Corpse Reviver #2 – Gin Recipe

Learn how to make the perfect homemade Corpse Reviver #2, a classic pre-Prohibition cocktail featuring gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and absinthe. This balanced, easy cocktail recipe delivers bright citrus notes with herbal complexity – the ultimate craft cocktail to impress guests or enjoy as the ultimate hair-of-the-dog remedy.

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Prep Time:

5 mins

Cook Time:

Serves:

1 cocktail

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"> <li class="ingredients-single-item">22.5ml gin</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">22.5ml Cointreau (or triple sec)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">22.5ml Lillet Blanc (or Cocchi Americano)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">22.5ml fresh lemon juice</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">5ml absinthe (for rinse)</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">Orange peel for garnish</li> </ul>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 cocktail

🔥 Calories: 210 calories

🥑 Fat: 0 g

🧈 Saturated Fat: 0 g

🍞 Carbohydrates: 12 g

🍭 Sugar: 10 g

🍗 Protein: 0 g

🫀 Cholesterol: 0 mg

🧂 Sodium: 2 mg

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"> <li class="equipment-single-item">Cocktail shaker</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Hawthorne strainer</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Fine mesh strainer</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Jigger or measuring tool</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Chilled coupe glass</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Peeler or small knife (for garnish)</li> </ul>

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4> Place your coupe glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes to properly chill. A properly chilled glass is essential for maintaining the cocktail's temperature and preventing premature dilution. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4> Remove the chilled glass and add the absinthe. Swirl it around to coat the entire interior surface of the glass, then discard any excess. This rinse will impart a subtle anise aroma without overwhelming the cocktail. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4> Fill your cocktail shaker with fresh, cold ice – ideally larger cubes that will chill without diluting too quickly. Add the gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and fresh lemon juice. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4> Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds. The cocktail needs proper dilution and aeration to achieve its signature silky texture and perfect balance of flavors. You'll know it's ready when the shaker becomes frosty on the outside. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4> Double-strain through both a Hawthorne strainer and fine mesh strainer into your absinthe-rinsed coupe glass. This ensures no ice chips or lemon pulp make it into the final presentation. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4> Cut a thin piece of orange peel, being careful to avoid the bitter white pith. Hold it skin-side down about 5cm above the cocktail and squeeze gently to express the oils over the surface. You should see a fine mist land on the cocktail's surface. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4> Run the peel around the rim of the glass to further enhance the aromatic experience, then place it decoratively on the surface or on the rim of the glass. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4> Serve immediately while the cocktail is perfectly chilled. As Harry Craddock noted in the Savoy Cocktail Book: "Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again." </li> </ol>

FAQs

Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.

What ingredients are used in Corpse Reviver #2?

The Corpse Reviver #2 requires equal parts (22.5ml each) of gin, Cointreau or triple sec, Lillet Blanc (or Cocchi Americano), and fresh lemon juice, plus a 5ml absinthe rinse and an orange peel for garnish.

How to make Corpse Reviver #2 at home?

Learn how to make Corpse Reviver #2 by first chilling a coupe glass and rinsing it with absinthe. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine equal parts (22.5ml each) of gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and fresh lemon juice. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds, double-strain into the prepared glass, and garnish with expressed orange peel.

Why is it called a Corpse Reviver cocktail?

The name "Corpse Reviver" comes from this cocktail's reputation as a hangover cure or "hair of the dog" remedy. Popular during the pre-Prohibition era, it was designed to "revive" someone suffering from overindulgence the previous night, bringing them back from a metaphorical death.

Can I substitute Lillet Blanc in this classic gin cocktail?

Yes, Cocchi Americano is the best substitute for Lillet Blanc as it has similar herbal and citrus notes with added quinine bitterness. Alternatively, dry vermouth can work in a pinch, though the flavour profile will be noticeably different from the original recipe.

What's the importance of the absinthe rinse in this pre-Prohibition cocktail?

The absinthe rinse is crucial as it provides a subtle anise aroma and flavour that complements the citrus and herbal notes. Using only a rinse rather than adding it directly ensures the anise doesn't overwhelm the balanced profile while still imparting its distinctive haunting finish.

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