OK, today we’re in for an awesome treat, the classic Prohibition-era cocktail recipe known as the Last Word. This delicious gin drink is rich in flavor and history, and it’s one of our favorite cocktails here at A Bar Above.

Known for its sharp, complex flavors and light green hue, it’s a great choice for anyone looking to explore the art of classic cocktails. It sure has experienced a remarkable revival in recent years– with good reason.

And I know I say this a lot, but this is one of my personal favorites, which is why I put it on our recipe calendar. Sneaky, sneaky. But honestly, I’m a sucker for anything with green Chartreuse, as is Chris. So this one was kind of a no-brainer.

“But Chartreuse is so hard to find right now,” you say! You’re not wrong, but I’ll go more into the Chartreuse shortage below. Don’t worry; I’ve got you.

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History of the Last Word Cocktail

The Last Word is actually a classic pre-Prohibition-cocktail, originally concocted at the Detroit Athletic Club in the 1910s, with the first reference to it being on the bar menu circa 1916.

This delicious gin-based cocktail is sometimes credited to Frank Fogarty, a bartender and Vaudeville performer who reportedly brought the drink from Detroit to New York in the late 1910s or early 1920s, although the actual creator has never been confirmed. Ted Saucier detailed it in his 1951 cocktail book, Bottom’s Up, but then it just kind of faded into obscurity.

After nearly half a century, this complex drink was finally rediscovered during the craft cocktail revival in the early 2000s by Murray Stenson, then-bartender at the Zig Zag Café in Seattle. Stenson’s reintroduction of the Last Word helped spark the cocktail renaissance that is going strong today.

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Last Word Ingredients

The beauty of the Last Word lies in its simplicity and balance. Its an equal-parts cocktail with four ingredients:

• Gin: London dry gin brings an anise-flavored quality that carries the drink– it’s a far cry from the bathtub gin that drinkers in the 1910s and 1920s used!
• Green Chartreuse: This French liqueur offers herbal earthiness that works beautifully with gin. Currently, it’s pretty hard to find it, making this an expensive cocktail to create these days. Read on for substitutes.
• Maraschino liqueur: Luxardo maraschino brings a slightly sweet balance to the other ingredients.
• Fresh lime juice: Lime cuts through the maraschino liqueur and plays with the botanicals of the gin and Chartreuse, bringing a much-needed, bright acidity to the drink.

This combination creates a harmonious blend of herbal, sweet, and tart flavors, culminating in somewhat-potent, refreshing, and delicious cocktail.

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Chartreuse Shortage

OK, so what’s this about not being able to find Chartreuse? Let’s get into a little background first:

Carthusian monks in France have made this herbal liqueur since the 1700s, and the exact recipe remains a super guarded secret. Despite how amazing the liqueur is, the monks decided in 2019 that they wanted to focus more on their monkly duties rather than manufacturing liquor, so they set a finite number of bottles they would produce each year.

Then the pandemic hit, and people began crafting cocktails at home, throwing Chartreuse into the spotlight. But do the monks care about your obsession with their delicious liqueur or your craft cocktails? No, no they do not. Production is still limited despite the spike in demand.

The reduced number of bottles on the market coupled with the liqueur’s sudden surge in popularity make Chartreuse hard to find– and when you do find it, expect to pay $100 or more, vs the original $50-60. Good ol’ supply and demand, my friends.

For more info and alternatives to this dilemma, check out this guide I’ve put together featuring some decent substitutes– My absolute favorite replacement is Heirloom Genepy, which you can order online.

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How to Make the Last Word Cocktail

Preparing the Last Word is fairly straightforward. In the video below, Chris shows you the steps to achieve the perfect balance that this cocktail demands. Plus, he has a cool variation for you, too!

Variations of the Last Word

While the classic Last Word is fantastic on its own, the cocktail’s structure lends itself well to experimentation:

• The Final Say: Swap the gin for rye whiskey for a richer, spicier twist.
• The Last Ward: Substitute the gin with bourbon and the lime juice with lemon juice for a deeper, more rounded flavor.
• Mezcal Last Word: Use mezcal instead of gin to introduce a smoky note that complements the herbal qualities of the Chartreuse beautifully.
• Paper Plane: Although this bittersweet variation swaps out every single ingredient, it is commonly referred to as a modern version of the Last Word. Following the same formula, the Paper Plane is equal parts bourbon, fresh lemon juice, Aperol, and Amaro Nonino
• Genepy: Can’t find green Chartreuse or don’t want to pay a premium for the elusive spirit? Definitely make sure to check out the article I linked to above for substitutes, but Dolin Génépy will do in a pinch if you can’t find Heirloom or another alternative.

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You Gotta Have the Last Word

Whether you stick with the traditional recipe or venture into its creative variations, the Last Word offers a unique glimpse into the history and versatility of classic cocktails. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of well-balanced drinks and the timeless stories they tell.

Mastering this drink will certainly give you the last word at your next cocktail party. Let me know in the comments how you like it and if you have another alternative for Chartreuse. Until next time, cheers to exploring forgotten classics and bringing them back into the limelight!