Corpse Reviver No. 1
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 28% 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. Deep orchard-fruit warmth from the Calvados meets Cognac's dried-fig richness, with the vermouth's sweetness and a whisper of anise trailing on the finish — a fitting nightcap.
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 equal-parts Calvados, Cognac, and Rosso vermouth with ice for about 20-30 seconds to achieve proper dilution without clouding the drink.
- Rinse the chilled coupe with a single dash of absinthe, swirling to coat the interior, then discard any excess before straining in the stirred mixture.
- Use large, dense ice cubes when stirring to control dilution, since this equal-parts build has no citrus juice to balance over-dilution.
- Express the lemon twist's oils over the surface of the drink before dropping it in, rather than adding it unexpressed as decoration.
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 by the 1890s and 1900s, well before the drink was standardized. The version now known as Corpse Reviver No. 1 was codified by Harry Craddock, head bartender at London's Savoy Hotel, who published it 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.
