Last Word Cocktail

The Last Word is a unique classic cocktail that’s new on trend! This pale green drink is beautifully balanced between tangy, sour and sweet.

Here’s a drink for the adventurous bartender: Last Word Cocktail! This pale green sour gin is a classic cocktail that has almost gone down in history. But with the revival of cocktail culture, this one is making a comeback! It’s both tangy and bittersweet: full of intrigue and nuance from a few special ingredients. Because I like green drinks and sour cocktails, this one hit me right at home! Here’s everything about this forgotten classic.

What is a Last Word Cocktail?

The Last Word Cocktail is a classic gin cocktail made with equal parts gin, maraschino liqueur, chartreuse liqueur and lime juice. The equal parts format and specialty liquors give it a uniquely balanced taste. The drink appeared on menus as early as 1916, but wasn’t featured in a cocktail book until the 1950s. It then went unnoticed until a Seattle bartender (Murray Stenson) revived it in 2004. It spread to the Pacific Northwest, then spread around the world and has been popular ever since!

The drink is on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails, meaning it has an official definition. The ingredients of a last word are:

• gin
• Maraschino Liqueur
• Chartreuse Liqueur
• lime juice

Let’s break them down, shall we?

Maraschino Liqueur: Is It Worth Buying?

In a word: yes! Maraschino Liqueur is a clear cherry flavored liqueur. Now that’s not the liquid from a jar of maraschino cherries! Don’t let the name fool you. The taste of maraschino is dry with a sweet note, with hints of sour cherry and almond. We find it irresistibly fascinating and worth buying if you enjoy being a home bartender.

If you buy a bottle you can use it for several other classic cocktails! Maraschino liqueur is the star of cocktails like the Hemingway Daiquiri, the sophisticated Martinez and the Violet Aviation. There are several brands of maraschino liqueur: the most popular is Luxardo (which we found at our local liquor store).

What is Chartreuse Liqueur?

Chartreuse is a herbal liqueur made by French monks since the mid-18th century. It is made by aging alcohol with a secret blend of 130 botanicals. (And no, we didn’t make that up!) Chartreuse liqueur comes in two colors: green and yellow.

The Last Word is the Chartreuse’s most famous cocktail, but there are quite a few others to try! Another classic is the bijou, made with vermouth and resembling a Manhattan. You can also use it for a modern craft cocktail like Fernet Sour or Naked and Famous! Buy a bottle if you’re an adventurous home bartender looking for a one-of-a-kind liquor. You can also drink it as a shot, and it would be great with sparkling water as a spritz of sorts.

The gin for a last word

Finally, as with most cocktails, the better the gin, the better the drink! Some cocktails can cover a lower than regular gin, but not here. Even though this cocktail has 3 other parts, use a good gin for the best taste. Here are a few things you should know:

• Each bottle of gin tastes a little different and has different botanical aromas. Experiment to find your favorite!
• We love Malfy Ginso that’s what we used here.
• Avoid Tanqueray Gin: In our opinion there is a strong floral quality.

Last special ingredient: a Luxardo cherry!

Last step: the filling! The Last Word Cocktail is traditionally embellished with a Luxardo cherry. Of course, you can use any type of cocktail cherry you like. But Luxardo cherries are special. It’s a cocktail cherry so deep red it almost looks black. They have a complex, fruity and nutty taste: almost like amaretto. There really is nothing like it!

Luxardo cherries are often used as an accompaniment to Manhattan, Martinez and Aviation classics. Where can you find them? It’s easier to order Luxardo cherries online.

When to serve a Last Word cocktail

The Last Word Cocktail is a sophisticated and zesty classic cocktail that works anytime! Again, you’ll need a few specialty ingredients, so this is ideal for the adventurous home bartender. Serve as:

• signature drink
• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Late night drinks
• Evening drink between boys or between girls

More gin drinks

Gin is the star of so many great cocktails! Here are some great gin cocktails:

• Gin Gimlet A classic cocktail made with lime juice, simple syrup and gin. Totally refreshing!
• Gin Fizz A super classic, this drink is sweet, tart and topped with a frothy protein froth.
• Tom Collins Light, bubbly, tangy and just plain fun.
• Gin Gin Mule A gin-based version of the Moscow Mule.
• Bramble Wash down a tart, citrusy gin with sweet blackberry liqueur for a mind-blowing drink.
• Corpse Reviver A crispy, sparkling and perfectly balanced classic cocktail! As unique as its name.
• Red Snapper This is the gin based version of a Bloody Mary.
• Singapore Sling A fun and complex classic cocktail with an impressive list of ingredients.
• Gin Sour A classic sour that is the perfect balance of lemon, gin and syrup.
• Clover Club Tart and bright pink, topped with raspberry or grenadine, gin and egg white mousse.