Corpse Reviver No. 2 recipe
A hangover cure from the 1930s — equal parts gin, Cointreau, Lillet, and lemon with a whisper of absinthe.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 0.75 oz Gin
- 0.75 oz Cointreau
- 0.75 oz Lillet Blanc
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 dash Absinthe (rinse the glass or add a dash)
How to make a Corpse Reviver No. 2
- Rinse a chilled coupe with absinthe — pour a small amount in, swirl to coat, and dump the excess.
- Add gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and lemon juice to a shaker with ice.
- Shake well for 12-15 seconds.
- Strain into the absinthe-rinsed coupe.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Garnish
Orange twist.
Pro tip
The book says 'four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.' In other words, it's deceptively strong despite tasting light and citrusy. The absinthe rinse is subtle but essential — it adds an anise whisper that makes the whole thing mysterious.
History of the Corpse Reviver No. 2
From Harry Craddock's 1930 'Savoy Cocktail Book.' The 'Corpse Reviver' was a category of hangover cures, not a single recipe. No. 1 used brandy and vermouth. No. 2 became the famous one because it's actually delicious, not just medicinal. It was largely forgotten until the cocktail revival of the 2000s.
Flavour profile
Citrus, Anise, Floral, Complex
Variations
- Corpse Reviver No. 1 — Cognac, Calvados, sweet vermouth — the original
- Corpse Reviver Blue — Replace Lillet with blue curacao for a blue version
- Modern No. 2 — Use Cocchi Americano instead of Lillet for more bitterness
Practise making the Corpse Reviver No. 2 in the free Virtual Bar game.