Last Word
Gin, green herbal liqueur, maraschino and fresh lime shaken in equal parts for a bold, herbaceous cocktail with sharp citrus and a clean, complex finish.
Last Word Recipe
- Dry gin 22.5 ml
- Green herbal liqueur 22.5 ml
- Maraschino liqueur 22.5 ml
- Lime juice 22.5 ml
- Ice 150 g, for shaking
Make it properly
- Chill your coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
- Add the gin, green herbal liqueur, maraschino liqueur and fresh lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
- Add 150 g ice cubes.
- Shake firmly for around 12–15 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Fine strain into the chilled glass.
- Serve immediately, without ice or garnish.
WHAT MAKES A LAST WORD
The equal-parts structure is what defines the drink.
Unlike many sour-style cocktails, there is no separate sugar syrup. The sweetness comes from the herbal and maraschino liqueurs, while fresh lime provides enough acidity to keep the drink bright.
The result is intensely flavoured but remarkably balanced. It is strong enough to feel like a serious cocktail, yet the citrus keeps it lively rather than heavy.
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LAST WORD RECIPE, INGREDIENTS & TIPS
The Last Word is built on one of the simplest formulas in classic cocktail making: four ingredients in exactly equal proportions. That simplicity is deceptive. Gin brings juniper and structure, the green herbal liqueur contributes intense botanical complexity, maraschino adds subtle cherry sweetness and nuttiness, while fresh lime keeps everything sharp and refreshing. None of the ingredients should dominate. A properly made Last Word should move between herbal, sweet, sour and spirit-forward flavours with each sip.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR A LAST WORD
Gin provides the dry backbone of the cocktail. A classic London Dry style works particularly well because strong juniper and citrus notes can stand up to the powerful herbal liqueur.
Green herbal liqueur is what gives the Last Word its unmistakable botanical character. The classic recipe uses Green Chartreuse, whose concentrated herbal profile brings spice, mint, citrus and bittersweet complexity.
Maraschino liqueur provides sweetness, but it should not taste like ordinary cherry syrup. Traditional maraschino has a drier, slightly nutty cherry character that connects the gin and herbal liqueur without making the cocktail heavy.
Fresh lime juice is essential. Its bright acidity cuts through the two liqueurs and gives the drink the sharpness that makes the equal-parts formula work.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Tanqueray London Dry Gin
A juniper-forward London Dry Gin with enough structure to remain present alongside the powerful herbal and maraschino liqueurs.
Green Chartreuse 55% Vol. 0.7 L
The defining herbal ingredient in the classic Last Word, bringing concentrated botanical, citrus and bittersweet character.
Luxardo Maraschino Originale 32% Vol. 0.7 L
The classic maraschino choice, contributing dry cherry flavour, subtle nuttiness and restrained sweetness.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LAST WORD
The Last Word is closely associated with the Detroit Athletic Club. The earliest known written reference currently identified appears on a club menu from 1916, where the Last Word was listed among the cocktails being served.
A recipe later appeared in Ted Saucier's 1951 book Bottoms Up!, which connected the drink with vaudeville performer Frank Fogarty, known as “The Dublin Minstrel.” That recipe already used the familiar equal-parts combination of gin, maraschino, Chartreuse and lime.
The cocktail eventually faded from view before being rediscovered in the early 2000s by Seattle bartender Murray Stenson, who put it on the menu at the Zig Zag Café. From there, the Last Word spread through the modern cocktail-bar scene and became a classic once again.
GET THE TECHNIQUE RIGHT
The Last Word does not require complicated preparation, so temperature and dilution matter.
Use plenty of solid ice and shake firmly. The four ingredients are intense, and the small amount of dilution created during shaking helps soften their edges and bring them together.
Fine straining gives the drink a cleaner texture and keeps small ice fragments out of the finished cocktail.
Because the drink is served straight up, chilling the glass beforehand also makes a noticeable difference.
SERVE IT PROPERLY
Serve the Last Word straight up and very cold in a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
The official IBA specification calls for no garnish, which suits the Drinkero version well.
The cocktail already has considerable aroma and flavour from the gin, herbal liqueur, maraschino and fresh lime, so nothing else is needed.
Questions about the Last Word
What is a Last Word cocktail made with?
A classic Last Word combines equal parts gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and fresh lime juice.
What does a Last Word taste like?
It is herbal, citrusy, slightly sweet and complex. The drink combines dry juniper from the gin, powerful botanicals, subtle cherry character and sharp fresh lime.
Why are all the ingredients equal parts?
The equal-parts formula allows four very different flavours to balance one another. Lime provides acidity, the liqueurs provide sweetness and complexity, and gin gives the cocktail structure.
Can I replace Green Chartreuse?
You can experiment with other herbal liqueurs, but the classic Last Word specifically uses Green Chartreuse. Replacing it will noticeably change the flavour of the drink.
Can I replace maraschino with cherry liqueur?
Not ideally. Maraschino is drier and more complex than most sweet cherry liqueurs, with a distinctive nutty character that is important to the Last Word.
Should a Last Word be served with ice?
No. The cocktail is shaken with ice and then strained into a chilled glass without fresh ice.
Can I make Last Words for a group?
Yes. Choose whether you're making 6, 12, 24 or 48 Last Words and Drinkero calculates the gin, herbal liqueur, maraschino, lime and other quantities you need.
Is the Last Word an official IBA cocktail?
Yes. The Last Word is included in the International Bartenders Association's official cocktail list as one of The Unforgettables.