Corpse Reviver Mezcal
Mezcal, Lillet Blanc, orange liqueur and lemon in equal parts, shaken, in an absinthe-rinsed coupe. The Corpse Reviver No. 2 with smoke — the 1930 hangover cure's agave version, and one of the best mezcal sours.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Rinse a chilled coupe with absinthe and discard the excess.
Add the mezcal, Lillet, Cointreau and lemon juice to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Double strain into the rinsed coupe and express an orange twist over the top.
A thoughtful finish
- Equal parts; measure carefully.
- A moderate-smoke espadín; a heavy mezcal overwhelms the Lillet.
- Cocchi Americano in place of Lillet gets closer to the 1930 Kina Lillet.
Common mistakes
- A heavily smoky mezcal.
- Skipping the absinthe rinse.
- Bottled lemon.
A few good questions.
What does a Mezcal Corpse Reviver taste like?
A bright, orange-and-lemon sour with honey from the Lillet, anise from the rinse and smoke underneath.
What is the original?
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 — gin, Lillet, Cointreau and lemon with absinthe, from the Savoy, 1930.
Can I split the base?
Half mezcal and half blanco tequila is common and gentler.
Lillet or Cocchi?
Cocchi Americano is more bitter and closer to the 1930 Kina Lillet.
Variations
- Corpse Reviver No. 2 — Gin, Lillet, Cointreau, lemon and absinthe.
- Corpse Reviver No. 1 — Cognac, calvados and sweet vermouth.
- La Última Palabra — Mezcal, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime.
- Naked and Famous — Mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and lime.
Where it comes from
c. 2010s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
Harry Craddock’s Corpse Reviver No. 2 of 1930 — gin, Kina Lillet, Cointreau and lemon in equal parts with a dash of absinthe — is the most riffed of the Savoy drinks, and mezcal’s turn came with the agave boom of the 2010s; the equal-parts formula absorbs a smoky spirit as well as it absorbs gin. The Lillet’s honey and the Cointreau’s orange soften the mezcal, the lemon keeps it bright and the absinthe rinse adds an anise note that suits the smoke. Some bars split the base with blanco tequila; some use Cocchi Americano for the Lillet’s lost quinine. It is sometimes called a Corpse Reviver No. 2 Mezcal or a Smoky Corpse Reviver.
Sources
- Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Mezcal Corpse Reviver, 2015 (reference)
- Punch, Corpse Reviver Variations, 2017 (reference)
Strength. About 1.28 US standard drinks at an estimated 20.4% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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