THE PINK DRINK OF CHOICE FOR PRE-PROHIBITION GENTS

The Clover Club

Prior to Prohibition in the United States, a select group of Philadelphia journalists known as the Clover Club used to meet monthly at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (below) in Center City to eat and swap stories. Thus, a cocktail was born.

The Clover Club was named for this group and during its heyday, was enjoyed primarily by other pre-prohibition professional gentleman. It grew in popularity until the 1950’s, when it fell out of favor with men and became more a ladies’ drink, due in large part to its pink color, no doubt.

However, shortly thereafter, the Clover Club was replaced by another pink cocktail named the Pink Lady. Luckily, it was resurrected in the late 2000's when it resurfaced on the menu of a Brooklyn bar.

{Clover Club}

Ingredients

2 ½ ounces gin*

½ ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed

4 raspberries

1 egg white

Garnish: 3 raspberries

Prep

Muddle three or four fresh raspberries with a half ounce of simple syrup right in the shaker.

Add the gin, lemon juice and egg white into the same shaker as the muddled raspberries. Add ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with three speared raspberries and serve in a coupe glass.

* While any high-quality gin can be used in the drink, a good London dry gin will complement the cocktail’s tartness.