Don’t underestimate the Last Word cocktail. Despite its short ingredient list and pale green hue, the Pre-Prohibition potable is a sophisticated sipper that deserves a seat at the table.
If we had just one word to describe the Last Word cocktail it would be deceiving. Despite its light jade green appearance, the Last Word is a complex drink that packs a punch.
Much of that complexity comes from green Chartreuse produced solely in the French town of Voiron near Grenoble. Once we bought a bottle at our local bottle shop, it was only a matter of time until we made our first Last Word cocktail at home.
Discover more colorful cocktails.
What Is the Last Word Cocktail?
A classic cocktail crafted with just four ingredients plus ice, the Last Word combines equal amounts of green Chartreuse, dry gin, maraschino liqueur and freshly squeezed lime juice. Despite these equal measurements, the French liqueur dominates due to its herbaceous flavor and verdant hue.
But to call the Last Word herbaceous is only part of the drink’s story. Although citrus makes it a sour gin cocktail, maraschino liqueur provides a welcome hint of sweetness. In other words, one word isn’t enough to describe the Last Word.
Instead, it’s a cocktail that needs to be imbibed to be fully understood.
History of the Last Word Cocktail
Research into the Last Word’s history reveals a past that started at the Detroit Athletic Club a century ago during the roaring days before Prohibition. The cocktail was apparently all the rage in the Motor City. Later, after it was featured in Ted Saucier’s Bottoms Up in 1951, it drove off a cliff and fell into oblivion for decades.
But that wasn’t the Last Word’s last word…
The cocktail got a new life in the 20th century thanks to Murrary Stenson, a Seattle bartender, who pulled the Last Word out of oblivion and turned it into a cult cocktail. Today, the Last Word is a fixture at cocktail bars throughout the US and beyond.
Discover more of our favorite Pre-Prohibition cocktails.
Last Word Cocktail Ingredients
We’ve already spilled the beans on the Last Word’s short list of ingredients. To avoid confusion, here they are again:
The ratio for the Last Word’s four liquids is a simple 1:1:1:1 calculation. Based on the size of our glass, we measured 3/4 ounce of each in our recipe. You could easily increase the measurement to 1 ounce or decrease it to 1/2 ounce based on your glass size. The drink will taste the same as long as you follow this ratio.
The Last Word’s three liquors are green Chartreuse, dry gin and maraschino liqueur. Read on to see which brands we used to craft this cocktail.
Green Chartreuse
Green Chartreuse intrigued us before we bought it due to the French liqueur’s distinct green color and hefty price tag. We wondered if it tasted like absinthe and how we would use it.
As it turns out, green chartreuse tastes nothing like absinthe. Originally produced by Carthusian monks in 1737 at La Grande Chartreuse abbey, the liqueur’s ingredient list includes 130 herbs and plants. Its ABV is 55%.
Fun Fact
Colored with saffron, yellow Chartreuse is sweeter and has a lower ABV.
We bought a bottle of Chartreuse Verte produced by Les Pères Chartreux. These fatherly figures have produced the verdantly green elixir at their Aiguenoire distillery in Entre-Deux-Guiers for over a century. Disclosure – This was the only brand of green Chartreuse available at our local liquor store.
Dry Gin
While any quality dry gin will work in this recipe, we chose to use Citadelle dry gin from France. Produced in Cognac, the premium gin features 19 botanicals and has an ABV of 44%.
Discover our favorite gin cocktails.
Maraschino Liqueur
Luxardo produces our preferred maraschino liqueur. No surprise there since we’re obsessed with the Italian company’s maraschino cherries.
We initially bought this bottle of liqueur to craft Hemingway Daiquiris and have since used it to craft Aviation, Martinez and Last Word cocktails. It has a 32% ABV.
Discover our favorite maraschino liqueur cocktails.
How To Craft a Last Word Cocktail
Like other classic cocktails, the Last Word is incredibly easy to craft with the most basic of bar tools. We used the following bar tools in our recipe:
Don’t worry if you don’t have any or all of these tools. Each is inexpensive and you can improvise in a pinch if you don’t already own them.
Discover 10 essential bar tools for home mixologists.
The first step is to measure each of the four liquid ingredients. We like to use a Japanese jigger to ensure accurate measurements and make clean pours. Accurate measurements are especially important in this recipe to achieve the cocktail’s intended flavor combination.
Buy a Japanese jigger if you don’t have a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
The second step is to pour the liquids into a shaker as you measure each. We like to use a Boston shaker for this and other recipes since it doesn’t leak and is dishwasher safe.
Buy a Boston shaker if you’re sick of leaky shakers too.
The third step is the step where the magic happens. This is when you add ice to the shaker and vigorously shake for about 20 second until the the liquids are chilled and combined.
The final step is to strain the green cocktail into a martini or coupe glass.
You can add a maraschino or two as garnish but be aware that doing so may will likely stain the drink’s green color.
Last Word Cocktail Variations
This recipe isn’t the final word on the Last Word cocktail. Feel free to experiment if you’re feeling creative or if you’re missing one of the recipe’s four ingredients. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Last Word Cocktail FAQs
The Last Word cocktail is an herbaceous classic cocktail crafted with green Chartreuse, dry gin, maraschino liqueur and freshly squeezed lime juice.
The Last Word was invented in Detroit.
Green Chartreuse, Dry Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice, Ice Cubes (for shaking) and Maraschino Cherry (optional garnish)
We like to use French dry gin but any dry gin will work.
The Last Word is shaken, not stirred.
We like to serve this cocktail in a coupe glass but you could use a small martini glass instead.
Last Word Cocktail Recipe
Last Word Cocktail
Your first Last Word cocktail won't be your last. The classic cocktail is as easy to sip as it is to craft with just four ingredients plus ice.
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce dry gin
- 3/4 ounce green chartreuse
- 3/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lemon juice in a shaker.
- Add several ice cubes and shake for 20 seconds until the liquids are mixed and chilled.
- Strain into a martini or coupe glass.
Notes
You can optionally garnish this cocktail with a Maraschino cherry or two.
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About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Original Publication Date: December 20, 2021
Antonio
Tuesday 25th of January 2022
Hola have you try the Last Word with Mezcal !! Oh yeah I live in Oakland California running a restaurant name Chop Bar can over and say hi. Salud
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Sunday 29th of May 2022
No but now we want to give it a try. Thanks for the tip!
Sasha
Wednesday 22nd of December 2021
My favorite cocktail. Don't forget to fine strain to get rid of the cloudiness.