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).

Thujone is widely known for being a chemical contained in absinthe and responsible for the so-called ‘secondary effects’ which include, but are not limited to, irregular eyesight sensitivity to colors and light, a feeling of sober inebriation, euphoria, hallucinations, and even epileptic attacks. Since the mysterious impact produced by the ‘Green Fairy’ has played its part of a magnet attracting curious minds, absinthe manufacturers claimed their liquor contain unbelievable amounts of Thujone – 260-350 mg/L.

However, modern research shows that pure Thujone oil derived from the herb called Artemisia Absinthium, which is an indispensable absinthe ingredient, constitutes approximately 40-60% of wormwood oil contained in the spirit. Scientific tests demonstrate that Thujone content in absinthe is around 1.8-4 mg/L, while the chemical can pose a real threat to a person’s life only if taken in great amounts.