What does a Corpse Reviver No. 2 taste like?
A Corpse Reviver No. 2 tastes bright, tart and citrusy: equal parts gin, orange liqueur, Lillet and lemon, with a faint licorice whisper from an absinthe rinse.
Corpse Reviver No. 2
tart, citrusy, hint of anise
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 was originally meant as a hangover cure, hence the name. It's equal parts gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc (or Cocchi Americano) and lemon juice, shaken and served in a glass rinsed with absinthe. It tastes like a zippy, grown-up lemonade: sharp lemon and orange first, a soft honeyed wine flavor from the Lillet, then gin's pine and a gentle anise smell from the absinthe. It's light, bright and easy to like, and it goes down quicker than you'd expect.
Where you’ll see it
On classic cocktail and brunch menus, served up in a coupe, sometimes with an orange twist or cherry. A Corpse Reviver No. 1 exists too, but it's a very different, brandy-based drink you'll rarely see.
Order it if you want something tart, citrusy and light that still tastes like a proper cocktail.
Quick questions
- Does a Corpse Reviver No. 2 taste like licorice?
- Only faintly. The absinthe is just a rinse of the glass, so you mostly smell it rather than taste it.
- Is a Corpse Reviver No. 2 strong?
- Medium. It is a shaken sour like a margarita, with lots of lemon and Lillet keeping it lively.