Reviving a Corpse at Seven Saints
In the evening, after the lights dim at Seven Saints in Champaign, the occasional flare emanates from the behind the dark bar as one of the bartenders lights up. Not for a smoke, but to apply a burst of heat to an ingredient and release extra flavor into a drink. Sometimes they light an spray of absinthe in a cocktail glass, other times, a twist of citrus to liberate potent oils from the fruit, and occasionally, a cube of sugar.
The first, a spray of absinthe, belongs in my favorite drink: the Corpse Reviver #2. Bartenders at Seven Saints introduced me to this drink and several other classic cocktails, which are a forte of the staff along with their expertise in distilled spirits.
The bright, citrusy Corpse Reviver #2 originated as a morning cocktail used to lessen the effects of a hangover, like the Bloody Mary. The drink hails from the 1930s when drinking alcohol in the morning (at least after Prohibition) was more acceptable. In this century, it's probably wiser to revive yourself with this drink after a long day of work, not before. So during your next happy hour, take a seat amidst the stately decor at Seven Saints and order a Corpse Reviver #2.
From the first sip, each ingredient's contribution is evident: Sweet notes from the Lillet Blanc and triple sec, sour from the lemon, and savory elements from the gin and absinthe. I call my gin in this drink and use North Shore Distiller's Gin No. 11, because of the classic juniper flavors it contains. Mixologists also recommend other London dry gins like Beefeaters.
While you savor your cocktail, take a look around at the furnishings, reclaimed and repurposed from a Lutheran church, a bank, a chocolate roastery, and as lore has it, a pre-Katrina New Orleans bar. Seven Saints serves a carefully crafted cocktail made with by-the-book proportions and is not known for a heavy, free pour. When you leave, you know you've tasted the real Negroni, Manhattan, or Corpse Reviver #2 that you can get again and again with the same balanced flavors. And if you're there when things aren't too busy, catch one of the well-versed bartenders, or the manager, Andy Borbely, to answer your questions about spirits.
Seven Saints is located at 32 E. Chester St. in Champaign.
Hours: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily
To recreate the Corpse Reviver #2 at home:
Corpse Reviver #2
- 3/4 oz. gin
- 3/4 oz. triple sec
- 3/4 oz. Lillet Blanc
- 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
- a dash of absinthe to taste
Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Seven Saints drops a maraschino cherry in the bottom, a welcome addition to the drink, and using the juice from Meyer lemons softens the sour flavor somewhat. Although the bartenders light the absinthe spray with a flame as it enters the glass, I can't recommend this as an at-home practice. However, rinsing the glass with absinthe provides just the right amount of the anise flavor needed to complement the other ingredients.
Thirsty Around Town explores alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages found in different venues around the Champaign-Urbana area. If you have a favorite obscure drink, email me. I want to try it!
4 comments
B
Here’s a video of Andy Borbely making a couple other drinks: http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=174905
It’s the age old dilemma: Do we drink our booze, or ignite it?
Love the Corpse Reviver, and I tend to get it every other time I’m there. I’ve noticed, though, that every other time= they make it at my table, and I enjoy it a lot more. When it’s brought to me, sans flame (because I’m assuming it’s happened at the bar), it’s much less tasty… but perhaps that’s all in my head from enjoying the fire show when they do it that way :p
Anything that can be set on fire and then consumed is okay in my book. I’ll have to check it out.
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The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
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Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
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What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
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And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.
Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
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