Corpse Reviver Cocktail (The Classic Sour!)

The recipe for Corpse Reviver No 2 is a crisp, tangy and perfectly balanced classic cocktail! It’s one hell of a drink… as unique as its name.

Here’s a classic cocktail as unique as its name… the Corpse Reviver No 2! To be honest, we were a bit wary of this cocktail at first because of its nickname. But it turns out there’s nothing creepy or macabre about the Corpse Reviver. In fact it is damn good. This is a classic sour gin cocktail that’s tangy and tangy, made with lemon juice and orange liqueur, with hints of liquorice on the finish. It’s really amazing… and the name will impress all your friends. Let’s mix!

What is a Corpse Reviver #2?

So why is it called the Corpse Reviver? The Corpse Reviver is a family of cocktails with a humorous name that indicates the drink’s strength was enough to lift a body from the grave. The most famous Corpse Reviver that is still popular today is Corpse Reviver No 2. This drink was printed in the famous Savoyard cocktail Book from 1930. It’s a classic sour gin cocktail, a mixed drink made with alcohol, citrus and sweetener. In fact, the drink is very similar in composition to a margarita or sidecar (more on that below).

This cocktail is on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails, meaning it has an ‘official’ definition. The ingredients of a Corpse Reviver No 2 cocktail are:

• gin
• lemon juice
• Cointreau
• Dry Vermouth or Lillet Blanc
• absinthe

Let’s talk about some of the more interesting ingredients, shall we?

Should I use dry vermouth or Lillet Blanc?

A unique element of Corpse Reviver is the addition of dry vermouth or Lillet Blanc to the base formula of a sparkling cocktail. The original drink was made with Kina Lillet, a wine-based aperitif that is no longer in production (production ceased in 1986). Nowadays you can replace:

• Dry vermouth: Dry vermouth is a fortified wine and the simplest and easiest spirit to find (it’s used in martinis and many other cocktails).
• Small white: Lillet Blanc is the modern version of Kina Lillet. It is a popular flavored wine flavored with herbs and citrus. That is very refreshing (one of our favorites!) and you can use it in many cocktails such as B. a Vesper Martini, a Lillet Spritz or a Lillet G&T Cocktail.
• Coconuts American: Many bartenders these days use cocchi americano in a corpse reviver as it’s the closest thing to it as a kina lillet. Being a more specialized liquor, this option is for the cocktail connoisseur.

What is absinthe? Is it worth buying?

Perhaps the most unique ingredient in Corpse Reviver is… wormwood. And it has a bit of history. In fact, it was illegal in the United States for almost 100 years! Famous painters like Degas, Manet and Picasso even immortalized it in their paintings. But don’t worry: Today’s scientists have established that absinthe is perfectly safe when consumed in moderation. Here’s what you should know before you snag a bottle of this particular spirit for a Corpse Reviver:

• absinthe is a green anise flavored spirit made from plants: wormwood, anise, fennel and other herbs. It was illegal in the United States from 1912 to 2007. Why? Continue reading…
• How does absinthe taste? It tastes grassy, ​​with a strong black liquorice finish.
• Is absinthe hallucinogenic? nope! But that’s why it was illegal in Europe and the United States for almost 100 years. He became very popular in the 1840s but was unfairly associated with violent crime. Even though it wasn’t true, people started to believe it and bans followed. Modern research has confirmed that absinthe is no more harmful than any other alcohol. Here are some other absinthe myths to debunk.
• Is it worth buying? Yes, if you are an adventurous cocktail drinker! It is included in several other classic absinthe cocktails such as Sazerac, La Louisiane, and Death in the Afternoon.
• Don’t have absinthe? Pastis or Pernod are good substitutes.

How to make a Corpse Reviver #2

Do you have all these ingredients? After that, it’s quick and easy to craft Corpse Reviver No 2:

• Shake in a cocktail shaker. Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice and shake (Don’t have one? Use a mason jar!)
• Pour into a glass and decorate. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of orange or lemon.

Variations on the Corpse Reviver

Want to add a little flair to a Corpse Reviver? Here are some quick variations to get your wheels spinning:

Another drink with a macabre name? Try the zombie.

Because the Corpse Reviver is a classic sour cocktail, it is associated with many well-known beverages. Here are a few that look very similar:

• White Lady Cocktail The classic White Lady Cocktail comes very close to a Corpse Reviver! There’s no Lillet Blanc or Absinthe, but otherwise it’s the same (minus the egg white).
• Classic Sidecar The sidecar is also a close relative! He uses cognac, but the formula is the same (without Lillet Blanc and without absinthe).
• Classic Margarita Same goes for the Margarita! But the margarita has tequila and lime instead of gin and lemon.

When to serve a Corpse Reviver cocktail

The Corpse Reviver is an upscale chic cocktail that’s sparkling and unique. It’s perfect for sipping as:

• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Signature cocktail
• Drinks late into the night
• Evening drink between boys or between girls
• Aperitif at aperitif time