We’ve all been there. Hangovers so mighty they could fell a lumberjack. Your head pounds louder than the last night at Fabric, your stomach threatens to unleash a river of kebab meat, your pores weep pure vodka tears. Conventional wisdom tells us that a walk in the fresh air, a boost of electrolytes and a healthy dose of vitamins will help mend our broken bodies. And yet we still prefer to opt for the far less effective but infinitely more enjoyable fry-up-and-a-snooze method. The only real cure, however – short of hooking yourself up to an IV for a few hours – is the much-debated hair of the dog. Socially acceptable when it’s a Bloody Mary at brunch, not so much when you’re necking dregs of lager from the cans littering your bedroom floor. But so effective is this method of world-righting that an entire genre of cocktails have been historically dedicated to it. Enter the corpse revivers, so named for their power to wake the dead. In the late 1800s, the term corpse reviver referred simply to a ‘dram of spirits’, and encompassed a wide array of tipples. The first appears in 1871, in E Ricket and C Thomas’ The Gentleman’s Table Guide. It’s a potent blend of brandy, Maraschino and bitters, but it isn’t until 1930 that the cocktail appears as we know it today. “The gin-based corpse reviver was first listed in one of London’s most prestigious bars, The American Bar at the Savoy,” says Anshuman Vohra, CEO and Founder of Bulldog Gin. “Corpse Revivers #1 and #2 appeared in their Cocktail Handbook, written by American bartender Harry Craddock in 1930.” Craddock’s original recipe featured much the same ingredients you’ll find today: dry gin, botanical absinthe, zingy fresh lemon juice, citrus-soaked Cointreau and French aperitif Lillet, blended to enlivening effect. Here Vohra uses Lillet Blanc instead of the original Kina Lillet, preferring the sweet, crisp citrus notes it brings to the drink. The bitter orange flavour in the Cointreau balances these citrus notes, while adding a beautiful bouquet of sweet undertones. Beneath these delicate layers lies the deep, strong aniseed profile of the absinthe, and the spicy tones of Bulldog gin. Not for the faint of heart, needless to say. “The mouthfeel is sharp and punchy,” says Vohra, “but the while the cocktail is assertive, it’s also deliciously moreish.” So much so that you might need another tomorrow morning.
Hair Of The Bulldog Corpse Reviver #2 (Serves 2)
Ingredients
60ml Bulldog gin 60ml Lillet Blanc 60ml Cointreau 3-4 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 dash absinthe
To Serve
Chilled Martini glass Twist of lemon Cubed ice
Shopping List
“Traditional gins promote a strong juniper flavour, however Bulldog was developed with a base of citrus, a mid-palate layer of warm spicy tones and finishes with a subtle floral note. It’s an ideal gin to pair with any citrus based cocktail. Also, La Fée Absinthe is a personal favourite.”
Instructions
- Add the gin, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau, lemon juice and absinthe to a cocktail shaker and shake well until completely combined.
- Add the cubed ice to the shaker and shake again.
- Using both hands, strain the drink through a Hawthorne strainer (held flush with the opening of the shaker) and a small fine sieve positioned over your glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.
From Delicious To Stratospheric
“The corpse reviver is extremely versatile. If you add some summer fruits or a touch of pumpkin syrup to the recipe, you will have created your very own twist.”
