The first time I encountered a Clover Club, I was at a speakeasy-style bar, and its vibrant pink hue immediately caught my eye. One sip, and I was utterly captivated by the perfect balance of sweet raspberry, tart lemon, and the silky texture. It wasn’t just a drink; it was an experience. If you’re looking to recreate that sophisticated yet utterly joyful feeling at home, you’ve come to the right place. This classic cocktail, with its stunning color and bright, fruity flavor, is a true gem in the world of mixology, and surprisingly approachable to make yourself.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
There’s something undeniably charming about a Clover Club. It’s elegant without being stuffy, and its beautiful pink shade makes it an instant showstopper. Beyond its good looks, the flavor profile is what truly shines – a harmonious blend of fresh raspberries, crisp gin, zesty lemon, and a subtle sweetness, all enveloped in a delightful frothy top from the egg white. This isn’t just a drink; it’s an occasion in a glass. It’s absolutely perfect for a celebratory brunch, an intimate dinner party, or simply as a delightful treat to elevate a quiet evening at home. Forget those sugary, artificial-tasting pink drinks; this is the real deal, sophisticated and utterly delicious.
> “I made the Clover Club for a girls’ night, and everyone raved about it! The fresh raspberry flavor really makes it, and the froth is such a nice touch. It felt like I was serving cocktails from a fancy bar!” – Jessica L.
How This Recipe Comes Together
Crafting a Clover Club is a simple, yet rewarding process that involves a few key steps to achieve its signature taste and texture. You’ll start by making a quick raspberry syrup, infusing fresh berries with sugar and water. Once that’s ready and cooled, you’ll combine it with gin, fresh lemon juice, and an egg white in a shaker for a “dry shake” – that’s the secret to the perfect froth! After that, you add ice for a “wet shake” to chill and dilute, then strain it into a lovely coupe glass. It’s a bit of a dance, but each step builds towards that exquisite final sip.
What You’ll Need
To whip up this delightful Clover Club, here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Gin: A good quality, classic London Dry gin works wonderfully here, as its botanical notes complement the raspberries.
- Fresh Raspberries: These are the star! You’ll need them for both the syrup and a garnish.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Squeezing your own is crucial for that bright, zesty tang. Bottled juice just won’t cut it.
- Granulated Sugar: For the simple syrup.
- Egg White: This creates the luscious, frothy head. Don’t be intimidated by it – it’s a game-changer for texture.
- Ice: Plenty for shaking and chilling.
- Cocktail shaker: Essential for combining and chilling your ingredients.
- Fine-mesh strainer: To achieve that silky smooth texture.
- Coupe glass: The classic vessel for this elegant drink.
Directions to Follow
Let’s break down how to create your perfect Clover Club:
- Make the Raspberry Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup fresh raspberries, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the raspberries break down (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat, let it cool completely, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract all the juice. Discard the solids. You’ll have about 1/4 cup of syrup.
- Combine Ingredients (Dry Shake): In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz gin, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, 3/4 oz raspberry syrup (from step 1), and 1 egg white. Seal the shaker tightly and “dry shake” vigorously for about 30 seconds. This means shaking without ice to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
- Chill (Wet Shake): Open the shaker, add a generous amount of ice, seal again, and “wet shake” vigorously for another 15-20 seconds until well-chilled.
- Strain: Double strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass. To do this, pour through the shaker’s built-in strainer and then through a fine-mesh strainer held over your glass. This catches any small ice shards or fruit pulp, ensuring a silky smooth drink.
- Garnish: Garnish with 1-2 fresh raspberries, perhaps pierced on a small cocktail pick, or a lemon twist.
How to Serve It
The Clover Club is a drink that begs to be savored slowly. It’s best served immediately after making, while the frothy head is at its peak. Present it in a chilled coupe glass, which perfectly showcases its beautiful color and elegant foam. For a thoughtful touch, you can add a fresh raspberry or two on the rim, or even a small lemon twist to emphasize the citrus notes. This cocktail pairs wonderfully with light appetizers like cheese and crackers, bruschetta, or even delicate desserts. It’s also perfectly enjoyable on its own, perhaps as a sophisticated aperitif before dinner.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Due to the fresh egg white and vibrant fresh ingredients, the Clover Club is truly meant to be enjoyed immediately after it’s made. Its frothy head will dissipate over time, and the flavors are best when freshly shaken. Therefore, storage is not recommended for a prepared cocktail.
However, you can prepare the raspberry syrup ahead of time! Store any leftover raspberry syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. This allows you to quickly assemble a Clover Club whenever the mood strikes, cutting down on prep time when you’re ready to mix.
Helpful Cooking Tips
- Fresh is Best: This cannot be stressed enough for lemon juice and raspberries. Bottled lemon juice will give a flat, less vibrant flavor, and frozen raspberries might alter the syrup’s consistency slightly (though can be used in a pinch for the syrup).
- The Dry Shake is Key: Don’t skip the dry shake! It’s crucial for achieving that stable, luxurious foam created by the egg white. Without it, your froth will be weak or non-existent.
- “Reverse Dry Shake” Alternative: If you want an even more robust foam, try a “reverse dry shake.” First, shake all ingredients with ice. Strain out the ice. Then, reseal and dry shake again to really build the foam. Strain into your glass. This method can yield a very thick, creamy head.
- Chill Your Glass: A chilled coupe glass will help keep your cocktail colder for longer and enhance the drinking experience. Pop it in the fridge or freezer for 15 minutes before you start mixing.
- Taste Your Syrup: Before you add it to the shaker, taste your raspberry syrup. Depending on the sweetness of your berries, you might want to adjust the amount of sugar slightly next time.
Creative Twists
While the classic Clover Club is perfect as is, there are always ways to subtly shift its profile or cater to different preferences:
- Berry Swap: Not a fan of raspberries or simply want to experiment? Try making the simple syrup with blackberries, strawberries, or even a mixed berry blend. Each will give a beautiful color and unique flavor.
- Herbal Infusion: Add a sprig of fresh mint or a few basil leaves to your raspberry syrup while it simmers for an intriguing herbal note. Strain them out with the raspberries.
- Gin Variation: While a London Dry is traditional, an Old Tom gin (slightly sweeter) or a more floral gin could offer a different character to the drink.
- Non-Egg White Foam: If you’re hesitant about raw egg white, or have dietary restrictions, aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) can be used as a vegan substitute. Use about 1 oz per cocktail. You can also buy commercial vegan foaming agents. Note that the texture will be slightly different.
- Spicy Kick (Subtle!): For a very adventurous twist, muddle a tiny slice of jalapeño in the shaker with the lemon juice and raspberry syrup before adding gin and egg white. Be very sparing!
FAQ
Why do I need an egg white in my Clover Club?
A: The egg white is crucial for the Clover Club’s signature frothy, silky texture. When dry-shaken, the proteins in the egg white emulsify and create a stable, velvety foam on top of the drink. It doesn’t noticeably alter the flavor but significantly enhances the mouthfeel and presentation.
Can I make this cocktail without gin?
A: While gin is traditional and pairs beautifully with raspberry and lemon, you could experiment with other spirits. White rum or vodka would create a lighter, more fruit-forward drink, letting the raspberry shine even more. However, it wouldn’t technically be a “Clover Club” anymore but rather a delicious raspberry sour!
My foam isn’t very strong. What did I do wrong?
A: The most common reasons for weak foam are not shaking vigorously enough during the dry shake, or not shaking long enough. Ensure you’re shaking for a full 30 seconds (or more!) without ice to really build that stable foam before adding ice for the chill. Also, make sure your egg white is fresh and separated cleanly from the yolk.
Classic Clover Club
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- If making homemade syrup, combine raspberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan, then simmer and stir until sugar dissolves.
- Mash raspberries, simmer for 5-7 minutes, then cool and strain, pressing solids to extract liquid.
- Combine gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker.
- Dry shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds without ice to emulsify the egg white.
- Add ice and shake again for 15-20 seconds until well-chilled.
- Double strain into a chilled coup or martini glass.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries or a lemon twist.