Happy Halloween month! The Mad Farmer and Miss Mercy had a crazy amount of technical difficulties on our FB live and so there was a little lag on the video and this one was from the camera. We will continue to work on the AV issues and hopefully, as we go forward, move to a different platform that is more stable.
On to our cocktail, the Corpse Reviver #1! This cocktail has a spirited history – see what I did there – and has been around since the late 1800s! It was a diverse group of mixed drinks that were used as “hair of the dog” remedies. Miss Mercy found on books.google.com a copy of The Gentleman’s Table Guide by E. Ricket and C. Thomas from 1871. Pg. 45 offers recipe No. 92 and says: Use a wineglass 1/2 of brandy, 1/2 of Maraschino and 2 dashes of Boker’s bitters. In the late 19th century and early 20th century being in need of a Corpse Reviver was an indicator that a person had had a night out on the town the night before.
VintageAmericanCocktails.com gives a great history of the drink and Harry Craddock, the bartender credited with putting the drink in The Savoy Cocktail Book. The recipe listed in the article is from the 1934 version of the book. We used the recipe from Liquor.com more closely resembles the recipe the 1930 version of the book.
Corpse Reviver #1 from the 1930s Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock
1/4 Italian Vermouth
1/4 Apple Brandy or Valvado
1/2 Brandy
Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. To be taken before 11 a.m., or whenever steam and energy are needed and the recipe is:
Corpse Reviver #2 from the 1930s Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock
1/4 wineglass lemon juice
1/4 wineglass Kina lillet
1/4 wineglass Cointreau
1/4 wineglass Dry Gin
1 dash of Absinthe
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again.
Corpse Reviver #1 – Here is the recipe we used from Liquor.com:
1 oz Cognac – we used Meukow
1 oz Calvados – we used Calvados Selection
1/2 oz of Sweet Vermouth – we used Martini and Rossi
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and add ice. Stir and strain into a cocktail glass.
Miss Mercy also mentioned a bonus Halloween themed cocktail during our video and it’s a Skeleton Key – this was a tasty follow up! Here is the recipe we used.
Skeleton Key – our recipe is from The Spruce Eats
1 1/4 oz bourbon whiskey
3/4 oz elderberry liquor
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 to 5 oz of ginger beer
8 dashes of bitters
Build bourbon, elderflower liquor and lemon juice in a collins glass with ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with bitters.
Happy Halloween to everyone!