The Green Fairy is a sour cocktail with a storied past, featuring absinthe, lemon juice, rich simple syrup, and an egg white combined in a refreshing concoction. The credit for this gift to the cocktail world goes to a bartender named Dick Bradsell who crafted this drink during the 1990s in London, England.

Bradsell, known for the invention of signature cocktails like the Espresso Martini and Bramble, left an enduring legacy in the cocktail universe. His lengthy career spanned multiple high-profile bars in London throughout the '80s and '90s, including Pharmacy, Quo Vadis, and the Atlantic Bar and Grill. However, his most celebrated creation, originally titled Vodka Espresso, emerged during his tenure at the Soho Brasserie. Despite Bradsell's passing in 2016, his influence continues to inspire present-day bartenders, who incorporate his creative spirit into their own drink creations, which includes the intriguing Green Fairy.

The name of Green Fairy springs from its key ingredient, absinthe, fondly referred to as 'la fée vert' or 'the green fairy' by enthusiasts in the 19th century. Patterned around the 'golden ratio' template of cocktails, the Green Fairy adopts a two parts base spirit, one part sweet and one part sour composition. The zesty punch of freshly squeezed lemon juice, an integral aspect of any sour cocktail, classifies this drink with the likes of Margarita, Sidecar, and Mojito.

The Green Fairy caters to those with a passion for absinthe, an overproof spirit that carries a dominant bitter anise flavor. Though it's been rumored to cause hallucinations (it doesn't, by the way), absinthe does contain wormwood, an ingredient that harbors a chemical known as thujone. Consumed in large quantities, thujone can act as a convulsant; fortunately, there's no need for concern about this when mixing up this cocktail.

To bring the high alcohol level of this cocktail down a notch, chilled water is added. A dash of rich simple syrup is also included, imparting the sweetness necessary for a balanced sip. employs a first dry shake without ice to guarantee a perfect frothy head in the cocktail.

The key is to add the core recipe of 1 ounce absinthe, 1 ounce lemon juice, 3/4 ounce simple syrup and 1 egg white to a shaker, to be dry shaken for 15–20 seconds without ice. Once this is done, add ice and give the mixture another 10–15 seconds shake for the ideal chill. Following this, strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass and finish off with elegant garnish of a lemon twist. Thus, the captivating Green Fairy cocktail is ready to serve.