Picture yourself at a dimly lit speakeasy, swirling a rose-pink cocktail that tastes like berries and dreams in a coupe glass.
The Clover Club is one of those classic cocktails that feels fancy without being fussy, and it’s absolutely worth mastering at home. This gin-based drink combines tart raspberry, bright citrus, and silky egg white for a drink that’s equal parts beautiful and delicious.
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or treating yourself to something special on a Tuesday night, this recipe delivers bar-quality results with straightforward technique.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The Clover Club earns its place in your cocktail rotation for good reason.
- Visually stunning with a natural pink hue and velvety foam top
- Balanced flavor that isn’t too sweet or too sour
- Impresses guests without requiring specialty equipment or skills
- Works as both an aperitif and after-dinner drink
- Surprisingly refreshing despite the rich egg white component
My Experience Making This Recipe
The first time I made a Clover Club, I was nervous about the egg white and worried the drink would taste weird. One shake later, I was sold on that silky texture and the way the flavors came together perfectly.
I’ve since made dozens of these for friends, and every single person asks for the recipe or orders another round. The pink color alone gets people curious, and then the taste wins them over completely.
What I love most is how forgiving this drink actually is once you understand the basic technique. Slight variations in ratios still produce a delicious result, which takes the pressure off.
Recipe Overview
- Recipe Name: Clover Club Cocktail
- Servings: 1 cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Course: Cocktail
- Cuisine: American Classic
- Calories per Serving: 165
Equipment You Will Need
- Cocktail shaker (Boston shaker preferred)
- Jigger or measuring shot glass
- Strainer (Hawthorne strainer works best)
- Coupe glass or cocktail glass
- Bar spoon or mixing spoon
- Citrus juicer
- Fine mesh strainer (optional, for extra smooth texture)
Ingredients for Clover Club
- Gin: 2 ounces (London Dry style preferred)
- Raspberry liqueur: 0.75 ounce (Chambord is classic)
- Fresh lemon juice: 0.75 ounce
- Simple syrup: 0.5 ounce
- Egg white: 1 large
- Fresh raspberries: 3 to 4 for garnish
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Gin: London Dry gin provides the right botanical backbone and juniper-forward profile. If unavailable, use any quality gin you prefer, though the flavor profile will shift slightly toward different botanicals.
- Raspberry liqueur: Chambord adds authentic flavor and red color. Substitute with other fruit liqueurs like framboise or even crème de cassis, though the taste and color will differ noticeably.
- Fresh lemon juice: Freshly squeezed provides bright acidity and prevents a flat taste. Bottled lemon juice lacks complexity and will make the drink taste harsh rather than balanced.
- Simple syrup: Equal parts sugar and water dissolved together adds necessary sweetness to balance tartness. Agave nectar works in a pinch but adds different flavor notes.
- Egg white: Pasteurized eggs are safest if you have food safety concerns. Aquafaba (chickpea liquid) is a vegan alternative that produces similar foam texture.
How to Make Clover Club
Step 1: Chill Your Glass
Fill your coupe glass with ice water and set it aside while you prepare the cocktail. A cold glass keeps the drink properly chilled and prevents dilution from happening too quickly once you pour.
Step 2: Measure Your Ingredients
Use your jigger to measure out 2 ounces of gin, 0.75 ounce of raspberry liqueur, 0.75 ounce of fresh lemon juice, and 0.5 ounce of simple syrup into separate portions. Accurate measuring matters here because the balance of sweet, sour, and spirit defines the final taste.
Step 3: Separate and Measure Your Egg White
Crack your egg carefully and separate the white from the yolk, discarding the yolk or saving it for another use. Measure out one egg white and add it to your cocktail shaker.
Step 4: Dry Shake the Egg White
Add your gin, raspberry liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker with the egg white, but do not add ice yet. Shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds until the mixture becomes foamy and you hear the sound change from sloshy liquid to airy foam.
This dry shake, also called the reverse dry shake, emulsifies the egg white and creates the signature silky foam without diluting the drink with melting ice.
Step 5: Add Ice and Shake Again
Fill your shaker with fresh ice and shake vigorously for another 10 to 15 seconds. This second shake chills the cocktail and dilutes it just enough to marry all the flavors together.
Step 6: Empty Your Chilled Glass
Dump the ice water from your coupe glass and set it on your work surface. The glass is now cold and ready to receive your cocktail.
Step 7: Strain the Cocktail
Place your Hawthorne strainer over the shaker and pour the cocktail through it into your chilled coupe glass. Strain slowly and intentionally to capture the foam on top while filtering out ice chips.
If you want an ultra-smooth texture, pour through a fine mesh strainer as a secondary filter, though this step is optional.
Step 8: Garnish and Serve
Top your cocktail with 3 to 4 fresh raspberries as garnish, either floating on the foam or balanced on the rim. Serve immediately and enjoy while the foam is still fluffy and the drink is ice-cold.
Pro Tip: The dry shake is your secret weapon for a perfect Clover Club. Many home bartenders skip it and wonder why their foam collapses. Don’t make that mistake.
Tips for the Best Clover Club
- Use fresh lemon juice squeezed that same day if possible. Old lemon juice loses its brightness and makes the drink taste flat and one-dimensional.
- Invest in quality gin and raspberry liqueur. Cheap spirits make a cheap-tasting cocktail, and you’ll notice the difference immediately.
- Make your own simple syrup by simmering equal parts sugar and water for five minutes, then cooling completely. Homemade syrup mixes smoothly and tastes cleaner than bottled versions.
- Shake with confidence and energy. A weak shake produces weak foam and incomplete dilution, leaving the drink either too strong or unbalanced.
- Serve in a proper coupe glass when possible. The wide bowl shows off the pink color and foam beautifully while keeping the drink properly chilled.
- Make the cocktail to order rather than batching ahead. The foam deflates quickly once the drink sits, and you lose that signature silky texture.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the dry shake and going straight to shaking with ice produces flat, weak foam that disappears in seconds instead of lasting through the drink.
- Using bottled lemon juice instead of fresh makes the drink taste harsh and chemically. This single mistake ruins an otherwise perfect cocktail.
- Over-diluting by shaking for too long or with too much ice results in a watered-down, weak-tasting drink that lacks balance and impact.
- Forgetting to chill the glass lets the cocktail warm up too quickly, ruining the refreshing mouthfeel and making the foam deflate faster.
- Using low-quality egg or pasteurized egg products that are too old prevents proper emulsification and produces thin, unstable foam.
Serving Suggestions
The Clover Club shines as an aperitif before dinner or as a sophisticated after-dinner drink. Its fruity, tart profile works beautifully in an elegant setting but also suits casual entertaining.
- Serve before a light brunch featuring smoked salmon, crostini, or fresh pastries
- Pair with oysters or other shellfish appetizers for a classic pairing
- Offer after dinner with dark chocolate or berry desserts for a flavor complement
- Include in a cocktail hour spread alongside other classic drinks for variety
- Serve at ladies’ night or themed cocktail parties where the pink color becomes part of the experience
Variations to Try
- Strawberry Club: Replace raspberry liqueur with strawberry liqueur and use fresh strawberries for garnish. This shifts the flavor toward brighter berry notes while maintaining the same silky texture and structure.
- Blackberry Club: Swap raspberry liqueur for blackberry liqueur and muddle a few fresh blackberries in the shaker before adding other ingredients. This creates deeper, earthier berry notes that taste more sophisticated and complex.
- Citrus Club: Add 0.25 ounce of fresh orange juice and replace standard simple syrup with honey syrup for a warmer, more citrus-forward profile. This variation works beautifully in summer when citrus is abundant.
- Strong and Pink: Increase gin to 2.5 ounces and reduce simple syrup to 0.25 ounce for a spirit-forward version that appeals to those who prefer drier cocktails. The egg white still provides silky texture even with the reduced sweetness.
- Floral Club: Add 0.25 ounce of violet liqueur or a few drops of rose water alongside the raspberry liqueur for a more delicate, floral interpretation. This version suits evening occasions and appeals to those who enjoy subtle botanical flavors.
Dietary Adaptations
- Gluten-free: Most gins and liqueurs are naturally gluten-free, but verify your specific brands since some may contain additives. All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, making this cocktail safe for gluten-free diets with brand confirmation.
- Dairy-free: This cocktail contains no dairy products, so it’s already dairy-free and requires no adaptation.
- Vegan: Replace the egg white with aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) in equal measure to maintain the foam while keeping the drink completely vegan.
- Low-carb/keto: Replace standard simple syrup with a keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol dissolved in water at a one-to-one ratio. This maintains sweetness while keeping carbs minimal, though the mouthfeel may vary slightly from the original.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerator
Pre-batched Clover Club can be stored in a sealed container for up to 24 hours, though the egg white foam will deflate and separate. This is not recommended since the textural component that makes the drink special disappears entirely.
- Store individual gin, liqueur, and juice components separately for up to one week
- Keep simple syrup in a sealed container for up to one month
Freezer
Freezing a mixed Clover Club is not recommended since the foam separates completely upon thawing. However, you can freeze individual components for convenience.
- Freeze fresh lemon juice in ice cube trays for up to three months
- Store simple syrup in the freezer for up to six months
Reheating
This cocktail is served cold and is not reheated. Make each drink fresh to order to preserve the signature foam and chill.
- Chill your glass immediately before serving
- Use ice-cold ingredients when possible
- Serve within two minutes of straining into the glass
Nutrition Information
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 165 |
| Total Fat | 0 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 0 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 8 grams |
| Fiber | 0 grams |
| Sugar | 7 grams |
| Protein | 1 gram |
| Sodium | 15 milligrams |
| Cholesterol | 0 milligrams |
These nutritional values are estimates based on standard ingredients and may vary depending on specific brands and portion sizes used.
Clover Club Cocktail
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chill your coupe glass by filling it with ice water and setting it aside
- Measure 2 ounces gin, 0.75 ounce raspberry liqueur, 0.75 ounce lemon juice, and 0.5 ounce simple syrup with a jigger
- Separate one large egg and add the egg white to the shaker
- Dry shake (no ice) all ingredients vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until foamy
- Add fresh ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for another 10 to 15 seconds to chill and dilute
- Discard the ice water from your chilled glass
- Strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer into the chilled coupe glass, then optionally through a fine mesh strainer
- Garnish with 3 to 4 fresh raspberries on the foam and serve immediately
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a Clover Club without egg white?
Technically yes, but you’ll lose the signature silky texture and attractive foam that makes this drink special. The cocktail becomes flat and ordinary without the egg white emulsion.
Is it safe to use raw egg white in cocktails?
Using pasteurized eggs or pasteurized egg white products eliminates food safety concerns. Many bars and home bartenders use these products specifically for this reason.
What if I don’t have raspberry liqueur?
Other red fruit liqueurs like framboise, cranberry liqueur, or even pomegranate liqueur work as substitutes. The flavor profile will shift, but the structure and technique remain the same.
Why is my foam not holding up?
Weak shaking, old egg white, or dirty glassware prevents proper foam formation. Make sure you shake vigorously during the dry shake step and use fresh eggs.
Can I batch this cocktail for a party?
Batching removes the freshness and causes the foam to deflate completely, so it’s not recommended. Make each cocktail to order for the best results and presentation.
What gin works best?
London Dry style gins like Tanqueray, Beefeater, or Gordon’s provide the traditional profile that balances well with raspberry liqueur. Feel free to experiment with other gins you enjoy.
Final Thoughts
The Clover Club deserves its place in the classic cocktail pantheon. This drink rewards proper technique with stunning results that look and taste like you hired a professional bartender.
Make one tonight and experience that moment when everything comes together perfectly. You’ll understand immediately why this cocktail has survived over a century of drinking trends.
Explore More Classic Cocktails
If you enjoyed mastering the Clover Club, explore more iconic cocktails that deserve a place in your home bar collection.
Check out our Manhattan recipe featuring bourbon for another timeless classic with depth and sophistication. For something with a creamy, indulgent twist, try our bourbon milk punch recipe that’s perfect for brunch or dessert occasions.