Video about this cocktail on my YouTube channel.
As we prepare to say goodbye to a challenging year, what better way to raise a glass than with the aptly named “Last Word”? But let’s not limit its merits to nomenclature; this cocktail has taken its place among my favorites.
Much like the Aviation, the Last Word is another forgotten gem of American classic mixology that has been beautifully reborn. Technically, it belongs to the family of gin sours.
Often referred to as a prohibition-era cocktail, it actually predates that infamous period, having been developed in 1915 at the Detroit Athletic Club, where it held the distinction of being the most expensive cocktail in the menu. Back then, it cost a rather steep 35 cents—twice the price of a Manhattan. Well, unfortunately, the last century hasn’t been indulgent to prices. Its high cost is attributed to Green Chartreuse, a truly elegant and complex liquor that is by no means cheap, and for good reason. The liquor has a remarkably intriguing history and a unique production process. Despite its price tag, the Last Word quickly gained popularity and soon expanded beyond the club and Detroit itself.
Frank Fogarty, a stand-up comedian rather than a professional bartender, introduced the Last Word to New York and, by extension, to the world; it’s uncertain whether he was the actual creator of the cocktail, but what is clear is that he became its most enthusiastic promoter, and the drink’s name seems to echo his background in the world of performance. The first time the Last Word recipe was officially published in Ted Saucier’s 1951 cocktail book *Bottoms Up*,
However, like many great cocktails from that era, the Last Word fell out of favor and was nearly forgotten after World War II.
The 21st century, though, has proved a time for the resurrection of such forgotten classics, and in 2004, the Last Word was reborn in Seattle—yet another reason this cocktail holds such a special place for me. Murray Stenson, a bartender at the renowned Zig Zag Café, found the recipe in Saucier’s book and decided to reintroduce it to his clientele. Zig Zag, long considered one of the best and most influential bars in the United States, provided the perfect platform for the drink’s resurgence. The Last Word swiftly won the hearts of cocktail lovers across Seattle, Portland, and the entire West Coast before spreading throughout the country. By 2008, it had re-entered the global cocktail scene and now could be found in most major cities around the world.
The recipe includes equal parts of Dry Gin, Maraschino, Green Chartreuse, and Lime Juice.
The IBA recipe.
Ingredients:
3/4 oz / 22.5 ml Dry Gin
3/4 oz / 22.5 ml Green Chartreuse
3/4 oz / 22.5 ml Maraschino liqueur
3/4 oz / 22.5 ml Fresh Lime Juice
Process:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Drinkware:
Cocktail glass
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