Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday Happy Hour: The Corpse Reviver


Corpse Reviver
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz Lillet blanc
3/4 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz lemon juice
1 drop of pastis
Shake, pour, garnish with cherry, and serve.

Okay, that's the official version.

This is a legendary drink with a ghoulish name. And, no, this drink has nothing to do with Easter Sunday.

We'd never actually had one of these before, and it's not the kind of drink most bars would be able to make. Or, well, maybe they would -- let us know how it works out if you try. Indeed, some of the ingredients are a little rare, revealing how antique the drink really is. We'll admit that we substituted anisette for the pastis. Although, with absinthe being legal again, this is a perfect drink to celebrate that fact.

The Lillet blanc is another specialty ingredient -- worth having around for a few vintage drinks, not the least of which is the signature James Bond drink, The Vesper.

We read that the Corpse Reviver is one of those drinks where the sum far exceeds the parts -- that, in the proper proportions, the ingredients to this drink add up to something wonderful. It's true. This drink will win you points for your savvy and expertise when you serve it to your friends and guests, and it will earn their respect and love when they quickly realize what a wonderful new gift you have given them in the Corpse Reviver.

1 comment:

John Bliss said...

In Fine Spirits makes a fine Corpse Reviver, which is the first place I had heard of it. They do indeed use absinthe. They're quite dedicated to the classic American cocktail.