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Cocktail History
The Corpse Reviver No. Blue is a modern cocktail that was created in 2007 by Jacob Briars, a bartender and brand ambassador at Bacardi. It’s made using the same equal-part ingredients as the Corpse Reviver No. 2, including gin, Lillet Blanc, lemon, and absinthe. But this version swaps out the orange curaçao for its bright blue sibling to add a fun color to an otherwise simple cocktail.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Bombay Sapphire Gin because it has a crisp and clean botanical flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.
Blue Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with oranges, sugar, spices, blue food coloring, and alcohol. We used Bols Blue Curaçao. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Blue Curaçao Syrup in place of the blue curaçao liqueur.
Lillet Blanc: This is an aromatized wine liqueur made in France with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes, citrus, florals, honey, baking spices, and water. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Apéritif Dry in place of the wine liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Absinthe: This is a spirit made with anise, wormwood, fennel, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Great Lakes Distillery Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte because it’s flavorful and made locally to us. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Absinthe in place of the absinthe.
Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tasting Notes
The Corpse Reviver No. Blue has sharp aromas of anise and zesty lemon followed by an unmistakably balanced flavor that marries lemon, semi-sweet herbal vermouth, gin, and orange.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: If you like the original Corpse Reviver, then you’re sure to like this one since it’s pretty much the same drink. And this even carries the added benefit of making your Halloween party guests’ eyes pop at its gorgeous color.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Yep, it’s a Corpse Reviver No. 2, except it’s blue. It’s tasty and simple, and that’s all I have to say about it. Happy Halloween!”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“It’s been quite some time since I’ve had a Corpse Reviver, but I have vague memories of not loving it all that much because it had an absinthe rinse. My palate has apparently developed a bit because I didn’t mind it this time around. I probably still wouldn’t make it again, but this blue-hued version is quite lovely and fun for this time of year. Plus, it’s literally just a Corpse Reviver No. 2 made with blue liqueur, so you can trust that it’s similar in taste to the original.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Liquor.com, an online beverage publication.
Add gin, blue curaçao, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
Ingredients
Directions
Add gin, blue curaçao, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.
Make It a Mocktail: Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin, Monin Premium Blue Curaçao Syrup in place of the blue curaçao liqueur, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Apéritif Dry in place of the wine liqueur, and Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Absinthe in place of the absinthe to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Halloween Cocktails
If you like this Halloween-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Witch’s Brew Lemonade: A gin cocktail made with lemonade, blue curaçao, lemon juice, and a rosemary sprig
Poison Apple: A rye whiskey cocktail made with cinnamon syrup, cranberry juice, apple cider, lemon juice, and apple slices
Vampire’s Kiss: A lemon vodka cocktail made with raspberry liqueur, cranberry liqueur, lemon juice, grenadine, cherry, clove, and cinnamon bitters, and red food coloring
Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2: A gin cocktail made with triple sec, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, absinthe, and an orange twist
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