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Cocktail History
The Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as a Halloween-inspired variation of the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2. It’s essentially the same recipe made with gin, citrus, Lillet Blanc, and absinthe, but it calls for Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 Gin to give it a unique purple color thanks to its special ingredient—butterfly pea blossom.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Butterfly Pea Blossom Gin: This is a purple gin made with butterfly pea blossom, We used Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 Gin because it has a light and refreshing juniper flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin and TIAN HU SHAN Butterfly Pea Blossom Tea in place of the gin.
Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, and alcohol. We used Cointreau because it’s one of the highest quality orange liqueurs on the market. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Orange Sec Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the orange 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.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange 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.
Atomizer: This is use to rinse the glass with an ingredient. We used the True Martini Atomizer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
The Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a light and airy cocktail that begins with aromas of absinthe citrus and features the botanical taste of the gin followed by sourness from the citrus and Lillet Blanc’s herbaceous flavor on the swallow.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both thought this recipe was as easy on the palate as it is the eyes, and that’s saying something because Kendall doesn’t usually care for absinthe at all. Definitely give the Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2 a try with the Empress 1908 Gin if you have some on the shelf, but be careful because, as Harry Craddock once said, “Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.”
Recipe
Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2
The Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as a Halloween-inspired variation of the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2. It’s essentially the same recipe made with gin, citrus, Lillet Blanc, and absinthe, but it calls for Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 Gin to give it a unique purple color thanks to its special ingredient—butterfly pea blossom.
Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, triple sec, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Spray glass with absinthe.
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Garnish with orange twist.
