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Loading...One of the most iconic Prohibition-era cocktails and one of the most influential cocktail recipes of all time, the Last Word is as complex in taste as it is simple in form. Combining the floral and botanical notes of London dry gin, the sweet earthy and nutty flavors of maraschino liqueur, the herbal notes from Green Chartreuse, and the sour sweetness from lime juice, the Last Word is a cocktail every home or professional bartender should have in their back pocket.
Bar Tools
- JIGGER or MEASURING CUP
- CITRUS JUICER
- SHAKER
- STRAINER
To Serve: Coupe or Martini Glass
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz GIN (recommended: Beefeater London Dry)
- 3/4 oz MARASCHINO LIQUEUR (recommended: Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur)
- 3/4 oz GREEN CHARTREUSE
- 3/4 oz LIME JUICE
To Garnish: Maraschino Cherry
How To Make
Add your gin, maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse, and lime juice to a shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled and combined. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry dropped into the center of the drink.
Nutrition Facts & ABV
- ABV (alcohol by volume): 25.2%
- Calories: 187 calories
- Total carbohydrates: 17 grams
- Total sugar: 12.4 grams
Some spirit recipes aren’t available. As such, some nutrition content may be estimated.
History
The Last Word was said to be invented by bartender Frank Fogarty at the Detroit Athletic’s Club famous bar of the same name in the mid-1910s. The drink was initially a hit but quickly ran out of favor in the post-Prohibition era as did many popular cocktails of the time. The Last Word remained relatively unknown for decades, save for the ever-enthusiastic cocktail history buff, until the early 2000’s when bartender Murray Stenson working in the Zig Zag Cafe in Seattle found the recipe in a 1951 bar book, “Bottoms Up”, written by Ted Saucier.
Stenson would be intrigued by the recipe, as at the time it was rare to see a bottle of maraschino liqueur or Green Chartreuse behind a bar, let alone see a drink that combined the two strong flavors. The cocktail was added to the Zig Zag Cafe’s menu and quickly took off, becoming a staple in cocktail bars across the country.
Today, you can see the influence of the Last Word in many other popular cocktails, such as the Paper Plane or the Naked and Famous. The simple and easy-to-remember equal four parts recipe lends its hand to countless riffs and variations, encouraging even novice bartenders to branch out and create new and interesting cocktails.
FAQs
Can I substitute anything for the Green Chartreuse or maraschino liqueur?
Green Chartreuse and maraschino liqueur both offer very distinct and strong flavors not easily matched by other spirits or liqueurs. For this reason, there are no true substitutions to be made in this cocktail.
