Empress Gin Corpse Reviver Cocktail Recipe

If you love classic cocktails and vibrant colors, you might enjoy the Empress Gin Corpse Reviver.

This recipe mixes the famous Corpse Reviver—a drink with roots in Prohibition meant to cure hangovers—with the striking color of Empress Gin.

The result is a refreshing twist on a classic drink that’s easy to make at home.

I love how Empress Gin changes the traditional cocktail into something eye-catching and unique.

Making your own Empress Gin Corpse Reviver is simple, and it only takes a few easy-to-find ingredients.

With just a few tools and a little time, you’ll have an impressive drink that works for parties or a quiet evening at home.

Empress Gin Corpse Reviver Cocktail Recipe

This Empress Gin Corpse Reviver is a twist on the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2.

The purple color from Empress Gin really stands out, and the fresh lemon juice pairs beautifully with the other ingredients.

Equipment

• Shaker: I use a good-quality cocktail shaker to mix and chill the drink.
• Jigger: For accurate measuring, I always grab my jigger.
• Juicer: Fresh lemon juice just tastes brighter, so I use a small handheld juicer.
• Cocktail Glass or Martini Glass: I chill my glass before pouring so the cocktail stays cold.
• Bar Spoon: Handy for stirring if needed and for adding an absinthe rinse to the glass.
• Strainer: Useful for keeping out ice when I pour the drink into the glass.

Having these tools ready before I start makes things smooth.

Each one helps with a specific step, making sure the cocktail comes out right.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Empress Gin: Its color and botanicals give a unique spin to this traditional cocktail.
• 1 oz Lillet Blanc: I use this for a hint of sweetness and floral taste.
• 1 oz Cointreau or orange liqueur: Adds orange flavor that works well with lemon and gin.
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice: I always squeeze this right before mixing for the freshest taste.
• Absinthe rinse (a few drops): I swirl just a tiny bit in the glass for aroma.
• Garnish: I usually use a lemon twist, but an orange twist or cherries also work.

Everything should be measured with care.

A balance of ingredients matters because too much or too little of one can throw things off.

Instructions

• Add Empress Gin, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice to the cocktail shaker.
• Fill the shaker with ice and shake well, about 20 seconds, so the drink gets cold and mixed.
• Rinse your chilled cocktail glass or martini glass with a small amount of absinthe and pour out the excess.
• Strain the mixture from the shaker into the absinthe-rinsed glass.
• Garnish with a lemon twist, orange twist, or a cherry before serving.

I always use fresh lemon juice, never bottled—makes a world of difference.

The shaking step chills the cocktail fast and mixes everything together.

Don’t go overboard with the absinthe; a few drops are plenty.

Notes

I like to use Empress Gin because its botanicals and natural color look beautiful in a Corpse Reviver No. 2.

If I can’t find Lillet Blanc, sometimes I swap in another aromatized wine, but the flavor might be slightly different.

For garnish, a lemon twist is traditional, but an orange twist gives a sweeter aroma.

Cherries make it fun if serving to friends.

The classic recipe calls for equal parts of each main ingredient; I stick to this ratio for the right balance.

I keep my glass chilled in the freezer for five minutes before making the drink.

Fresh juice is key.

Old lemon juice or bottled stuff makes the cocktail taste flat.

I avoid adding more sugar or syrup, as the orange liqueur and Lillet already sweeten the drink.

Tasting Notes

When I take a sip of the Empress Gin Corpse Reviver, I notice the fresh taste of citrus right away.

The lemon juice and orange liqueur bring a sharp, lively kick that wakes up my taste buds.

I love the herbal complexity from the Empress Gin.

The gin adds notes of juniper and gentle botanicals that blend well with the citrus.

Each ingredient comes through, but nothing overpowers the other.

The ABV (alcohol by volume) is moderate, so it’s refreshing and not too strong.

It’s easy to drink, but still feels like a classic cocktail.

I always think of the drink’s roots in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock.

The Empress Gin twist gives the original a beautiful color and a unique flavor that’s both classic and modern.

In every glass, I taste a mix of bright citrus, smooth herbal notes, and a clean finish.

Substitute

Sometimes, I just have to swap out ingredients when my kitchen’s missing something. For the Empress Gin Corpse Reviver, there are a few safe substitutes that keep the drink balanced and, honestly, still pretty tasty.

Absinthe Substitutes:

• Pernod
• Pastis
• Herbsaint

If absinthe feels too strong or just isn’t around, I’ll use a splash of pastis or Pernod. Both bring that anise flavor you want.

Triple Sec Alternatives:

• Cointreau
• Grand Marnier
• Curacao

Any orange liqueur works, but Cointreau is probably the closest match to triple sec. Grand Marnier’s a bit richer, but hey—sometimes that’s nice.

Aromatized Wine Options:
Cocchi Americano, Kina Lillet, and other aperitifs play a key role in this cocktail.

If I’m out of Cocchi Americano, Lillet Blanc usually does the trick. Want more bitterness? I might splash in a quinine-based aperitif or even a little tonic—just to see what happens.

Fortified Wine Substitutes:

• Dry vermouth
• White port

When a recipe calls for fortified wine with botanicals, dry vermouth or white port can fill in pretty well. Not always perfect, but close enough.

Instructions for Substitution:

• Check the flavor profile of what you’re replacing.
• Pick something that matches as closely as possible—like, orange liqueur for triple sec.
• Adjust the amount if your substitute is stronger or weaker.
• Taste as you go and tweak it. No shame in a little trial and error.