Clover Club cocktail
The Clover Club cocktail is a tangy sour gin cocktail that originated in the 1900s and is made with gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and an egg white.
Elegant, smooth, and refreshing, it’s one of the oldest American gin classics and a must-try for anyone who enjoys sour-style cocktails with a fruity twist. The cocktail was named after the gentleman's club of the same name that would meet in one of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia during the pre-Prohibition era.
The egg white is used to give the Clover Club its creamy texture and foamy head; rather than for taste like in some Sour cocktail recipes. To make a Clover Club cocktail properly takes a bit of patience, and because it uses raw egg, this tasty cocktail is not as popular as it once was.
If you don't have sugar syrup, a few raspberries and some simple syrup added to the cocktail shaker should impart a similar flavouring.
- Prep Time:
- Total Time:
- Type: Cocktail
- Units: 2
Equipment
- Cocktail glass
Ingredients
- 45 ml gin
- 15 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml raspberry syrup
- 1 egg white
- 3 raspberries (to garnish)
Instructions
- Add the gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg white into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a speared raspberry.
FAQ
What are the best gin cocktails?
If you like a gin cocktail like this fruity Clover Club cocktail we also have a roundup of the 10 best gin cocktails, it’s not official, but we think you’ll find the list quite inspiring!
What’s in a Clover Club?
The Clover Club is a pre-Prohibition gin cocktail made with raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. Shaken hard, it comes out silky and frothy with a pretty pink hue.
How strong is it?
How does it compare to other gin cocktails?
It’s fruitier and softer than a Negroni, and creamier than a Tom Collins thanks to the egg white. If you enjoy the texture of a Whiskey Sour with egg white, you’ll love the gin-and-raspberry twist here.
What glass is it served in?
Traditionally in a coupe glass, served “up” with no ice.
When was it created?
The Clover Club dates back to the late 1800s in Philadelphia, where it was served to members of the Clover Club gentlemen’s group at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel.
Are there modern variations?
Yes — some bartenders use grenadine instead of raspberry syrup, while others add vermouth for extra complexity. But the bright raspberry version is the one that stuck.