Down the Hatch: “I’m Really Loving This Cocktail,” Writes Mixologist Rick Turner
WAKE UP…and drink?
For some of you, this may not seem like an odd statement (just for the record, you are my kind of people), but to others, this is violating the social taboo of drinking before noon.
Don’t worry; our forefathers have us covered on this one. See, the “cocktail” itself was designed to be a morning elixir for headaches and stomach ailments–the same ones you and I call hangovers.
The late 19th century saw the birth a lineage of cocktails known simply as “Corpse Revivers,” drinks designed specifically to be consumed before noon –or anytime you needed a little pick-me-up. There are many versions of the Corpse Reviver in classic cocktail history, but only one has truly held its own through time: the Corpse Reviver #2.
I am really loving this cocktail lately, and before you run down to the nearest watering hole and order one, be aware of a couple of the key ingredients (and a law or two) that may elude you in your quest for morning vigor.
First, check to see if the bar stocks a refrigerated bottle of Lillet Blanc. Since the release of the Bond film Casino Royal, every good bar has a bottle of Lillet Blanc. After all, Lillet Blanc is one of the keys to his beloved Vesper (the cocktail, not the girl; she dies. remember?). Second, the bar must stock a bottle of absinthe or Pernod. If they don’t, it’s not a deal breaker, but absinthe and Pernod do add another level of complexity to the cocktail.
Corpse Reviver #2
¾ oz gin
¾ oz Cointreau
¾ oz Lillet Blanc
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
2-3 drop of absinthe, Pernod or Herbsaint
Place all of the components into a mixing tin, shake, then strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry and enjoy! Trust me– you will enjoy this one.
And remember that balance is extremely important here. Measure the ingredients because the result is worth the extra care.
Rick Turner is a Certified Specialist in Spirits (Society of Wine Educators) and a Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers). He writes about cocktails for EscapeHatchDallas. In his spare time, Turner is the general manager of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas.