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.

The original name of the drink is ‘Tremblement de Terre’ which in French means ‘Earthquake’. It was invented by a renowned painter and a passionate absinthe drinker Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and, as many say, was probably drunk by him only.

It is an extremely strong drink, since the only two ingredients are:

• absinthe (half),
• cognac (half).

Is not it a promising name for a cocktail, containing absinthe? Indeed, it is. Though the ‘Bloody Brain’ thing stands solely for the outstanding look the drink has. Many believe it to be an awesome way to serve absinthe shots and I personally share this opinion.

To tell the truth, the preparation of the cocktail requires a great deal of patience and neatness, since it is not one of those mix-everything-together things so fast and easy, giving job to your cocktail shaker only. Nevertheless, take your time to do everything right and you will not regret the award in the form of a perfect look and taste of your absinthe shot.

Now go search your home bar, for we need the following ingredients in order to make the ‘Bloody Brain’:

• absinthe (1 ounce),
• amaretto (half ounce),
• Bailey’s or other Irish cream liquor (half ounce),
• grenadine (couple drops).

Do you have any idea what instigated the absinthe prohibition in the United States? The answer is ‘Absinthe Frappé’ – one of the most popular American absinthe cocktails. In 1904 the famous Victor Herbert wrote the Broadway operetta “It happened in Nordland”, which contained a song about absinthe as well as called in the honor of it, written by Glenn MacDonough. The song became scandalously popular, and was played in almost every absinthe bar all over the country. Thus, it speeded up the introduction of the absinthe ban in the US on July 25, 1912.

Before starting the preparation of the renowned cocktail, make sure you have got at your disposal the following:

• absinthe (2 ounces),
• anisette (one splash),
• mineral water (2 ounces),
• simple sugar syrup (1 table spoon),
• crashed ice (full cocktail glass).

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).