Last Word Cocktail

The Last Word Cocktail is a lightly glowing green, Prohibition-era gin cocktail that’s gently sweet, alluringly aromatic, and brightened with a refreshing twist.

the Last Word Cocktail

Welcome to the Last Word cocktail, a prohibition-era, gin-based cocktail made with an intriguing blend of well-balanced ingredients you might not think to immediately pair together.

The result? A lightly glowing green cocktail that’s gently sweet, alluringly aromatic, and brightened with a refreshing twist.

I hope you love making the Last Word cocktail as much as I did! Ready to shake things up? Let’s go!

Last Word Cocktail Ingredients

To make the Last Word cocktail recipe, you’ll need just four ingredients and a fifth for garnish.

  • Gin – for the best gin for Last Word, try Tanqueray No. 10 or Bombay Sapphire.
  • Green Chartreuse – made from 130 alpine herbs and featuring a naturally green color, Green Chartreuse is exclusively made by the Carthusian monks of La Grande Chartreuse monastery in France. There is no imitation or substitute that will do.
  • Maraschino liqueur – Luxardo is best for this cocktail. Made from Marasca cherries grown only in northeastern Italy, this brand is considered the best, with the most luxurious taste.
  • Lime juice – freshly-squeezed is always the best way to go, and since there are only 4 ingredients, it’s important to make each one count.
  • Brandied cherries – Here are the exact brandied cherries that I used to make my last word cocktail. They’re deeply sweet and richly satisfying. 
Last Word Cocktail ingredients behind a coupe glass filled with the drink

Last Word Cocktail History

Although the first written record of the Last Word Cocktail occurred in 1951 in the Bottoms Up cocktail book by Ted Saucier, this cocktail is actually a Prohibition-era libation from the early 1920s, or perhaps even earlier. [1]

The Last Word was created at the Detroit Athletic Club in the 20s, then popularized by Frank Fogarty.

There is, however, proof that the drink existed as early as 1916, when the last word cocktail went for $0.35, making it Detroit Athletic Club’s most costly drink. [2]

How to Make a Last Word Cocktail

The last word cocktail recipe is a surprisingly straightforward one that includes luxury and sometimes hard-to-find ingredients.

Today, I’m going to show you how to make a Last Word Cocktail in just a few easy steps (with photos!!).

Two photos showing How to Make a Last Word Cocktail – pouring the drink from a cocktail shaker

Add

First, add all Last Word cocktail ingredients into a cocktail shaker ½ or 2/3 full of ice.

This includes: gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.

Shake

Next, close the shaker. Then, shake until all ingredients are well mixed and thoroughly chilled, about 20 seconds.

Strain

Now, strain the Last word cocktail mixture into a chilled coupe glass.

Two photos showing How to Make a Last Word Cocktail – adding a brandied cherry garnish

Garnish

Lastly, spear two to three brandied cherries onto a cocktail skewer. Place the skewer across the rim of the coupe glass.

Serve

Serve and enjoy the best Last Word cocktail! 

Adding brandied cherry garnish to gin drink

Last Word Cocktail Variations

Once you’ve nailed the classic recipe for the Last Word Cocktail, you can start playing around with variations. Here are a few to get you started:

Final Ward by Phil Ward at Death & Co.

  • ¾ oz rye whiskey
  • ¾ oz Green Chartreuse
  • ¾ oz Maraschino liqueur
  • ¾ oz lemon juice

Last of the Oaxacans (or Closing Argument) by Rick Dobbs

  • ¾ oz mezcal
  • ¾ oz lime juice
  • ¾ oz Luxardo Maraschino
  • ¾ oz Green Chartreuse
  • 1 slice serrano pepper
  • Add to a cocktail shaker half-full of ice and shake until chilled.
  • Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then garnish with a slice of serrano pepper.

Ultima Palabra by Simone De Luca at High Road House Club

  • ¾ oz mezcal
  • ¾ oz Green Chartreuse
  • ¾ oz Maraschino liqueur
  • ¾ oz lime juice
  • ¾ oz pineapple juice
  • Garnish: pineapple and maraschino cherries

Naked and Famous by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co.

  • ¾ oz mezcal
  • ¾ oz Yellow Chartreuse
  • ¾ oz Aperol
  • ¾ oz lime juice
  • Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Division Bell by Phil Ward

  • 1 oz mezcal
  • ¾ oz Aperol
  • ½ oz Maraschino liqueur
  • ¾ oz lime juice

Electric Circus by Chall Gray of Little Jumbo

  • ¾ oz gin
  • ¾ oz Midori
  • ¾ oz lemon juice
  • ¾ oz génépy
  • 1 dash Bar Keep Chinese Bitters
  • Garnish: lemon twist

The Last Laugh by Abigail Gullo

  • All of these ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice:
  • ¾ oz gin
  • ¾ oz Green Chartreuse
  • ¾ oz Maraschino liqueur
  • ¾ oz lime juice
  • Finish with cava to the top of a champagne flute
  • Garnish with a lime twist

The Paper Plane by Sasha Petraske  and Sam Ross of Milk & Honey

  • ¾ oz bourbon
  • ¾ oz Aperol
  • ¾ oz Amaro Nonino
  • ¾ oz lemon juice

See also: The Gold Rush Cocktail and Penicillin Cocktail Recipe, by the same bar

A bottle of Luxardo maraschino liqueur and Green Chartreuse with a serving tray of this cocktail

Gin Cocktail Recipes

Tools You Need

Sip Happy!

Okay, but how fun was it learning all about the last word cocktail? I bet you’re itching to make a batch! (I hope so.) If you make this drink, be sure to take a pic and share it on Instagram and Facebook, tagging me @beamingbaker and #beamingbaker. I can’t wait to see it!

Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

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Last Word Cocktail featured image.

Last Word Cocktail


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Description

Last Word Cocktail is a lightly glowing green, Prohibition-era gin cocktail that’s gently sweet, alluringly aromatic, and brightened with a refreshing twist.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Tools Needed

Ingredients

  • 3/4 oz gin
  • 3/4 oz Green Chartreuse
  • 3/4 oz Maraschino liqueur – preferably Luxardo
  • 3/4 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice

Garnish

  • Brandied cherries

 


Instructions

  1. Add gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chill and well mixed, about 20 seconds.
  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with a brandied cherry skewer. Sip and enjoy.

 

  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Drinks, Cocktails
  • Method: Drinks, Cocktails
  • Cuisine: American

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17 Comments

  1. I am a gin lover, so this cocktail definitely has me intrigued! I think I am going to have to make this tonight and taste test it for myself. 😉