The Last Word is a classic gin-based cocktail created in 1915 at the Detroit Athletic Club. The drink consists of 4 ingredients – gin, green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice, and the one credited for it goes by the name of Frank Fogarty.

The 1st appearance of the Last Word in literature is in Ted Saucier’s 1951 cocktail book “Bottoms Up!”
Because of the Chartreuse, Last Word has a green-ish color and its flavor is best described as complex, and one of the more sophisticated green drinks. Audrey Saunders of the Pegu Bar in New York City also described the cocktail as sharp, great palate cleanser, and perfectly balanced: A little sour, a little sweet, a little pungent.

Unfortunately, after World War Two (WW2), the cocktail lost almost all its popularity, until 2004, when Murray Stenson rediscovered it while looking for a new cocktail for the Zig Zag Cafe in Seattle. Soon the drink became a hit and started appearing in cocktail guides once again. 

IBA Official Cocktail List

 

Important:

Use quality dry gin from the top shelf.

Fresh lime juice is always better.

Maraschino liqueur is perfect for this cocktail. Anything else might ruin the balance.

 

Ingredients:

Most common:

  1. ¾ of an Ounce (22.5 ml) of gin.
  2. ¾ of an Ounce (22.5 ml) of green Chartreuse.
  3. ¾ of an Ounce (22.5 ml) of Maraschino liqueur.
  4. ¾ of an Ounce (22.5 ml) of freshly squeezed lime juice.

Or, you can try:

  1. 2 Ounces (60 ml) of gin.
  2. 1 Ounce (30 ml) of green Chartreuse.
  3. 1 Ounce (30 ml) of Maraschino liqueur.
  4. 1 Ounce (30 ml) of freshly squeezed lime juice.

Preparation:

  1. Add the gin, green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice into a shaker.
  2. Fill with ice and shake well.
  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with a cherry or/and a lime wedge.
  5. Enjoy.

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