AWARD winning public relations and marketing consultancy Karol Marketing has been appointed to handle the trade and consumer launch of a new bottled, blended spirit, called Green Fairy.

The drink targeted at 18-35-year-olds is the first of its kind to use absinthe - an hallucinogenic spirit reputed to have been the favorite drink of Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemmingway.

In Green Fairy, absinthe is mixed with pure fruit juices to create a drink with a 5.4 per cent alcohol content.

The consumer launch campaign is being rolled out in major cities around the UK and has already proved a tremendous success, resulting in a 100 per cent increase in sales and securing new distribution channels.

A team of naked body-painted green fairies has been visiting pubs and clubs, with free samples of the drink.

The green fairies have already made an appearance in Newcastle.

Managing director of Karol Marketing, Stefan Lepkowski, said: "The name 'Green Fairy' gave us a lot to conjure with in terms of launch events.

"The naked green fairies are receiving a fantastic response from clubbers and pub-goers."

Green fairy is manufactured and bottled by Lanchester Wine Cellars in County Durham.