cocktaildna

London, United Kingdom · 1930

Corpse Reviver #2

Also known as Corpse Reviver No. 2, Corpse Reviver 2

A sharp, herbal, and citrusy equal-parts cocktail that wakes you up faster than coffee.

herbalcitrusyanisetartfloralginaperitifequal-partsbracing

%

ABV

Difficulty

Corpse Reviver #2

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits with bright lemon and a cool anise edge from the absinthe. The middle rounds out with orange liqueur and soft floral notes from the Lillet, while the gin provides a sturdy backbone. It finishes dry and slightly bitter, leaving a clean, herbal tang.

Who will like it

For people who like tart, spirit-forward drinks with an herbal bite, like a Sidecar crossed with a dry Martini.

When to drink

Drink this as a morning-after pick-me-up or as a sharp aperitif before a big meal.

Ordering tip

Ask for it with Cocchi Americano instead of Lillet Blanc if you want a slightly more bitter, traditional edge.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $3–$6Glass: CoupeBatch-friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This drink hits you with bright, sharp lemon right away, backed up by a cool, herbal anise note. As you sip, the orange liqueur and floral wine round out the acidity, but it never gets sweet. It finishes dry and crisp, leaving a lingering herbal bitterness that makes you want another sip.

Finish: The finish is dry and lingering, with herbal bitterness and a faint anise warmth sticking around after the sip.

Primary tastes

sourherbalbitter

Secondary

floralfruity

Aroma

anisecitrus oilbotanicalorange blossom
  • Bitternessmoderately bitter

    The absinthe rinse and Lillet provide a noticeable but balanced bitter edge.

  • Sweetnessoff-dry

    The Cointreau adds sweetness, but the heavy lemon and absinthe keep it from tasting sugary.

  • Sournessquite tart

    A full 30ml of fresh lemon juice makes this a sharply acidic drink.

  • Strengthfairly strong

    Four different alcoholic components at equal parts make this a potent drink despite its light taste.

  • Refreshingvery refreshing

    The high acidity, citrus notes, and icy chill make it incredibly crisp and waking.

  • Complexityhighly complex

    The interplay between the gin botanicals, anise, orange, and floral wine creates a deeply layered flavor.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on Gin. London Dry recommended for a crisp, dry finish

Before you start

Chill your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand. Make sure your lemon juice is freshly squeezed, because bottled juice will make this taste flat.

Ingredients

  • GinBase SpiritLondon Dry recommended for a crisp, dry finish30ml
  • CointreauLiqueurOrange liqueur; use a quality triple sec if unavailable30ml
  • Lillet BlancVermouthFrench aperitif wine; Cocchi Americano is the closest substitute for the historical Kina Lillet30ml
  • Lemon JuiceJuiceFreshly squeezed30ml
  • AbsintheOtherUsed as a rinse; pastis or Herbsaint work too1 dash

Garnish: Orange twist

Tools

  • Jigger · Measuring

    Measuring the equal parts precisely

    At home: Small measuring cup

  • Cocktail Shaker · Shaking

    Chilling and combining the ingredients with ice

    At home: Mason jar with a tight lid

  • Hawthorne Strainer · Straining

    Separating the ice from the liquid when pouring

    At home: Slotted spoon

  • Coupe Glass · Serving

    Serving the drink chilled without ice

    At home: Any small stemmed glass

  • Bar Spoon · Mixing

    Swirling the absinthe to coat the inside of the glass

    At home: Regular teaspoon

Ingredients and tools to make Corpse Reviver #2
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Pour a small splash of absinthe into your chilled coupe glass. Swirl it around so the absinthe coats the inside completely, then pour out the excess. This leaves a thin, fragrant layer that will season every sip.

    Step 1 — how to make Corpse Reviver #2

    !Leaving too much absinthe in the glass will overpower the drink and make it taste like black licorice.

  2. 2

    Add 30ml gin, 30ml Cointreau, 30ml Lillet Blanc, and 30ml fresh lemon juice to your shaker. The equal-parts ratio is what makes this drink work, so measure carefully rather than free-pouring.

    Step 2 — how to make Corpse Reviver #2

    !Eyeballing the amounts throws off the delicate sweet-sour balance.

  3. 3

    Fill the shaker with ice, seal it tight, and shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds. You want the outside of the shaker to frost over and feel very cold to the touch when you're done.

    ~12s

    Step 3 — how to make Corpse Reviver #2

    !Shaking too softly won't chill or dilute the drink enough, leaving it harsh and unbalanced.

  4. 4

    Pop the shaker open, fit your Hawthorne strainer over the top, and pour the drink into your absinthe-rinsed coupe. Strain it cleanly so no ice shards slip into the glass.

    Step 4 — how to make Corpse Reviver #2

    !Letting small ice chips fall in will water down the drink quickly.

  5. 5

    Take your orange twist, hold it over the drink, and give it a quick pinch to spray the citrus oils across the surface. Drop the twist into the glass.

    Step 5 — how to make Corpse Reviver #2

    !Skipping the twist misses a layer of aroma that ties the orange liqueur and absinthe together.

Serve

Serve it right away in the chilled coupe while it's icy cold. No ice goes in the glass itself.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Lillet Blanc

  • Lillet BlancCocchi Americano
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Lillet Blanc → Cocchi Americano: Adds more quinine bitterness and a slightly richer mouthfeel, closer to the original Kina Lillet.

Swap options for Cointreau

  • CointreauDry Curaçao
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Cointreau → Dry Curaçao: Adds a richer, more complex orange note with a slightly longer finish.

  • CointreauTriple Sec
    Match
    Common availability

    Cointreau → Triple Sec: Slightly sweeter with less depth and a shorter finish.

Swap options for Absinthe

  • AbsinthePastis
    Match
    Common availability

    Absinthe → Pastis: Lighter anise flavor with less herbal complexity.

  • AbsintheHerbsaint
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Absinthe → Herbsaint: Similar anise profile with a slightly lighter body.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Sidecar

Similar cocktail

Sidecar

The Sidecar uses brandy as its base instead of gin and lacks the Lillet and absinthe.

Match

Both are sharp, citrus-driven drinks, but the Sidecar is richer and warmer from the Cognac, while the Corpse Reviver #2 is lighter, drier, and more herbal.

In common: Equal-parts structure, Citrus-forward, Served up in a coupe

Ingredients

Both share

Cointreau, Lemon Juice

Only in Corpse Reviver #2

Gin, Lillet Blanc, Absinthe

Only in Sidecar

Cognac

The Sidecar swaps out the gin and Lillet for Cognac, dropping the floral wine notes entirely. It also skips the absinthe rinse, losing the herbal anise aroma.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Tart citrus backbone, Orange liqueur sweetness, Crisp finish

How Sidecar differs

Richer and deeper, Less herbal, More grape-forward

View recipe & details →

White Lady

Similar cocktail

White Lady

The White Lady drops the Lillet and absinthe, relying entirely on the gin, orange, and lemon.

Match

The White Lady is a clean, straightforward gin sour, while the Corpse Reviver #2 adds a floral wine layer and a bitter anise rinse that makes it drier and more complex.

In common: Gin-based sour, Citrus-forward, Served up

Ingredients

Both share

Gin, Cointreau, Lemon Juice

Only in Corpse Reviver #2

Lillet Blanc, Absinthe

The White Lady uses the exact same core ingredients but omits the Lillet Blanc and absinthe rinse. This makes it a simpler, more straightforward gin sour.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Bright lemon acidity, Gin botanicals, Orange sweetness

How White Lady differs

Simpler flavor, Lacks anise, Less dry

View recipe & details →

Last Word

Similar cocktail

Last Word

The Last Word uses green Chartreuse and maraschino liqueur instead of orange liqueur and Lillet.

Match

Both are tart, herbal, equal-parts drinks, but the Last Word is earthier and sweeter from the maraschino, while the Corpse Reviver #2 is brighter and more citrus-forward.

In common: Equal-parts recipe, Herbal complexity, Served up

Ingredients

Both share

Gin

Only in Corpse Reviver #2

Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, Lemon Juice, Absinthe

Only in Last Word

Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime Juice

The Last Word swaps out the citrus and wine components for lime, herbal liqueur, and cherry liqueur. Both rely on an equal-parts ratio, but the flavor profiles diverge heavily from the base spirit.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Herbal notes, Tart acidity, Dry finish

How Last Word differs

Earthier, Cherry sweetness, More vegetal

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

Harry Craddock included this recipe in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book as one of several 'Corpse Revivers' meant to cure a hangover. He famously warned that four of these in quick succession will un-revive the corpse again.

Creator
Harry Craddock
Era
1930s
IBA
The Unforgettables
Data version
IBA 2020 spec
Confidence

The original recipe called for Kina Lillet, which is no longer produced; Lillet Blanc is the modern standard, though Cocchi Americano is closer to the original's quinine bitterness.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Use Cocchi Americano if you want a more historically accurate bitter edge.
  • Rinse the glass with absinthe, don't pour it in, or the drink gets overwhelmed.
  • Shake hard to get it properly diluted and icy cold.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Don't skip the absinthe rinse; it defines the drink's character.
  • Avoid bottled lemon juice; it makes the drink taste flat and metallic.
  • Don't use a heavy, juniper-forward gin or it will clash with the Lillet.