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Cocktail History
The Last Word is a classic cocktail that is believed to have been created at Detroit Athletic Club before American Prohibition. The recipe is traditionally made with equal-parts gin, Green Chartreuse, cherry liqueur, and lime, and it was mostly lost to time until the early 2000s when it was rediscovered in the pages of a book at a bar in Seattle, Washington.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Tanglin Gin Black Powder Gin.
Green Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, and alcohol.
Maraschino Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with Maraschino cherries, honey, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Luxardo Maraschino Orginale Liqueur.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. I used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Faint green color
• Aroma: Light anise and cherry
• Taste: Pleasant herbal and cherry flavor accented with bright botanicals
• Finish: Airy herbs and tart lime
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Consisting of four very different ingredients, this recipe is a perfect balancing act that shouldn’t work but it does. The Chartreuse is the star of the show, and it gave the navy strength gin I chose something to compete with, while the citrus and cherry liqueur balance in the background. I was amazed at how delicious and complex the Last Word was, and I understand why it has been a favorite plaything of bartenders over the last twenty years.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions by Lou Bustamante.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-13.
Last Word
The Last Word is a classic cocktail that is believed to have been created at Detroit Athletic Club before American Prohibition. The recipe is traditionally made with equal-parts gin, Green Chartreuse, cherry liqueur, and lime, and it was mostly lost to time until the early 2000s when it was rediscovered in the pages of a book at a bar in Seattle, Washington.
Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse, lime juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with cherry.
