The Last Word Cocktail

The 1920s called, they want their cocktail back. The Last Word Cocktail is a classic for a reason. It’s super easy to make and has some of my favorite ingredients. As an equal parts cocktail, The Last Word is the definition of balance. It truly is hard to mess this one up.

How to Make The Last Word Cocktail

1. Add equal parts lime juice, gin, Maraschino liqueur (like Luxardo), and green Chartreuse into a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

What is The Last Word Cocktail?

Originally from the Prohibition era, The Last Word Cocktail was revitalized in the early 2000s at a bar in Seattle. It’s an easy 4-ingredient cocktail with equal parts gin + Maraschino liqueur + green Chartreuse + lime juice. The liqueurs make it a little sweet, the gin makes it a little botanical, and the lime juice makes it a little sour. It’s the perfect balance of flavors and is one of my all-time favorites.

The Last Word Ingredients

Gin

Gin comes in many different forms and each bottle has its own level of botanicals. Check out my Gin Guide for bottle recommendations and the in-depth gin-formation you need for mixing your favorite gin cocktails like The Last Word.

Maraschino Liqueur

The Original Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur is made with Luxardo’s own marasca cherries that are infused in wood vats with cherry tree branches and leaves for three years. It’s diluted with a simple syrup to bring it to an ABV of 32%. The final nutty cherry flavor of this surprisingly clear liquid has notes of chocolate, vanilla, and orange. It’s sooo good!

Green Chartreuse

Green Chartreuse also has a rich history dating back to 1840. It’s made my French monks who use the same recipe of 130 different plants for a botanical, herbaceous liqueur that became a classic ingredient in The Last Word Cocktail. It’s often paired with gin.

Lime Juice

If it’s not fresh, we don’t want it!

Tips for Making the Best Last Word Cocktail

• Use really, really cold ingredients. The Last Word is doubled strained into a chilled glass without ice, so you want the spirits and liqueurs straight from the freezer.
• Speaking of cold… chilling your coupe glass before straining your cocktail into it is super important for keeping it cold. Just like you would for a martini.
• Don’t buy a cheap cherry liqueur, it will taste like sweet cough syrup and, trust me, no one wants that. You’ll go through a bottle of the good stuff with no problem and you’ll definitely taste the difference. Luxardo really does it best.
• Double straining is important so you don’t get ice bits in the cocktail from the shaker. It also creates a smoother mouthfeel.

Why You’ll Love Having The Last Word

• If you love gin, you will love this cocktail. The botanicals of the gin are amplified by the herbaceousness of the Chartreuse and the woody cherry notes of the Maraschino liqueur.
• It’s a bit of a nostalgic cocktail for anyone wishing they were alive during Prohibition-era America. You really can picture yourself in a speakeasy when sipping on this one.
• The light green color make The Last Word a great cocktail for Christmas parties. It’s sophisticated, special, and yet simple enough for batching and hosting.

The Last Word Variations

• If you want to try a crazy cool cocktailing technique, try the Clarified Last Word, which I batched into a punch for a crowd.
• For a fun Halloween riff with spooky garnishes, try my Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Don’t Say the Last Word cocktail.
• Swap the gin for mezcal or whiskey if that’s more your vibe.
• For a cocktail with similar vibes for the bourbon crowd, try a Classic Paper Plane.