Clock Tower

What is Clock Tower?

The Clock Tower is a contemporary craft cocktail that represents one of the most distinctive examples of the modern Nordic-influenced cocktail movement, combining traditional Scandinavian spirits with global botanical influences. The drink's foundation ingredient is akvavit (also spelled "aquavit"), the Scandinavian spirit produced primarily in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden since the 15th century. Akvavit's name derives from the Latin "aqua vitae" (water of life), and the spirit is traditionally flavored with caraway, dill, fennel, and other botanicals that give it its distinctive herbaceous character. Each Scandinavian country has developed its own akvavit tradition: Danish akvavit (sometimes called snaps) is typically caraway-forward and unaged, Norwegian akvavit is often aged in oak (Linie Aquavit famously crosses the equator twice during aging), and Swedish akvavit traditionally features dill and other delicate herbs. The Clock Tower pairs akvavit with Midori (the Japanese melon liqueur created by Suntory and launched at Studio 54 in 1978), lemongrass syrup (a Southeast Asian botanical influence), and the silky texture of an egg white sour. This unusual but harmonious combination represents the contemporary craft cocktail movement's global botanical fusion approach. The cocktail belongs to the same family of modern green sours as the Aviation, the Last Word, and the Gin Basil Smash, all of which leverage botanical complexity in elegant sour formats.

Don't forget to see what other drinks you can make with the ingredients you already have in your bar.

Taste profile

The Clock Tower is bright, herbaceous, and luxuriously silky with a flavor profile that genuinely showcases the sophisticated fusion of Nordic and Asian botanical traditions. Akvavit leads the palate with its distinctive caraway-and-dill character: aromatic herbs with subtle citrus undertones and a clean spirit warmth that provides the structural backbone the cocktail is built around. The akvavit's botanical complexity is the most distinctive flavor signature and what gives the Clock Tower its identity. Midori contributes its concentrated honeydew melon character: candy-sweet, slightly tropical, and visually striking in a way that creates productive tension against the akvavit's herbal dryness. The Midori also provides the cocktail's signature pale green color through its naturally vivid pigments. Lemongrass syrup is the bridge ingredient that ties the Nordic and Asian elements together: its bright citrus-floral character with subtle ginger-like warmth integrates beautifully with both the akvavit's caraway and the Midori's melon. Fresh lemon juice delivers sharp citrus acidity that prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. Egg white creates the luxurious foam top that defines the cocktail's elegant presentation and adds silky textural body. The combined flavor drinks like a sophisticated Scandinavian sour with tropical hints: complex, balanced, and unmistakably elegant.

Serving suggestions

The dry shake technique is essential for the proper egg white foam: shake all ingredients without ice for 15 seconds first to fully emulsify the egg white before adding ice and shaking again. This "dry shake first, wet shake second" technique is the difference between a thin watery foam and the luxurious silky foam that defines a proper egg white sour. Use a quality akvavit such as Linie Aquavit (Norway, aged at sea), Aalborg Akvavit (Denmark, the iconic caraway-forward version), or Krogstad Festlig Aquavit (American craft akvavit from Portland) for noticeably different flavor profiles: Linie produces a more complex aged result while Aalborg delivers a brighter, more caraway-dominant character. For lemongrass syrup, you can purchase quality bottled options (Liber & Co. or Small Hand Foods) or make it at home by steeping fresh lemongrass stalks in equal parts sugar and water for 30 minutes, then straining. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is essential rather than bottled. Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass to remove any small ice fragments and produce the cleanest possible base. For the most authentic presentation, garnish with a trimmed lemongrass stalk standing in the glass, or use a delicate lemon twist expressed over the surface to release the citrus oils before dropping in.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for Clock Tower

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Add the akvavit, lemon juice, lemongrass syrup, Midori, and egg white to a cocktail shaker.
2. Dry shake (without ice) for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
3. Add ice and shake vigorously for another 15 to 20 seconds.
4. Double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass, and garnish with a trimmed lemongrass stalk or a delicate lemon twist.