Corpse Reviver No. 2 (Savoy recipe)
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 16.1% ABV ∙
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 shakes equal parts gin, orange liqueur, an aromatized wine such as Lillet Blanc and lemon with absinthe, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 20 mlTriple sec 20 mlAromatized wine 20 mlLemon juice 20 mlCane syrup 2 mlAbsinthe 2 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled coupe glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Shake hard on fresh ice for a full 10-15 seconds, until the drink is cold, pale and slightly frothy.
- The cane syrup is only 2 ml, and it's easy to pour heavy; any extra and the four equal 20 ml parts turn sweet.
History
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 was published in 1930 by Harry Craddock, head bartender of the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London, in his Savoy Cocktail Book, alongside a companion Corpse Reviver No. 1. Craddock's own recipe note warned that several in quick succession would "unrevive the corpse again." Unlike the earlier brandy-based revivers, it rests on gin with orange liqueur, an aromatized wine, lemon juice, and absinthe, and it became the drink that made the name famous.
The name is older than the drink. The satirical magazine Punch used "corpse reviver" for a mixed drink as early as 1861, and the first known printed recipe under that name, a brandy, maraschino, and bitters mixture, appeared in the Gentleman's Table Guide in 1871. By the late 19th century the term was common bar slang for a stiff morning dram meant to cure the previous night's excess.
FAQ
What is in a Corpse Reviver No. 2?
Equal parts (20 ml each) of gin, triple sec, an aromatized wine such as Lillet Blanc and lemon juice, plus 2 ml of cane syrup and two dashes of absinthe. The absinthe only scents the drink; it should not take over.
Is a Corpse Reviver No. 2 shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lemon juice and syrup need the aeration and quick chill of a hard shake; stirring would leave the citrus flat and the drink under-diluted.
What glass is a Corpse Reviver No. 2 served in?
A coupe glass, served up and garnished with a lemon twist. It is fine-strained, so no ice reaches the glass.
Can I use a different aromatized wine or leave out the absinthe?
You can swap the wine: Lillet Blanc is standard, but other quinquina-style aromatized wines work much the same. Don't drop the absinthe. Two dashes are only a trace, but that anise note defines the finish.
Is the Corpse Reviver No. 2 a strong drink?
Yes. At roughly 16.1% ABV it is a full-strength cocktail, though the lemon and orange liqueur hide much of the alcohol. That is why it goes down faster than its strength suggests, and why Craddock warned that several in a row would "unrevive the corpse again."
