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Necromancer

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Liquor.com
Liquor.com

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Updated 03/27/22
yellow-hued Necromancer cocktail in a coupe glass with a lemon twist garnish on the rim
Image:

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

The Necromancer is a not a dark wizard who communes with the dead—not in this case, at least. Instead, it’s a cocktail from New York drinks pro Mayur Subbarao that riffs on the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2. The original drink combines equal parts gin, lemon juice, orange liqueur and Lillet blanc with a dash of absinthe, while the Necromancer leans more heavily on the absinthe, dials back the gin and swaps elderflower liqueur for orange liqueur.

The resulting cocktail is herbal, floral and aromatic, with a full three-quarters of an ounce of absinthe. The elderflower liqueur brings floral sweetness, while the Lillet blanc, a French wine-based aperitif, lends body alongside notes of citrus and honey. Fresh lemon juice provides balance and keeps the strong flavors in check.

Corpse Revivers are a family of drinks dating back to at least the 1870s that were meant to wake one from the dead. In other words, they were consumed to combat hangovers and put some pep in your step at the start of a new day. The Necromancer falls in line. It’s herbal, tart and refreshing, so if coffee isn’t getting the job done, try starting your morning with one of these.

Subbarao likes to use Tennyson and Pür Likör Blossom for the absinthe and elderflower liqueur, respectively, but feel free to use whichever brands you like best and can find locally.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 ounce absinthe (such as Tennyson)

  • 3/4 ounce elderflower liqueur (such as Pür Likör Blossom)

  • 3/4 ounce Lillet blanc

  • 1 dash London dry gin

  • 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed

  • Garnish: lemon twist

Steps

  1. Add the absinthe, elderflower liqueur, Lillet blanc, dry gin and lemon juice to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

  2. Strain into a coupe glass.

  3. Garnish with a lemon twist.