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The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a timeless classic cocktail featuring equal parts gin, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice. It’s a citrusy and refreshing cocktail similar to the French 75 without the fizz. While it’s a lesser-known classic cocktail, it’s one of our favorites and is an undeniable crowdpleaser that is very easy to sip.
Table of Contents
Brief History
The cocktail first appeared in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock in the 1930s. It’s said to have earned its name from its hangover-curing qualities, “raising one from the darkness of a previous night’s overindulgence.”
Craddock, an American bartender who fled Prohibition in the United States, worked at London’s Savoy Hotel, where he became one of the most renowned bartenders of his time. While this cocktail is very refreshing and goes down easily, here is a word of caution from Craddock himself. “Four of these taken in swift succession will un-revive the corpse again.”
I can personally attest it’s a fantastic brunch cocktail that should sit next to the Bloody Mary, Tequila Sunrise, or even the French 75. It’s citrusy, floral, subtly sweet, and a reasonably low-proof cocktail.
Looking for more citrusy gin cocktails? Also, try the Tom Collins and Bee’s Knees.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Gin: gin adds natural botanicals and complimentary citrusy notes that blend well with the citrus-forward ingredients in the cocktail. I typically use London dry gin (Beefeater and Plymouth are popular) but you can also experiment with flavored gins with a blend of different botanicals.
- Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano: Lillet is a French, wine-based aperitif that tastes like a sweet sauvignon blanc with a dry spiced finish. It’s essential for this cocktail, however, it’s sometimes substituted with Cocchi Americano. The cocktail is not the same without it. Also used in the Vesper Martini.
- Cointreau or triple sec: orange liqueur adds citrus, orange notes, and subtle sweetness that rounds out the entire drink, making it very crushable. Use Cointreau for a more balanced and higher-end feel. You can also use Dry Curacao for a drier cocktail.
- Lemon juice: always opt for fresh lemon juice when possible for refreshing tartness. I use a citrus squeezer for easy juicing.
- Absinthe: classically this cocktail is made with absinthe, however, it’s not absolutely necessary for a good cocktail, especially if you aren’t an anise fan. A cap full of absinthe twirled around the glass and discarded is traditional. You can also pour some in a cocktail sprayer for easy rinses. I do the same in my Sazerac!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
Expert Tips
- For an easier absinthe rinse, fill a mini cocktail spray bottle and mist the absinthe into the glass. This works well and doesn’t waste any absinthe.
- Chill your glasses in the freezer. A cold glass prevents warming and keeps your drink colder for longer.
- For expressing citrus over a cocktail: point the outer peel (non-pith side) outward facing the drink and gently squeeze the edges so the oils spray out over the top of the drink. If done properly, you can see the oils floating on the surface of your drink. This works best with two hands.
- Always double-strain shaken cocktails. This removes tiny ice particles that dilute your drink with unnecessary water as you sip.
More Classic Cocktails
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this cocktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
Corpse Reviver No. 2
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce gin
- 3/4 ounce Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano
- 3/4 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- Dash or barspoon Absinthe, optional
Instructions
- Add a splash of absinthe to a chilled coupe glass. Twirl to coat the inside of the glass and discard the excess.
- Combine gin, Lillet, Cointreau, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice.
- Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express the lemon over the drink and garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
