The Last Word - Gin, Green Chartreuse & Maraschino Luxardo Prohibition-Era Cocktail

The Last Word proves how much complexity four equal measures can create. Gin supplies the botanical base, Green Chartreuse brings concentrated herbs and spice, Maraschino Luxardo adds dry cherry character, and fresh lime keeps everything bright. Shaken and served up, this equal-parts cocktail is powerful, refreshing, and remarkably precise.

From Detroit to the Cocktail Revival

The Last Word is associated with the Detroit Athletic Club in the early 20th century and later faded from widespread cocktail culture. Bartender Murray Stenson helped revive the drink at Seattle's Zig Zag Café in the early 2000s. Its equal-parts formula soon became influential again, inspiring numerous modern riffs and returning the cocktail to international prominence.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Gin - supplies the dry botanical backbone.
• Green Chartreuse - brings intense herbal, floral, and spice notes.
• Maraschino Luxardo - adds dry cherry, almond-like complexity, and sweetness.
• Lime Juice - provides the fresh acidity that keeps the liqueurs in balance.

Substitution ideas:

• A different dry gin can shift the botanical profile without changing the basic structure.
• Yellow Chartreuse creates a softer, sweeter variation, but it will not reproduce the traditional Last Word.
• Another quality maraschino liqueur can replace your usual brand while preserving the drink's basic character.

Equipment

• Coupe or coupette glass
• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Strainer
• Citrus juicer
• Ice

Four Bottles, Equal Authority

The Last Word works because no ingredient plays a minor role. Green Chartreuse is powerful enough to dominate many cocktails, but equal measures of gin, maraschino, and lime hold it in check. The result moves between juniper, herbs, cherry, sweetness, and sharp citrus without settling on a single dominant flavor.

Substitutions & Variations

• Final Ward: Replace gin with rye whiskey and lime with lemon for the well-known whiskey riff.
• Mezcal variation: Swap gin for mezcal to add smoke and roasted agave character.
• Change the gin: A juniper-forward London dry gin makes the drink sharper, while a softer botanical gin emphasizes its floral side.
• Yellow Chartreuse variation: Use Yellow Chartreuse for a gentler, sweeter herbal profile.

Helpful Tips

• Use freshly squeezed lime juice. The acidity is central to the drink's balance.
• Measure all four ingredients accurately to preserve the equal-parts structure.
• Chill the coupe before shaking so the finished cocktail stays cold longer.
• Shake with plenty of firm ice until thoroughly chilled and properly diluted.
• Skip the garnish. The cocktail has enough aromatic and flavor complexity without one.
• For several drinks, batch the gin, Green Chartreuse, and Maraschino Luxardo ahead of time, then add fresh lime juice when shaking each serving.
• Serve with salty, rich foods such as charcuterie, aged cheese, or oysters to contrast the bright citrus and herbal intensity.