The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a timeless classic cocktail featuring equal parts gin, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice. Despite the morbid name, It’s a citrusy and refreshing cocktail that is very 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.

The Corpse Reviver 2 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.

I can personally attest it’s a fantastic brunch cocktail that should sit next to the Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or even the French 75. It’s citrusy, floral, subtly sweet, and a reasonably low-proof cocktail that goes down very easily. A word of caution and to quote Harry Craddock, “Four of these taken in swift succession will un-revive the corpse again.”

Table of Contents

Ingredients

The Corpse Reviver No. 2 exhibits a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and herbal flavors.

Gin: Gin adds natural botanicals and complimentary citrusy notes that blend really well with the citrus-forward ingredients in the cocktail. I typically use London dry gin but you can also experiment with different flavored gins.
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 absolutely essential for this cocktail, however, it’s sometimes substituted with Cocchi Americano. The cocktail is simply not the same without it.
Cointreau or triple sec: Orange liqueur adds additional 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.
Lemon juice: Always opt for fresh lemon juice when possible for refreshing tartness.
Absinthe: Classically this cocktail is made with absinthe, however, I wouldn’t say it’s absolutely necessary to successfully pull off the drink. You can mix in a bar spoon of absinthe to add subtle anise flavor and aroma. You can also do an absinthe rinse with the glass.

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