The Clover Club Cocktail Recipe

The Clover Club cocktail was invented in the late 1800's at Philadelphia’s Bellevue-Stratford hotel a venue frequented by writers, lawyers and industry leaders. The Clover Club Cocktail is a classic pre-Prohibition drink that embodies the elegance and innovation of early American mixology. Originating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the exclusive Clover Club, the cocktail became a symbol of sophistication and refined social gatherings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Made with gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup or grenadine, and egg white, it delivers a tart, lightly sweet flavour with a distinctive frothy texture. Belonging to the sour cocktail family, the Clover Club balances citrus brightness with velvety smoothness, making it visually appealing and delicious. Today, it has enjoyed a revival among craft cocktail enthusiasts, celebrated for its historical significance and timeless, elegant taste.

The Clover Club Cocktail is a timeless pre-Prohibition classic that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the late 19th or early 20th century. Named after the exclusive Clover Club, a social and professional men’s organization at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, the cocktail quickly became a symbol of sophistication, elegance, and refined American cocktail culture. Its popularity was tied to the club’s reputation for lively gatherings and experimental drinks.

Visit the Fossil Coast Drinks Shop

The Clover Club is a gin-based cocktail featuring gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup or grenadine, and egg white, creating a distinctive creamy, frothy texture. It belongs to the sour cocktail family, balancing tart citrus with sweet raspberry syrup, while the egg white adds a luxurious, velvety mouthfeel. First appearing in bartending guides of the early 1900s, the Clover Club exemplifies pre-Prohibition craftsmanship and the era’s appreciation for well-balanced, visually appealing cocktails.

After declining in popularity during the mid-20th century, the Clover Club has experienced a revival in modern craft cocktail bars, celebrated for both its flavour and historical significance. The cocktail’s tart, lightly sweet profile, along with its frothy presentation, continues to captivate enthusiasts and bartenders alike. Today, it stands as a quintessential example of pre-Prohibition mixology, bridging the gap between historical tradition and contemporary cocktail culture.

The Clover Club Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 oz of gin

• ½ oz of lemon juice, freshly squeezed

• ½ oz raspberry syrup

• 1 egg white

• Use 3 raspberries to garnish

Assembly

Add the gin, egg white, lemon juice and raspberry syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with 3 speared raspberries.

Making raspberry syrup: Add 1 cup sugar and a ½ cup water to a pot and stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring heat to low, add a ½ cup fresh raspberries mash to a pulp. Strain to remove the berry’s tiny seeds. Optionally, add a ½ oz vodka as a preservative and put in the fridge until ready for use.