If you find thrills in the macabre and relate to the Gomez, Morticia and Wednesdays of the world, we have the perfect ‘Thing’ (sorry) for you. Introducing the Corpse Reviver No. 2.
The pre-prohibition concoction was the brainchild of the London Savoy’s legendary bartender Harry Craddock. Taking inspo from the original Corpse Reviver, which was said to have risen in the second half of the 19th century, the cocktail was given a new lease on life. In the pages of his The Savoy Cocktail Book, Harry detailed the spooky sipper as tart and distinctly aromatic, joking that the drink was potent enough to bring back a body from the grave.
Essentially an alternative take on the classic Gin Sour cocktail, Harry’s recipe included a wine-based aperitif called Kina Lillet that stopped production in 1986. The modern take is substituted with dry vermouth or Lillet Blanc. Some bartenders have even used the Italian Cocchi Americano to try and achieve the flavours of the original with Kina Lillet, as it lends sweet honey, citrus and bitter herbal flavours.
The result is an intoxicating libation of the spirit realm, so revered that it was placed on the International Bartender Association’s official cocktail list. And despite its name and compatibility with Halloween, reviving or reserving this gem for only the spooky season would do it – and yourself – a disservice.
