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Corpse Reviver No 2
Posted: July 21, 2026
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About
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a legendary pre-Prohibition gin cocktail designed as a morning-after restorative — the name refers to its supposed power to revive even the most thoroughly dead-feeling drinker. First published in the Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) with the warning that four taken 'in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again,' it blends gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and lemon juice in equal parts, finished with a faint whisper of absinthe. The combination is strikingly balanced — citrusy and floral with an herbal undercurrent and a light bitterness that makes it bracingly refreshing despite its potency. It has become one of the most beloved classic revival cocktails of the modern era.
Instructions
- Rinse a chilled coupe or martini glass with absinthe, swirl to coat, and discard the excess (alternatively, use a single dash of absinthe directly in the shaker).
- Combine gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds.
- Fine-strain into the prepared chilled glass.
- Serve immediately with no garnish, or a thin lemon wheel.