Corpse Reviver No. 2
Average
Sour
4 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a pre-prohibition cocktail, dating back to the mid-19th century.
“It’s not just a drink, it’s a category in itself,” explains Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador. There are essentially four Corpse Reviver cocktails, each with numerous variations.
Here, we’re going to show you how to make the Corpse Reviver No. 2, the most popular of the four, using a recipe that Rico considers the best.
“It’s one of my favorite drinks of all time,” shares Rico. This classic cocktail recipe mixes Gin, Triple Sec, Aromatized Wine, Lemon Juice, served in an Absinthe-rinsed glass.
Yet as complex as it tastes, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 is an easy to make cocktail with equal parts everything.
How To Make a corpse reviver no. 2 COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Twist Knife
Boston Shaker
How to Mix
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Cut one Lemon in half using a Paring Knife. Set aside the other Lemon half for garnishing later.
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Juice the Lemon half with a Citrus Press directly into a Jigger.
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Measure and pour the Lemon Juice from the Jigger into the smaller tin of your Boston Shaker.
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Measure and pour Triple Sec into the Shaker, followed by Lillet Blanc.
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Measure and pour Beefeater Gin into the Shaker.
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Measure and pour Simple Syrup into the Shaker.
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Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes, connect the smaller tin to the larger tin, and shake vigorously until cold.
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Open the Shaker and pour the cocktail through a Fine Mesh Strainer directly into an Absinthe-rinsed Coupe Glass.
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Use a Peeler to peel a twist of Lemon Zest, then place it directly into your Glass.
Watch Rico show how to make a Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail:
What is a Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail?
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a timeless cocktail that dates back to the mid-19th century. It is made with equal parts gin, aromatized wine (Lillet Blanc), triple sec, and lemon juice.
Originally, it was made with Kina Lillet, but since that is no longer produced, Lillet Blanc has become the standard ingredient.
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is served in an absinthe-rinsed glass and garnished with a lemon twist.
What Does the Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail Taste Like?
A wonderful balance between sweet and tart, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 is citrus-forward with delicate floral notes and that unmistakable herbal, liquorice-like quality from the absinthe.
The History of the Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail
The earliest written mention of the Corpse Reviver dates back to 1861 in an English weekly magazine, but the first recipe didn’t appear in a cocktail book until 10 years later.
The Corpse Reviver is a collection of cocktails, many of whose recipes have vanished over the years, leaving only four main versions in use today.
The Corpse Reviver No. 1 and No. 2, as we know them, were featured in a cocktail book in 1930 and continue to be enjoyed today.
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is the most commonly ordered and most popular of the Corpse Reviver drink family.
Tips for Making the Perfect Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail
- Absinthe-rinsed your glass
“All we want is the aroma of Absinthe, not the full flavor or the full shot – we just want that nice Anise flavor and aroma coming up through the drink,” explains Rico.
The easiest way to Absinthe-rinse your glass is to add a few dashes of Absinthe to a glass filled with Crushed Ice, let it sit for a moment, then discard the Ice. Even when you discard the Ice and the Absinthe, the Glass retains the essence, aroma, and flavor of the Absinthe. - Always use Fresh Lemon Juice in your Corpse Reviver
We say it every time, but if you want to make a great drink, you need to use great quality ingredients. It’s that simple.
Store-bought bottle stuff simply isn’t as fresh or tasty. Don’t skip on quality – always press fresh!
Variations of the Corpse Reviver No. 2
While it seems natural to name the Corpse Reviver No. 1 and the Corpse Reviver No. 3 since they belong to the same drink family, the truth is, they’re very much drinks in their own right.
- Corpse Reviver No. Blue
This variation essentially follows the same recipe as the Corpse Reviver No. 2 but swaps Triple Sec for Blue Curaçao. Because everyone loves a blue drink! - Corpse Reviver No. 2 with Yellow Chartreuse instead of Triple Sec
A popular and modern version of the Corpse Reviver No. 2 substitutes the Triple Sec for Yellow Chartreuse. This not only changes the color of the drink but the Yellow Chartreuse introduces a truly unique herbaceous flavor profile that’s simultaneously minty fresh, honey sweet and zesty. - Try different Gin types in your Corpse Reviver No. 2
Experiment with different Gin types to create different notes and accents. We prefer London Dry Gin, but you could substitute this for Old Tom Gin or Plymouth Gin for example. - Swap Gin for Whiskey for a Kentucky Corpse Reviver
So-called Kentucky Corpse Revivers follow the same recipe on this page but swap Gin for Whiskey to give the drink a completely new flavor profile. Rye or Bourbon Whiskey are two popular choices. - Use Amber Vermouth instead of Lillet Blanc in your Corpse Reviver No. 2
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 was said to have been originally made with Kina Lillet. Unfortunately, since Kina Lillet no longer exists, you can experiment with Dry Vermouth, such as an Amber Vermouth, instead of Lillet Blanc.
Serving and Garnish Ideas for the Corpse Reviver No. 2
- Serve the Corpse Reviver No. 2 in an Absinthe-rinsed Coupe Glass.
- See the tips section above to learn how to rinse your glass in Absinthe to create the aroma that’s so essential to this drink.
- Garnish with a Lemon Zest twist and you’ve got the perfect cocktail.
Corpse Reviver No. 2 FAQ
Despite sharing the same name, Corpse Reviver #1 and 2 couldn’t be more different.
Corpse Reviver No. 1 is more spirit-forward, made with Cognac, Calvados (Apple Brandy), Vermouth and Orange Bitters.
Corpse Reviver No. 2, on the other hand, is much more citrusy, made with Gin, Triple Sec, and Lillet Blanc with aromatic Absinthe notes.
It’s simple. Check out our article on how to make Simple Syrup.
We prefer Beefeater Gin when making the Corpse Reviver No 2. But taste is, of course, personal so choose the Gin that you like best.
