Spice up your Halloween this year with the classic Corpse Reviver 2 cocktail! This refreshing citrusy absinthe gin cocktail is not only super tasty. It also has a perfectly on-theme name and reputation! After all, it’s supposed to be able to revive a dead person (or at least a very hungover one).

Glass of Corpse Reviver 2 gin cocktail

How to Make a Corpse Reviver No. 2

This yummy citrus gin cocktail is strong but not too alcohol-forward. It’s traditionally made by combining equal parts gin, lemon juice, Lillet Blanc, and Cointreau or Triple Sec, and a dash (or rinse) of absinthe, an anise-flavored spirit.

It’s made like a martini by combining the ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker, shaking for several seconds, and then straining it into a coupe or martini glass. I used bourbon-soaked cocktail cherries as a garnish in my drink. But the traditional garnish is a lemon twist.

And while its name makes the Corpse Reviver a perfect Halloween holiday gin cocktail, it’s delicious all year round!

Ingredients for a corpse reviver no. 2 gin cocktail

Citrus, Gin and Lillet Blanc Cocktail Ingredients

  • GIN: I used Gray Whale Gin. If you’ve been following along, you know I’m a huge fan of this California-based, small-batch gin. And its fresh, crisp taste, with notes of juniper, citrus, and mint, works perfectly in this yummy cocktail. (Full disclosure: Gray Whale Gin gifted me a bottle of their gin. And I love them for it!) But you could also use any London Dry-style gin or a gin that has hints of citrus.
  • LILLET BLANC: This is a French wine-based aperitif from the Bordeaux region. You can also use dry, white vermouth like Cocchi Americano.
  • ORANGE LIQUOR: This recipe also calls for an orange-flavored liquor. I used Cointreau. But you could also use Triple Sec.
  • ABSINTHE: Despite its reputation, this anise-flavored spirit is not a hallucinogen. But it does have a strong licorice flavor. Add just a dash to the cocktail. Or you can just rinse your glass with some and dump any extra, which is what I did.
  • FRESH LEMON JUICE
  • GARNISH: Lemon twist or high-quality cherries
Glasses of Corpse Reviver No. 2 gin cocktail garnished with cherries

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. PREP: Add a dash of absinthe to your glass and swirl to coat. Discard any excess. Set aside.
  2. FILL SHAKER & SHAKE: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and then add the gin, lemon juice, Lillet Blanc and Cointreau. Place the top on the shaker and shake vigorously for several seconds. 
  3. POUR & SERVE: Strain and pour into your glass. Garnish with cherries or a lemon twist.
  4. GARNISH: The traditional garnish for this drink is a lemon twist. But I used high-quality bourbon-soaked cherries.
  5. TIP: If you don’t want to rinse your glass in absinthe, you can add a dash to your cocktail. 

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Glass of Corpse Reviver No. 2 Gin Cocktail

Corpse Reviver No. 2 Gin Cocktail Recipe


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5 from 1 review

Description

This refreshing and super tasty classic Corpse Reviver No. 2 gin and citrus cocktail is perfectly on theme for Halloween. But it tastes great all year round! 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 ounce gin (I used Gray Whale Gin)
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 ounce Lillet Blanc or dry vermouth
  • 1 ounce Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
  • A dash of absinthe
  • Garnish: cherries or a lemon twist

Instructions

  1. PREP: Add a dash of absinthe to your glass and swirl to coat. Discard any excess. Set aside.
  2. FILL SHAKER & SHAKE: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and then add the gin, lemon juice, Lillet Blanc and Cointreau. Place the top on the shaker and shake vigorously for several seconds. 
  3. POUR & SERVE: Strain and pour into your glass. Garnish with cherries or a lemon twist.

Notes

If you don’t want to rinse your glass in absinthe, you can add a dash to your cocktail. 

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 384
  • Sugar: 33.3 g
  • Sodium: 6.2 mg
  • Fat: 0.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45.9 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

2 Comments on Corpse Reviver No. 2 Gin Cocktail Recipe

  1. Nice complex drink. It’s what we call an “adult” drink, in that it’s not overly sweet and has some layers. We don’t like anise or licorice flavored anything, so no Absinthe here. I used Peychaud’s bitters as the rinse. Worked nicely with only a slight hint of nasty anise. Tolerable.






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