Corpse Reviver No 2
- 0.75 oz Gin
- 0.75 oz Cointreau
- 0.75 oz Lillet Blanc
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1–2 Dashes Wormwood Bitters
- Serve up With Orange Peel
History
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is one of the most iconic “pick-me-up” cocktails of the early 20th century. First recorded in Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930, it was part of a humorous category of drinks meant to “revive” the drinker from the after-effects of the night before. Unlike its darker, brandy-based predecessor, No. 2 became the star: a bright, aromatic, perfectly balanced cocktail built on equal parts gin, citrus, fortified wine, and orange liqueur.
Born in the golden age of hotel bars, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 captured the sophistication and optimism of the era—a drink that felt modern, playful, and surprisingly refreshing for something meant to wake the dead. Over the years, it evolved from a hangover cure to a beloved classic that bartenders admire for its structure and precision. It’s now considered one of the greatest examples of early cocktail engineering: equal parts, bold aromatics, and a whisper of absinthe tying everything together.
What Bitter Companion Wormwood Bitters Add
Bitter Companion Wormwood Bitters layer in a deeper, more complex backbone that beautifully complements the cocktail’s bright citrus and botanical notes. Wormwood introduces a subtle earthiness, slightly herbal, slightly medicinal—that connects the gin’s botanicals with the sharper edges of the absinthe rinse.
Instead of adding sweetness or heavy spice, Wormwood Bitters sharpen the silhouette of the drink. They emphasize structure, dryness, and clarity. The result is a Corpse Reviver that tastes even more refined: brighter at the start, cleaner on the finish, and more sophisticated in its bitterness. It becomes a cocktail that feels both classic and elevated, a perfect harmony between the old-world apothecary tradition and modern mixology.
