The last word cocktail is one of my favorite Prohibition-era cocktails. End of discussion ;). Originally created at the Detroit Athletic Club in 1915, the last word was recently brought back into the spotlight in 2004 by Bartender, Murry Stenson, at the Zig Zag Cafe in Seattle, USA.

Last Word Cocktail Ingredients

The last word is a simple drink consisting of equal parts gin, green chartreuse (not to be confused with yellow chartreuse), maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. It’s hard to really describe because it’s a spirit-forward cocktail, yet very mild and refreshing with a subtle sweetness. It’s citrusy and full of unique floral spices thanks to the gin and green chartreuse French liqueur.

The first time I drank a Last Word cocktail was at Bar Tonique in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Bar Tonique is an awesome craft cocktail spot I recommend you check out if you’re in New Orleans. Like most classic cocktails, the last word is right down the middle in terms of taste and makeup. Smooth, well-balanced flavors that aren’t too strong or too sweet. Ever had an Aviation? 3 of the 4 ingredients are (almost) the same, in fact, it has really similar characteristics.

Anyway, the drink was so good I had two of them. I was with a mixed crowd in terms of drink preferences and a few shared sips were met with a lot of “I want that next”. If you love gin (or the Aviation), this could be your next go-to cocktail. Pick up some green chartreuse and maraschino liqueur and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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