The Last Word is a classic cocktail that is perfectly balanced and well rounded! With gin, chartreuse, lime juice and more, this is the perfect impressive cocktail!
I used to work at a high-end cocktail bar, so I learned a LOT of classic cocktails and all things liquor. I tried a ton of different drinks and, by far, my favorite all-time cocktail is the Last Word cocktail!
The last word cocktail is just the most balanced cocktail I've had. It is strong from the gin, citrus-y from the lime, slightly sweet and nutty from the luxardo, and earthy and unique from my favorite ingredient – green chartreuse!
Table of Contents:
🍸 Recipe Origins
The last word cocktail is an IBA official cocktail, which means that it has been selected by the International Bartenders Association for use in world cocktail competitions. It is a prohibition-era cocktail which was originally developed at the Detroit Athletic Club.
The last word is an equal parts mix of gin, green chartreuse, luxardo liqueur, and lime juice. It is traditionally shaken with ice and double-strained into a chilled nick and nora glass without ice. It is also usually garnished with one luxardo cherry.
🎥 Watch the video of this recipe
🥃 Why you'll love The Last Word
- Balanced & Unique. Not too sweet, not too tart, slightly earthy and herbal, it's perfect!
- Easy to make! Only 1 fruit to juice and just shake everything else.
- It will turn you into a gin lover! If you don't already love gin, this cocktail will do it for you!
🥘 What you need for this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Gin - Don't you dare try to substitute for another liquor! I used Roku gin for this recipe, but your favorite gin is fine.
- Luxardo Liqueur - Luxardo maraschino liqueur, which is made from cherry pits. Again, I don't recommend substituting this.
- Lime Juice - Fresh squeezed lime juice preferred.
- Green Chartreuse - I really don't recommend substituting this, however, I know there is a chartreuse shortage and it is quite expensive. The only substitute is something like a "chartreuse dupe" that will probably be called "green herbal liqueur," or something. Ask someone at the liquor store for help.
Tools and Equipment
- Nick & Nora Glass - Or a martini or coupe glass is fine.
- Cocktail Shaker
- Fine Mesh Strainer
📋 How to make The Last Word
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Freshly squeeze lime juice and measure out all of the necessary ingredients.
In your cocktail glass, add ice cubes and a bit of water to chill the glass.
Step 2: Shake the Cocktail
To a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice, then add all of the measured out liquid ingredients to the shaker. Close the lid tightly and shake thoroughly for at least 30 seconds - 1 minute (your hands should be very cold by the end of the shaking.)
Dump the ice water from the cocktail glass and place a fine mesh strainer over the top of the glass.
Carefully pour the cocktail through the strainer in the shaker AND the fine mesh strainer to catch all the ice shards.
Garnish with 1 luxardo cherry on a cocktail pick and enjoy immediately!
💭 Expert Tips & Tricks
- I really don't recommend substituting green chartreuse, however, I know there is a chartreuse shortage and it is quite expensive. The only substitute is something like a "chartreuse dupe" that will probably be called "green herbal liqueur," or something. Ask someone at the liquor store for help.
- Shake the cocktail shaker for longer than you think you need to. Because this drink is served without ice, it needs to be shaken extra well. Your fingers should feel very cold by the time you are done shaking.
- Don't you dare try to substitute gin for another liquor! I used Roku gin for this recipe, but your favorite gin is fine.
Recipe FAQs
The last word is a quite strong cocktail in terms of alcohol content, as ¾ths of the drink is alcohol, with the only non-alcoholic ingredient being lime juice. There is about 2.25 oz of alcohol in this drink, which is more than a standard cocktail.
The best gin for a last word is whatever your favorite gin is. I tend to find more floral, fruity noted gins to work well (like Roku or Bluecoat), but London Dry is a standard choice as well.
Because the last word is a classic cocktail, this means that the recipe is what makes it a last word. It's not really like a margarita, where you can tweak the ingredients and ratios and still call it a margarita. A last word is just one recipe. However, using yellow chartreuse would still be delicious, just don't call it a last word cocktail 😉
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📖 Recipe
The Last Word Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Nick & Nora Glass or martini or coupe glass
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce Gin
- ¾ ounce Green Chartreuse
- ¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
- ¾ ounce Lime juice fresh squeezed
- Ice
- 1 Luxardo cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Freshly squeeze lime juice and measure out all of the necessary ingredients.
- In your cocktail glass, add ice cubes and a bit of water to chill the glass.
- To a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice, then add all of the measured out liquid ingredients to the shaker. Close the lid tightly and shake thoroughly for at least 30 seconds - 1 minute (your hands should be very cold by the end of the shaking.)
- Dump the ice water from the cocktail glass and place a fine mesh strainer over the top of the glass.
- Carefully pour the cocktail through the strainer in the shaker AND the fine mesh strainer to catch all the ice shards.
- Garnish with 1 luxardo cherry on a cocktail pick and enjoy immediately!
Notes
- I really don't recommend substituting green chartreuse, however, I know there is a chartreuse shortage and it is quite expensive. The only substitute is something like a "chartreuse dupe" that will probably be called "green herbal liqueur," or something. Ask someone at the liquor store for help.
- Shake the cocktail shaker for longer than you think you need to. Because this drink is served without ice, it needs to be shaken extra well. Your fingers should feel very cold by the time you are done shaking.
- Don't you dare try to substitute gin for another liquor! I used Roku gin for this recipe, but your favorite gin is fine.
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