Corpse Reviver No. 1
A fruity and sweet cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 25.8% ABV ∙
The Corpse Reviver No. 1 is a stirred, spirit-forward brandy cocktail of Calvados, Cognac, and sweet vermouth with a dash of absinthe, served up.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Calvados 30 mlCognac 30 mlRosso vermouth 30 mlAbsinthe 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir the three 30 ml pours with ice for about 20-30 seconds; that chills and softens them, and stirring keeps the drink clear.
History
The Corpse Reviver family of cocktails takes its name from the long-standing bar tradition of the "hair of the dog," a morning-after drink meant to revive a drinker from the effects of the previous night. Cocktails bearing this name appeared in print as early as the late 19th century, with recipes for a Corpse Reviver documented in British and American bar guides from the 1870s through the early 1900s, well before the drink was standardized.
Harry Craddock, head bartender at London's Savoy Hotel, published a Corpse Reviver No. 1 alongside a Corpse Reviver No. 2 in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. Craddock's No. 1 was built as a brandy-based, spirit-forward mix intended for sipping rather than the lighter, more citrus-driven No. 2, distinguishing it within the same family of restorative morning cocktails. His book recipe appears as the Corpse Reviver No. 1 (Savoy recipe); this recipe is an equal-parts version with a dash of absinthe.
