Corpse Reviver No 1
Cognac, calvados and sweet vermouth, stirred. The Savoy's morning restorative — 'to be taken before 11 a.m., or whenever steam and energy are needed' — and the stirred, brown sibling of the famous No. 2.
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.
Chill a coupe.
Add the cognac, calvados and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 25 to 30 seconds.
Strain into the chilled coupe, express an orange peel over the top and drop it in.
A thoughtful finish
- The Savoy's proportions are two parts cognac to one each of calvados and vermouth, which is this recipe. Equal parts makes a softer drink.
- Applejack in place of calvados makes it rougher and more American; both are correct.
- A dash of Angostura is not in the original and does no harm.
Common mistakes
- Dry vermouth, which makes it thin.
- Confusing it with the No. 2 and adding lemon; it is a stirred, spirit-forward drink.
- Drinking it before 11 a.m. without a reason.
A few good questions.
What is the difference between Corpse Reviver No. 1 and No. 2?
Everything but the name. No. 1 is cognac, apple brandy and sweet vermouth, stirred; No. 2 is gin, Lillet, orange liqueur and lemon with absinthe, shaken.
Is it really a hangover cure?
It is a strong brandy cocktail. Craddock's note is a joke with a kernel of 1930s practice; it will not cure anything.
What does it taste like?
A brandy Manhattan with apple — rich, fruity, spirit-forward, with the vermouth's sweetness and herbs.
Calvados or applejack?
Calvados is the Savoy's 'apple brandy' and is softer; applejack is sharper. Use what you have.
Variations
- Corpse Reviver No. 2 — Gin, Lillet, orange liqueur, lemon and absinthe.
- Manhattan — Rye and sweet vermouth.
- Widow's Kiss — Calvados, Bénédictine and Chartreuse.
- Vieux Carré — Rye, cognac, vermouth and Bénédictine.
Where it comes from
c. 1930 · London · Savoy Hotel
Harry Craddock printed two Corpse Revivers in the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930. The No. 2 — gin, Lillet, orange liqueur, lemon and absinthe — became famous; the No. 1, brandy with apple brandy and sweet vermouth, stayed in the book. Craddock’s note is the best-remembered thing about it: ‘To be taken before 11 a.m., or whenever steam and energy are needed.’ Corpse Revivers were a family of hangover cures from the 1870s onward, and this one is the most honest of them — a strong brandy Manhattan with the apple brandy adding fruit. It is a better drink than its reputation as a curiosity suggests.
Sources
- Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930 (book)
- David Wondrich, Imbibe!, 2015 (book)
- Ted Haigh, Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, 2009 (book)
Strength. About 1.7 US standard drinks at an estimated 28.3% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
A keeper?
Save this drink for your next cocktail hour.
Saved in this browser.The next great drink
might already be on your shelf.
Choose your bottles and mixers. Discover what you can make.