This clean, timeless cocktail is beautifully balanced: herbaceous, slightly astringent, bright with lime, and just a touch sweet. The Last Word is an elegant way to say goodbye to summer, and it’s equally welcome any time of year.
Why we love this recipe
The Last Word is a beloved Prohibition-era cocktail notable for its simplicity and harmony. Made with equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, Luxardo (maraschino liqueur), and freshly squeezed lime juice, it achieves a sophisticated flavor from just four ingredients. After falling out of favor around the 1930s, the drink enjoyed a resurgence in the early 2000s and has remained a favorite among cocktail enthusiasts ever since.
This cocktail is:
- An elegant classic
- Easy to make and simple to scale for a party
- Particularly refreshing on warm days
- But equally appropriate year-round
What you’ll need
At a glance, here are the ingredients and what they contribute to the drink.
- London dry gin: A classic choice; Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Hendrick’s, Plymouth, The Botanist, Aviation, or your preferred gin will all work. Each gin brings subtle differences, but any good London dry is suitable.
- Green Chartreuse: Made by Carthusian monks in France from a long-secret herbal recipe, green Chartreuse is high-proof, herb-forward, and adds spicy, floral, and sweet herbal depth to the cocktail.
- Luxardo maraschino liqueur: A clear Italian liqueur distilled from Marasca cherries. It’s dry, complex, and offers bittersweet and almond-like notes rather than a straightforward cherry flavor. Substitute another quality maraschino if needed.
- Freshly squeezed lime juice: Essential for bright acidity and freshness—don’t use bottled juice.
- Garnish: Traditionally a Luxardo cherry or a lime twist complements the drink.
Bathtub gin
Because the Last Word dates to the Prohibition era, it’s often associated with “bathtub gin.” During Prohibition, cheaply made homemade spirits were commonly called bathtub gin—not because liquor was brewed in actual bathtubs but because bathtubs were sometimes used to fill and dilute bottles when sinks were impractical. The term stuck and is part of the cocktail’s lore.
How to make it
Making The Last Word is quick and straightforward. The following steps yield a classic, well-chilled cocktail.
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add 1 ounce gin, 1 ounce green Chartreuse, 1 ounce Luxardo maraschino liqueur, and 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Shake vigorously until the shaker is very cold.
- Double-strain (if desired) into a chilled cocktail or coupe glass.
- Garnish with a Luxardo cherry or a lime twist and serve.
Expert tips and FAQs
Yes. To make eight servings, up to three hours before serving combine in a pitcher: 1 cup gin, 1 cup green Chartreuse, 1 cup maraschino liqueur, 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, and 1/2 cup water. Stir well, chill in the refrigerator, then stir and pour into glasses, garnishing each with a Luxardo cherry.
More favorite classic gin cocktails
- Gimlet
- Gin & Tonic
- Martinez
- Corpse Reviver No. 2
- Dirty Martini
- French 75
The Last Word Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
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Cocktail picks
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Cocktail shaker
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Coupe or cocktail glasses
Ingredients
- 1 ounce (30 ml) gin
- 1 ounce (30 ml) green Chartreuse
- 1 ounce (30 ml) Luxardo (maraschino liqueur)
- 1 ounce (30 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
Instructions
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Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
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Shake until well chilled.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Garnish with a Luxardo cherry or a lime twist.
Notes
- To batch for a crowd: for eight drinks combine 1 cup gin, 1 cup green Chartreuse, 1 cup maraschino liqueur, 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, and 1/2 cup water. Stir, chill up to three hours, then serve over chilled glasses and garnish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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