In 1910 in the USA, like in many other countries, absinthe was banned for the believed health dangers. It was stated that thujone (a substance contained in Artemisia Absinthium or wormwood – the main ingredient in the absinthe production) causes serious mental disorders and poses a formidable threat to the nation’s health. The liquor was even proclaimed ‘one of the worst enemies of man’. Thus, the ‘Green Fairy’ became an outcast at American parties.

And Wow! At the end of 2007, almost after ten years of prohibition, absinthe was back to the American liquor market. The pioneer wormwood liquor brand is ‘Lucid’, which is imported directly from France by the New York-based company ‘Viridian Spirits’. The importer claims it to be the same old-time absinthe, drunk by Vincent Van Gogh and Oscar Wilde, produced from wormwood, anise and fennel according to the early recipes.

However, one should be wondering: How come exactly the same once banned alcoholic drink becomes legal again? That is a fair question. Ladies and gentlemen, the gist of the story of absinthe prohibition is in thujone – the chemical contained in the liquor and responsible for the negative side effects of absinthe consumption.

It is not a secret that ‘Green Fairy’ is another very well-spread and frequently used name for the absinthe liquor. When hearing those two words many imagine an attractive girl in a stylized green outfit with beautiful airy wings or a mystery half-transparent ghost haunting behind a confirmed absinthe drinker’s back or rather a bottle of the liquor itself. However, did you know, that the same name also stands for an absinthe cocktail?

This very article is dedicated to the ‘Green Fairy Cocktail’ preparation instructions, and the information provided in it will enrich your absinthe drinks recipe potential as well as vary your drinking-party life.

The needed ingredients are the following:

• absinthe (2 ounces),
• GET 27 liquor (1 ounce),
• lemon juice (1 splash),
• sugar (0.5 teaspoon - optional),
• ice cubes (5 to 7 pieces),
• lemon slice or lemon peel.

When asked what my favorite absinthe cocktail is, I always say: “Absinthe Minded”. However, it happened to me not even once that people got really puzzled after they had heard my reply, especially those who are not great absinthe drinkers, because my European accent disguises the first word a bit, so they naturally hear ‘absent minded’ and think I am a weirdo :)

It is a genuinely delicious drink good either for a noisy party with lots of friends or a calm evening in complete solitude. One enjoys it at whatever time of the day and in whatever mood or weather.

Thus, in order to prepare the famous Martini cocktail ‘Absinthe Minded’ you need the following ingredients:

• Grand Marnier (0.5 ounce),
• gin (3 ounces),
• dry vermouth (0.5 ounce),
• absinthe (0.5 ounce),
• orange peel,
• ice cubes (3-5 cubes),
• onion-stuffed olive (1-2 pieces).

In the beginning of the 20th century France was overwhelmed by the fashion for the so-called ‘American-style’ cocktails. Therefore Europeans not only consumed the already existing shakes, but also invented those of their own. This one is a classic example of the early ‘American-style’ European cocktails.

Absinthe amateurs claim the ‘Green Fairy’ and vermouth blend perfectly due to the fact that they are both produced from the same herb – wormwood (or Artemisia Absinthium in Latin). However, one shouldn’t expect to experience the same ‘buzz’ from drinking dry vermouth, because the two alcoholic beverages are made not exactly from the same material. Absinthe is produced from the whole wormwood plant plus some other herbs, and vermouth – only from the wormwood flowers. Moreover, it contains less Thujone than the ‘Green Muse’, which explains the difference in the effect both create.

Alright, that is enough of the theory; let’s get down to the practice. In order to prepare the cocktail, one needs:

• gin (two ounces),
• dry vermouth (half ounce),
• absinthe (one splash),
• ice (three to five cubes).

To those who are fond of Ernest Hemingway’s writings know “Death in the afternoon” as a classic work on the art of bullfighting. However, absinthe drinkers, even if ignorant of Hemingway’s literary heritage, will definitely recognize it as the name of the cocktail he contributed to the 1935 collection of celebrity recipes, called “So red the nose, or breath in the afternoon”.

The genius mixture of the ingredients and the effect the drink produces won it great popularity. Today is the day you gonna learn how to prepare it and enjoy the same cocktail the renowned Ernest Hemingway loved so much.

What you need is as follows:

• absinthe (1 ounce),
• ice-cold champagne (5 ounce).