Corpse Reviver No. 2
- Glass
- Coupe
- Difficulty
- Medium
- ABV
- ~20%
Ingredients
- ¾ ozgin22 ml
- ¾ oztriple sec or cointreau22 ml
- ¾ ozlillet blanc22 ml
- ¾ ozfresh lemon juice22 ml
- 1 rinseabsinthe1 rinse
Instructions
Rinse a chilled coupe with absinthe — add a small pour, swirl it around to coat the inside of the glass, then discard the excess. Combine the gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and fresh lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Double-strain into the absinthe-rinsed coupe. The absinthe rinse leaves just a whisper of anise on the nose — enough to intrigue without dominating. No garnish needed, though a small lemon twist is a nice touch.
Sips & Tips
Technique
The absinthe rinse is the defining technique here — don't skip it and don't overdo it. A small pour swirled around the glass and discarded leaves just enough anise to perfume the drink without making it taste like absinthe. Chill the coupe before rinsing for best results.
Balance
This is an equal-parts cocktail, which means every ingredient needs to be quality. Cointreau is worth the premium over generic triple sec — the orange flavor is cleaner and more complex. Lillet Blanc is essential; don't substitute dry vermouth, which will make the drink too austere. The lemon must be fresh.
History
The Corpse Reviver series appeared in Harry Craddock's 1930 'Savoy Cocktail Book,' described as 'morning pick-me-ups.' Craddock's famous warning: 'Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.' The No. 2 is the most celebrated of the series — a perfectly balanced equal-parts cocktail that has stood the test of time.
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is one of the great equal-parts cocktails — complex, refreshing, and endlessly drinkable. It's also a perfect brunch drink. Cheers.
Variations
Corpse Reviver No. 1
The older sibling: 1½ oz cognac, ¾ oz Calvados, ¾ oz sweet vermouth. Stir and strain into a coupe. Richer, warmer, and more spirit-forward than the No. 2 — a true morning reviver in the Victorian tradition.
Naked and Famous
A modern equal-parts riff using mezcal, Aperol, yellow Chartreuse, and fresh lime juice. Created by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co in 2011 — it follows the same equal-parts logic as the Corpse Reviver but with a smoky, bitter twist.
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Corpse Reviver No. 2
Glass: Coupe | Difficulty: Medium | ABV: ~20%
Ingredients
- ¾ oz gin
- ¾ oz triple sec or cointreau
- ¾ oz lillet blanc
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 rinse absinthe
Instructions
Rinse a chilled coupe with absinthe — add a small pour, swirl it around to coat the inside of the glass, then discard the excess. Combine the gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and fresh lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Double-strain into the absinthe-rinsed coupe. The absinthe rinse leaves just a whisper of anise on the nose — enough to intrigue without dominating. No garnish needed, though a small lemon twist is a nice touch.