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Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail

The Corpse Reviver No. 2 tastes like a dream despite its nightmare-inducing name. Learn the history behind this ghoulishly delightful gin cocktail and then craft one at home in just five minutes.

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail from Above
Image: ©2foodtrippers

William Shakespeare posed the question “What’s in a name?” when he penned Romeo & Shakespeare in the 1500s, centuries before the first Corpse Reviver was invented in the 1800s. Fast forward to the present and we did the same before we crafted our first Corpse Reviver No. 2.

Yes, this drink’s name both intrigued and scared us. We wondered if drinking one would result in nightmares or sweet dreams. The only way to find out was to craft one ourselves.

What Is A Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail?

Crafted Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail
Surprise! The Corpse Reviver No. 2 isn’t scary like its frightening name. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Despite its colorfully creepy moniker, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a classic pre-prohibition cocktail that’s crafted with top tier liquors. And, since its ingredient list includes both dry gin and freshly squeezed lemon juice, this sour cocktail isn’t so different from cocktails like the Bee’s Knees, Clover Club and White Lady. However, we think that it’s unique ingredients provide the cocktail with a zippy flavor finish that makes it just a little bit better.

Discover more of our favorite Pre-Prohibition cocktails.

Beyond dry gin and freshly squeezed lemon juice, the Corpse Reviver No. 2’s ingredient list features absinthe, Lillet blanc and orange liqueur. And, for those with extra motivation, garnishing the classic cocktail with a dehydrated orange slice provides an additional bit of panache.

History Of The Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail with Lillet Blanc Bottle
Lillet Blanc is one of the ingredients that makes the Corpse Reviver No. 2 special. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Originally crafted as ‘hair of the dog’ cocktails for over imbibers, Corpse Revivers date back to the 19th century – clearly a time when people handled hangovers differently than they do today. After all, Corpse Reviver cocktails aren’t exactly lacking in alcohol.

We don’t know whether this cocktail genre lost favor once people realized the counter-productiveness of drinking alcohol as a hangover remedy. However, we do know that time and Prohibition literally buried the Corpse Reviver. It took a London bartender to give new life to the deceased libation.

That bartender, Harry Craddock, included two Corpse Reviver cocktails in his iconic The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. It was the kickstarter that revived their luster like George Romero did for zombies.

Almost a century later, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 isn’t merely hanging on for dear life. Instead, it’s a popular classic cocktail that’s ordered at bars around the world with neither fear nor dread.

Ingredients

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail Ingredients
In addition to ice, the Corpse Reviver No. 2’s ingredient list includes absinthe, dry gin, Lillet Blanc, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice and an orange for garnish. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

While the Corpse Reviver No. 2 ingredient list isn’t long, you may need to buy one or more of the following ingredients:

  • Absinthe
  • Dry Gin
  • Lillet Blanc
  • Orange Liqueur
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Orange Twist, Wedge or Wheel (for garnish)
Absinth in Coupe Glass for Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail Liquor Bottles
Ooh La La! We crafted this Corpse Reviver No. 2 with French bottles of Citadelle dry gin, Lillet blanc, Cointreau and Absente 55 absinthe. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The Corpse Reviver No. 2 isn’t a French cocktail but we exclusively used French liquors when we crafted the cocktail at home. It was an unintentional move but we’re not complaining about the final result . Here’s a quick recap of those four French liquors:

Bottle of French Absente 55 Absinthe
A little bit of Absente 55 absinthe goes a long way. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Absinthe: We purchased a bottle of Absente 55 Absinthe for this and other recipes. Produced in France and as its name suggests, the green liqueur has a relatively low ABV of 55%.

Citadelle Citron Blue Bottle on White Background
Citadelle Dry Gin is our go-to cocktail gin. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Dry Gin: While any quality dry gin will work in this recipe, we chose to use Citadelle dry gin from France. Produced in Cognac, the premium gin features 19 botanicals and has an ABV of 44%.

Discover our favorite gin cocktails.

Lillet Blanc Bottle
This is our first bottle of Lillet Blanc. It won’t be our last. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Lillet Blanc: An aromatized wine, Lillet Blanc is the ingredient that brings the Corpse Reviver to life. It’s basically aged white Bordeaux wine blended with fruit liqueurs (mostly citrus). And, with a 17% ABV, it’s a delightful to drink over ice as an aperitif.

Cointreau Bottle
Cointreau makes almost every cocktail taste better including The Corpse Reviver #2. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Orange Liqueur: Cointreau is our go-to orange liqueur for cocktail recipes that call for orange liqueur or triple sec as well as for some that don’t. We like Cointreau’s balanced flavor. It has a 40% ABV.

Discover our favorite Cointreau cocktails.

How To Craft A Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail Mise en Place
Organizing the ingredients and bar tools in advance is key when crafting a Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The first step in this recipe is to add a dash of absinthe to a coupe glass and swirl it around until the absinthe coats the glass. Pour out the absinthe once the glass is coated and set the glass aside.

Rinsing Glass with Absinthe for Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail
Swirling absinthe is both fun and effective. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Next, measure the dry gin, Lillet blanc, orange liqueur and lemon juice and pour each directly into a shaker. For this step, we use a Japanese jigger to ensure accurate measurements and to avoid spillage.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

Add ice cubes to the shaker and shake until the liquids are chilled and combined. This step should take approximately 20 seconds.

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail in Shaker
Shaking is where this corpse of cocktail comes alive. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Strain the chilled liquids into the absinthe-coated coupe glass.

Straining Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail into Coupe Glass
The cocktail’s delightful aromas tantalized us as we strained it into a absinthe-coated coupe glass. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Finally, garnish the cocktail with an orange twist, wedge or wheel.

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail Birds Eye View
Orange completes the Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Pro Tip
Go the extra step and dehydrate an orange wheel if you’re cocktail-obsessed like us.

Variations

Crafted Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail Centered
The Corpse Reviver 2 lives on in our cocktail repertoire. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

This Corpse Reviver cocktail may or not be your new favorite drink. Either way, feel free to experiment with the following variations:

Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called a Corpse Reviver No. 2?

The potent gin cocktail was intended to double as a hangover cure. Go figure.

How many Corpse Revivers are there?

There were originally four different Corpse Reviver cocktails. Two (numbers one and two) have passed the test of time. Numbers three and four have kicked the proverbial bucket.

What are the ingredients in a Corpse Reviver No. 2?

Absinthe, Dry Gin, Lillet Blanc, Orange Liqueur, Fresh Lemon Juice, Ice Cubes (for shaking) and an Orange Twist, Wedge or Wheel (for garnish)

What’s the best dry gin for a Corpse Reviver No. 2?

We like to use French dry gin but any dry gin will work.

Is it possible to craft a Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail without Lillet Blanc?

You can use Cocchi Americano or Dry Vermouth instead of Lillet Blanc.

Is absinthe necessary when crafting a Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail?

You can use Pastis instead of Absinthe.

Is the Corpse Reviver No. 2 shaken or stirred?

The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is shaken, not stirred.

What type of glass is best for the Corpse Reviver No. 2?

We like to serve this cocktail in a coupe glass but you could use a small martini glass instead.

Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail with Black Background
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Corpse Reviver No. 2 Recipe

Learn how to craft a Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail at home in just 5 minutes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 212kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 dash absinthe
  • 1 ounce dry gin
  • 1 ounce Lillet blanc
  • 1 ounce orange liqueur
  • 1 ounce lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • orange wedge, wheel or twist (garnish)
  • ice cubes (for shaking)

Instructions

  • Pour absinthe into an empty coupe glass and swirl around so that the inside of the glass develops a light absinthe coating. Discard the absinthe.
  • Measure gin, Lillet blanc, orange liqueur and lemon juice and pour each into a shaker.
  • Add small ice cubes and shake until the liquids are mixed and chilled – approximately 20 seconds.
  • Strain the liquid into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with an orange twist, wedge or wheel.

Pro Tips

  • You can use a small martini glass instead of a coupe glass.
  • You can use cocchi Americano or dry vermouth instead of Lillet blanc.
  • You can use pastis instead of absinthe.

Estimated Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft this cocktail.

Original Publication Date: October 20, 2022

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