Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Gin
- 2 tsp Grenadine Syrup
- 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 Egg White
Instructions
Combine Ingredients:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in 1.5 oz gin, 2 tsp grenadine syrup, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1 egg white.
Shake:
- Shake very thoroughly to mix up the egg white and create a frothy texture.
Strain:
- Strain the mixture into a whiskey sour glass.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy your Royal Clover Club Cocktail.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The original Clover Club Cocktail dates back to the late 19th century, named for an exclusive men’s club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It quickly became a popular fixture in high-society bars, known for its distinctive pink color and frothy texture. The drink was a favorite among the club’s members, reflecting the era’s taste for elegant, well-balanced libations. The ‘Royal’ designation sometimes implies a specific brand of gin or a minor recipe tweak, though often it’s simply a flourish to distinguish a particular bar’s take.
This cocktail sits squarely in the sour family, a direct descendant of the Gin Sour, with the addition of a sweetener and egg white. It shares DNA with drinks like the Pink Lady, which often uses applejack and grenadine, and the Whiskey Sour with egg white, known as a Boston Sour. What sets the Royal Clover Club apart is its specific combination of gin, lemon, and raspberry, creating a bright, fruity, and botanical profile with a signature creamy finish.
You’d typically find a Royal Clover Club Cocktail on the menu at a well-regarded cocktail bar, a speakeasy, or a classic hotel lounge. It’s also a fantastic drink to serve at home for a dinner party or a sophisticated gathering where presentation and balance are appreciated. This isn’t a dive bar special, but rather a testament to classic cocktail craftsmanship.
What it tastes like
On the front, you get a bright, tart burst of fresh lemon, quickly followed by the sweet, slightly jammy notes of raspberry from the grenadine. As the drink moves across the palate, the juniper and botanical character of the gin comes through, beautifully integrated and balanced by the fruit. The finish is smooth and creamy, thanks to the egg white, leaving a lingering, refreshing tartness and a subtle berry sweetness.
With 1.5 ounces of 80-proof gin, this drink lands around 12-15% ABV after dilution from shaking. That makes it a bit lighter than a typical spirit-forward cocktail like an Old Fashioned or a Martini, which often sit around 20-25% ABV. However, it’s still noticeably stronger than a standard 5% ABV beer, offering a pleasant and moderate buzz without being overwhelming.
The technique
Building this drink starts with combining all your liquid ingredients and the egg white into a cocktail shaker. Crucially, you’ll want to perform a ‘dry shake’ first, without any ice, to fully emulsify the egg white and build a stable foam. After a thorough dry shake, add your ice and perform a ‘wet shake’ to chill and dilute the drink. Finally, double strain the mixture into a chilled whiskey sour glass or coupe, ensuring a smooth, frothy texture on top. Serve it immediately to enjoy the foam at its best.
The absolute key to a proper Royal Clover Club Cocktail is the dry shake. Combine all ingredients except ice first, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. This emulsifies the egg white and builds a thick, stable foam. If you skip this step, you’ll end up with a thin, watery head that quickly dissipates, losing the drink’s signature texture and much of its appeal. Don’t rush it; the foam is half the experience.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Gin
- Use
- A good London Dry gin like Beefeater, Tanqueray, or Bombay Sapphire works perfectly, providing a strong juniper backbone. For a slightly softer, more floral touch, you could try Hendrick’s.
- Skip
- Avoid heavily botanical or barrel-aged gins here. Their complex flavors will clash with the delicate fruit and creamy texture, making the drink unbalanced and muddy.
- Why
- Gin is the backbone of this cocktail, providing its structure and signature botanical notes. Its crispness cuts through the sweetness and tartness, making the drink bright and refreshing.
Egg White
- Use
- Fresh egg white is ideal for the best foam and texture. Pasteurized liquid egg white from a carton is a convenient and safe alternative that performs almost as well.
- Skip
- While powdered egg white can create foam, it rarely achieves the same luxurious, fresh mouthfeel. For this drink, the texture is paramount, so stick to fresh or liquid.
- Why
- The egg white is essential for the Royal Clover Club Cocktail’s signature frothy head and velvety mouthfeel. It transforms the drink from a simple sour into a smooth, visually appealing, and texturally rich experience.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Clover Club
- The original, often with raspberry syrup.
- The classic Clover Club typically uses raspberry syrup instead of grenadine, and some recipes include a touch of dry vermouth for added complexity.
Pink Lady
- A gin sour with applejack and grenadine.
- Similar in color and texture, the Pink Lady swaps some or all of the gin for applejack and often uses grenadine for its color and sweetness, alongside lemon and egg white.
Whiskey Sour (with egg white)
- Same structure, different base spirit.
- This variation maintains the sour template and egg white foam but uses whiskey, usually bourbon, as the base spirit, often with simple syrup instead of fruit syrup.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use raspberry syrup for a truer raspberry flavor, or muddle a few fresh raspberries with a splash of simple syrup and strain well.
Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) can be used as a vegan substitute, providing a similar frothy texture, though the mouthfeel will be slightly different. Or, skip it entirely for a tart, less creamy drink.
Vodka can be used for a neutral base, but you’ll lose the characteristic botanical notes that define the Royal Clover Club Cocktail. A lighter rum could also work in a pinch.
A chilled coupe glass or a small martini glass will serve just fine, maintaining the elegant presentation of the drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Royal Clover Club Cocktail?
A Royal Clover Club Cocktail contains gin, grenadine syrup, fresh lemon juice, and an egg white.
What does a Royal Clover Club Cocktail taste like?
It tastes bright, tart, and sweet with prominent gin botanicals, all enveloped in a smooth, creamy texture.
Why is it called Royal Clover Club?
It’s named after the historic Clover Club, a men’s club in Philadelphia. The ‘Royal’ designation is often a flourish, sometimes indicating a specific gin or a slightly richer recipe.
Do I need an egg white for this cocktail?
Yes, the egg white is crucial for achieving the signature frothy texture and smooth mouthfeel. While you can omit it, the drink will lose much of its defining character.
What kind of gin should I use for a Royal Clover Club Cocktail?
A London Dry gin is the standard choice, offering a crisp, juniper-forward profile that balances well with the other ingredients.
Can I make the Royal Clover Club Cocktail vegan?
Yes, you can substitute the egg white with 1 ounce of aquafaba (chickpea brine) to create a similar frothy texture.
What’s the difference between a Clover Club and a Pink Lady?
The classic Clover Club typically uses raspberry syrup and gin, while the Pink Lady often includes applejack alongside gin, grenadine, and lemon, with both featuring egg white.
Why do I dry shake the ingredients?
You dry shake (shake without ice) to emulsify the egg white, which creates a stable, thick foam for the drink’s signature frothy head.
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