The Clover Club cocktail is a pre prohibition favourite that first strutted out of Philadelphia’s Clover Club gentleman’s club in the late 19th century and found wider fame in classic cocktail manuals. It’s a charming little pink drink that proves elegance and fun can share a glass. It’s delicious because of the brilliantly balanced trifecta, gin’s botanical backbone, lemon’s bright citric lift, and raspberry (or raspberry syrup) adding both sweet fruitiness and that cheeky blush, all rounded and luxuriously silky by the inclusion of egg white which gives the drink its signature frothy crown. Taste wise you get an aromatic hit of juniper and citrus up front, a soft, sticky raspberry mid palate, then a clean, tart finish that keeps it lively rather than cloying, the texture is as important as the flavour, the foam making each sip feel indulgent and a little bit theatrical.

For my Christmas take on the clover club, I have swapped out that classic raspberry for a more festive tone of cranberries, in a syrup that also steeps in cinnamon and rosemary for a truly holiday celebrating punch of fun and spices. The look is very similar to the classic, but this variation allows a tartness and driving home spice notes that results in making the club just that much more interesting.