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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.
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 or Amarena black cherries <— the exact cherries that I used to make my last word cocktail. They’re deeply sweet and richly satisfying.
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. I’ll show you how to make a Last Word Cocktail in just a few easy steps (with photos!!).
- Add all Last Word cocktail ingredients into a cocktail shaker halfway full of ice: gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. Shake until chilled, about 20 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- Spear two Amarena black cherries onto a cocktail skewer and place across the rim of the coupe glass. Enjoy the best Last Word Cocktail!
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]
See also: The Gold Rush Cocktail and Penicillin Cocktail Recipe, by the same bar.
Tools You Need
- Amarena Black Cherries – luxurious black cherries pictured in my photos for Last Word, and can be used in an Old Fashioned and more.
- Cocktail Shaker Set
- Stainless Steel Skewers
- Coupe glasses – the elegant cocktail glasses you see in my pics. Delicate and beautiful.
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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- 15 Best Martini Recipes
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Last Word Cocktail
Ingredients
Ingredients
- ¾ oz gin
- ¾ oz Green Chartreuse
- ¾ oz Maraschino liqueur, preferably Luxardo
- ¾ oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
Garnish
- Italian Amarena Black Cherries, or brandied cherries
Instructions
- 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.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a Amarena black cherry skewer. Sip and enjoy.
- ★ Last Step: If you made this recipe, leave a comment and review. It truly helps our small business keep running and it helps readers like you!
It really looks like a work of art. Thank you for your complete explanation.
Aww, thank you! 🙂
Looks like a very refreshing drink. Thanks for sharing all the interesting variations!
You’re welcome! I know, so many intriguing varieties to try. 🙂
This last word cocktail sounds super refreshing and delicious.
It is! Perfect for spring cocktail parties.
Oh yum! Such a fun and refreshing cocktail. I love how you included the history. It looks so good.
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. 😉
I think you’re in for a real treat, Carrie! 😄