This cocktail is a lesser-known classic that was very nearly lost to history. Originally developed at the Detroit Athletic Club and then subsequently forgotten, this drink was brought back to prominence by Murray Stenson, who discovered it in 2004 while leafing through some old cocktailing books. Thank you, Murray!
The Last Word is a prohibition-era drink, which means it was probably relying on strong flavors to mask the taste of bad gin. It works really well with a regular London Dry, though. It’s always a surprise when big, herbal liqueurs like Green Chartreuse meld so well with citrus ingredients, but the Last Word is just a terrific cocktail. Definitely try to get fresh lime juice for this one — it gives the drink a liveliness that bottled juice just doesn’t have.
This article is a modified and enhanced version of a post that ran on my nightly cocktail blog, DrinkShouts. Liquors in parentheses are what I used when I made this recipe, and are included as suggestions.
The Last Word Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
Ingredients
- .75 oz. Gin Broker’s
- .75 oz. Fresh lime juice
- .75 oz. Maraschino liqueur Luxardo
- .75 oz. Green Chartreuse Green Chartreuse
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker, and shake thoroughly. Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. No bitters and no garnish in this one.
