Corpse Reviver

The Corpse Reviver family of cocktails are a family of cocktails originally intended as 'hair of the dog' hangover cures, hence the name. Most of the corpse reviver cocktails have been lost to time, but the cognac- and gin-based Corpse Reviver and Corpse Reviver #2 cocktails that were first listed in the Savoy Cocktail Handbook by Harry Craddock in 1930^[1] have survived to this day.^[2]

Corpse Reviver

The plain Corpse Reviver cocktail is a cognac-based cocktail, with two parts cognac, one part Calvados or equivalent apple brandy, and one part sweet vermouth.

Corpse Reviver #2

The Corpse Reviver #2 is the more popular of the corpse revivers, and consists of equal parts gin, lemon juice, triple sec (commonly Cointreau), Lillet Blanc, and a dash of absinthe. The dash of absinthe can either be added to the mix before shaking, or added to the cocktail glass and moved around until the glass has been coated with a layer of absinthe. It can also be used to coat the edge of the glass to give a subtle absinthe aroma and flavor to the drink.^[3][4]

As the Corpse Reviver #2 cocktail was invented at a time when Lillet used the original Kina Lillet formulation, some have taken to using Cocchi Americano instead of Lillet Blanc in this cocktail in order to approximate the taste of the original cocktail.^[5]

Savoy Corpse Reviver

This recipe is a variation invented by Joe Gilmore in 1954.

Notes