Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor

I admit I’m irreverent at times. Not unfaithful, but irreverent. And because I’m irreverent, my delicious and theologically accurate cocktail every Easter Sunday since Easter 2020 is … a Corpse Reviver.

The Corpse Reviver cocktail is more of an idea than a specific recipe. The idea is “hair of the dog”—a morning beverage to ease the pain after a night of overindulgence. The moniker “Corpse Reviver” originated during the 1850s or 1860s in England, where it was believed to be an American drink—until English people came to America and asked for one, only to have bartenders look mystified and ask, “What’s that?” The name caught on over here as well.

For more about the Corpse Reviver’s history, see this article on the Difford’s Guide website or this one on Chilled Magazine’s website. (With apologies to its fans, the Bloody Mary is not admitted to Corpse Reviver status… .)

We don’t know precisely how many Corpse Reviver recipes have been published during the subsequent 160 years—I’ve seen at least eight—but the legendary Harry Craddock included two in his 1930 recipe manual, The Savoy Cocktail Book. While other recipes still appear now and then, those two are the gold standard. They go by the artful names Craddock assigned them in his book: Corpse Reviver No. 1 and Corpse Reviver No. 2. Here are their recipes:

CORPSE REVIVER NO. 1
2 parts Cognac
1 part Calvados or American applejack
1 part Italian vermouth

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

CORPSE REVIVER NO. 2
Equal parts (3/4 or 1 oz) of:
Gin of choice
Yellow Chartreuse or Génépy le Chamois
Cocchi Americano aperitif
Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Absinthe: Add a dash to the shaker, or coat a chilled coupe and discard the excess.

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain them into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

The No. 1 recipe is boozier than the citrusy and more refreshing No. 2. Whichever recipe you choose, remember Craddock’s warning in his book: “Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.”

About our Cocktail of the Week partners—shop local and independent!
Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.