Drinklage #2: Corpse Reviver #2

 So, after a long Saturday night of living it up, that Sunday feeling has come on over you and you feel like having one of those good-old "hair of the dog" cocktails to edge yourself off back into normality.  But that old mainstay of the Bloody Mary just loses its charm, and besides you want something a bit more refreshing, seeing as how we're in the middle of summer and all.  But don't fret!  I've got just the suggestion:  the aptly-named Corpse Reviver #2!

The ingredients you'll need:

1oz each:

• Gin:  Any London Dry should do; Tanqueray goes great in almost anything, but there are so many different styles that it's really up to you.  If you want slightly more Gin presence, Van Gogh recently started making a Gin that's phenomenal; though not a London Dry, I'd imagine it'd be excellent in this too.

• Lillet:  This one might be hard to find... in a pinch, dry Vermouth works just fine though.

• Orange Liqueur:  Though the original recipe calls for Cointreau, I've found that Grand Marnier works just as well, and adds a certain "something" to the finish.  You could also use a Triple-Sec, but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD get a good one like Stirrings for this cocktail.  None of that overly syrupy,  phony Triple-Sec which sort of tastes like liquid version of those orange slice candies we all grew up with (now, those candies are delicious, don't get me wrong... their excessive sweetness just has no place in a drink), which we usually think of when the term comes up.  Just no.

• lemon juice  (FRESH!  We're trying to reduce the hangover, not make it worse!)

Also, we'll a dash of:

•  Absinthe:  Yes, but it's only a small amount, and totally works in this recipe.  Due to its price, you could substitute for a Pastis (which is the same thing, just with no wormwood).

 The process:

 Juice the lemon; I don't know why juicers seem to be so hard to find nowadays, as they're so useful... a cheap one like the one I'm using here is the best kind.  Works with any citrus, as it isn't sized for each specific fruit like those fancy nutcracker-looking ones most places try to sell lately.

Toss some ice into your shaker cup.

Don't bother with using crushed ice, it'll be broken up as you shake.  Also we'll be straining out the ice anyway.

Extract juicy goodness.

 Take note!

Before you start running all willy-nilly and getting ahead of me, the Absinthe isn't tossed in with the rest of the cocktail ingredients.  Just pour a tiny bit into the bottom of the glass, and then...

The right amount of Absinthe for a "rinse," about a thimble's-worth.

... Swirl it around to coat the inner walls of the glass.  Once done with this step, don't discard the excess.

Pour all of your other ingredients together (remember, 1oz of each!).

Shake it up!  And don't forget to smile for the cameraperson, it's just good manners.

Run it through a cocktail strainer to keep out any any ice chunks or errant lemon particles.

Aaand... success!

 The Corpse Reviver #2 is a deliciously refreshing beverage, fairly tart and did I mention it has an awesome name?  Also, despite the drink's original intent as a hangover remedy, it has enough "oomph" to not get you looked at weird if you were to order one in the evening, as the Bloody Mary sometimes would.

Slàinte!