Last Word co*cktail Recipe (2024)

HOME co*cktail Recipes Gin

By Shawn Williams

5 from 1 vote

Sep 29, 2018, Updated Aug 22, 2023

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The Last Word is one of my all-time favorite Prohibition-era co*cktails. This classic elixir combines an intriguing blend of spirits, fresh citrus, and herbal liqueurs to create a delicate union of unique flavors.

Last Word co*cktail Recipe (2)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make a Last Word
  • Expert Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Gin co*cktails
  • Last Word co*cktail Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

The Last Word is a spirit-forward co*cktail that is mild and refreshing with a subtle sweetness. It’s citrusy and full of unique floral spices and botanicals made up of equal parts gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.

The drink first made its appearance at the Detroit Athletic Club in the early 1920s but remained relatively unknown until it was rediscovered and popularized by renowned bartender Murray Stenson at the Zig Zag Café in Seattle in the early 2000s. Now, it’s pretty popular in co*cktail bars and very easy to remember thanks to the equal parts.

Looking for other classic gin co*cktails? Try the Bee’s Knees, Aviation co*cktail, Tuxedo No. 2 co*cktail, and the Corpse Reviver 2.

Ingredients

Last Word co*cktail Recipe (3)
  • Gin: the backbone of the Last Word, gin provides a smooth and aromatic base. Its botanical notes complement the other ingredients, creating a complex flavor profile. I like London dry gin such as Plymouth.
  • Maraschino Liqueur: made from sour Marasca cherries, Maraschino liqueur adds a subtle sweetness and depth to the drink. It balances the gin’s dryness and contributes a touch of fruitiness. A very popular liqueur thanks to the Aviation co*cktail.
  • Green Chartreuse: this herbal liqueur, crafted by Carthusian monks since the 18th century, imparts a vibrant green color and a unique blend of botanicals. Its complex flavors, ranging from herbal and floral to slightly spicy, give the Last Word its distinct character.
  • Fresh lime juice: the lime juice provides a refreshing citrusy tang that enhances the other flavors. It adds a necessary touch of acidity to round out the drink.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.

How to Make a Last Word

Step 1.

Combine all ingredients into a Boston shaker with plenty of ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

Last Word co*cktail Recipe (4)

Step 2.

Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Last Word co*cktail Recipe (5)

Expert Tips

  • Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.
  • This co*cktail is best served in a small coupe glass. It makes for a fantastic presentation given the drink’s history and age.
  • Always double-strain shaken co*cktails through a fine mesh strainer. This removes tiny ice chips that will dilute the co*cktail as it warms.
Last Word co*cktail Recipe (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Last Word shaken or stirred?

The Last Word is typically a shaken co*cktail that should be double strained through a fine mesh strainer to remove any ice chips.

Is Green Chartreuse similar to absinthe?

While both share botanical notes, absinthe is dominated by anise flavor (black licorice). Green Chartreuse is more balanced, sweet, and mild.

What is the alcohol content of the Last Word co*cktail?

24.7% ABV assuming you use an 80-proof gin. The Last Word is balanced with citrus and spirits in small quantities in comparison to a classic gin martini (around 30% ABV).

Can I substitute vodka if I don’t like gin?

Gin is surprisingly subtle in this co*cktail—it blends really well with the other flavors. Substituting vodka in most classic gin co*cktails tends to really clash for the worse.

More Gin co*cktails

Cucumber Gin and Elderflower Martini Recipe

Bohemian co*cktail Recipe

French 75 co*cktail Recipe

Enjoy this recipe? If you made this co*cktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & areview in the comments!

5 from 1 vote

Last Word co*cktail Recipe

By: Shawn Williams

Servings: 1 co*cktail

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

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Last Word co*cktail Recipe (11)

The Last Word is a well-balanced elixir consisting of equal parts gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 ounce gin
  • 3/4 ounce Maraschino liqueur
  • 3/4 ounce Green Chartreuse
  • 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1 Brandied cherry, garnish

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients into a Boston shaker with plenty of ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

  • Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Notes

Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.

This co*cktail is best served in a small coupe glass. It makes for a fantastic presentation given the drink’s history and age.

Always double-strain shaken co*cktails through a fine mesh strainer. This removes tiny ice chips that will dilute the co*cktail as it warms.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 36.3gSugar: 36g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: co*cktail

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Last Word co*cktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does the Last Word co*cktail taste like? ›

The Last Word is a sweet and sharp drink with a pale green hue and a bite bigger than its bark. This little palate cleanser is rich and pungent. It is best suited to those who like a sharp kick to a drink and The Last Word should be the first thing you order the next time you fancy a sweet, citrus hit.

What is the Last Word co*cktail DAC? ›

While its inventor is unknown, Detroit Athletic Club archives revealed the Last Word to be on the menu as early as 1916, when it was the club's most expensive co*cktail at a price of 35 cents (equivalent to $9.8 in 2023). The Last Word fell into obscurity after World War II.

What is the formula for the perfect co*cktail? ›

This is where the golden rule comes into play: 2 ounces of liquor, 1 ounce of sweet (agave, honey, etc), and 1 ounce of sour (lemon juice, lime juice, etc).

What is the last drink call? ›

In a bar, a last call (last orders) is an announcement made shortly before the bar closes for the night, informing patrons of their last chance to buy alcoholic beverages.

What was Queen Elizabeth's signature co*cktail? ›

Queen Elizabeth II has carried on the tradition of drinking her late mother's preferred aperitif, Dubonnet and gin, imbibing the co*cktail every day before lunch as appetite-stimulator (although she's had to cut back in recent times so that she could be in top shape for her Platinum Jubilee).

What is the flavor profile of the Last Word? ›

It's a magical combination of gin, Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime juice that boasts both sweet and sour notes, as well as a deeply complex herbaceous bitter flavor.

What kind of gin is used for a last word? ›

The best gin for the Last Word is a London Dry gin. These classic gins have robust juniper, pine, and botanical notes that offer a good base to start building the flavors in this co*cktail. As far as brands go, Tanqueray No.

What is the Last Word co*cktail Detroit? ›

The Last Word was first served at the Detroit Athletic Club, circa 1915. Created just before the start of Prohibition, likely by a bartender named Frank Fogarty, it's one of the co*cktail canon's most successful Prohibition-era drinks.

What is the Golden Ratio of a co*cktail? ›

Almost all the classic drinks you know and love, from the Daiquiri to the Gimlet or the Margarita come down to the same basic ratio: 2:1:1. That's two parts spirit, one part sweet, and one part sour, commonly known as the Golden Ratio.

What is the golden drink bartender the right mix? ›

The Golden Ratio

Get a perfectly flavor-balanced co*cktail with the bartender's golden ratio of 2:1:1. That means, 2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour. First, you'll begin with 2 parts of your spirit of choice: vodka, gin, rum – what have you. Secondly, add that to a mixing tin with ice.

What is the 2 to 1 ratio for co*cktails? ›

The 2-1-1 co*cktail Formula

The above formula, known as the "2-1-1 Formula," is the essential sour co*cktail formula. The ratio refers to 2 ounces of spirit, 1 ounce of sweet, and 1 ounce of sour.

What is the oldest drink ever? ›

“Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man and has been around as long as honeybees have been making honey,” says Jeri Carter, owner of Queen's Reward Meadery in Tupelo, Mississippi. Carter suggests that mead was making itself before people got involved: In nature, it doesn't need humans to ferment.

What is it called when you drink before going to a bar? ›

Pregaming is also often motivated by the higher cost of alcohol in licensed venues, and many people also choose to pre-drink to achieve rapid intoxication, or to facilitate socializing with friends.

What does green chartreuse taste like? ›

Green Chartreuse has bold, herbaceous, peppery, and mint notes, as well as flavors of anise and licorice. If you don't have yellow Chartreuse on hand, alpine liqueur Genepi (also known as Genepy) is a great alternative, as is Italian Strega.

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