 drops cocktail foamer

Dry shake ingredients to emulsify, add ice, shake and served straight up.

How to shake a Clover Club into its signature foam

1. Chill a cocktail glass first so the drink stays brisk and silky once strained.
2. Add gin, fresh lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and your chosen foaming agent to a shaker. Egg white gives the classic texture, while aquafaba works well for a vegan version.
3. Dry shake hard without ice for about 10 to 15 seconds. This first shake builds the Clover Club’s hallmark pale pink foam.
4. Add plenty of cold ice and shake again until the tin feels thoroughly chilled, usually another 10 to 15 seconds.
5. Fine strain into the chilled glass to catch ice shards and any larger bubbles, leaving a smoother surface.
6. Let it settle for a moment before serving. If you like, a few drops of bitters or a raspberry on the side can add a subtle finishing touch.

What the Clover Club tastes like

The Clover Club is bright, tart, and lightly sweet, with raspberry softening the sharpness of lemon and gin. Its texture is a big part of the appeal: the foam gives it a creamy, almost dessert-like feel without making it heavy. A more juniper-forward gin makes it drier and more botanical, while a softer gin lets the fruit come forward.

A little club history

This drink is generally linked to the Clover Club of Philadelphia, a late 19th-century social club whose members included journalists, lawyers, and business figures. The exact inventor is uncertain, but the association with pre-Prohibition East Coast drinking culture is strong and widely accepted. The cocktail later fell out of fashion for a time, partly because egg white drinks became less common, but it returned with the classic cocktail revival.

Best way to serve it

Serve it straight up and very cold in a cocktail glass. Because there is no ice in the glass, proper chilling matters more than usual. Fresh citrus makes a noticeable difference here, and the drink is best enjoyed immediately while the foam is at its fullest and the balance still feels crisp.

Zero-proof Clover Club-style riff

For a non-alcoholic version, use a botanical alcohol-free gin alternative or a mix of chilled juniper tea and a splash of white grape juice for body. Shake with lemon, raspberry syrup, and aquafaba just as you would the original. You’ll get the same rosy color, lively acidity, and soft froth, with a surprisingly grown-up finish.