Final Ward
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 24.5% ABV ∙
The Final Ward is an equal-parts shaken sour of rye whiskey, herbal liqueur, maraschino liqueur, and lemon juice, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Rye whiskey 20 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse) 20 mlMaraschino liqueur 20 mlLemon juice 20 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- The Final Ward is a true equal-parts drink, 20 ml of each, so jigger all four; a little extra Chartreuse or maraschino and it tastes of nothing else.
- Give it a hard 12-15 second shake with plenty of ice; the heavy liqueurs and the lemon need that long to get cold and take on enough water.
History
The Final Ward is a variation on the Last Word, a gin cocktail most often traced to the Detroit Athletic Club before Prohibition and revived in the 2000s by Seattle bartender Murray Stenson. Bartender Phil Ward created this rye-based riff, swapping in rye whiskey for the gin and lemon juice for the lime. Some accounts place its creation at Death & Co in New York in 2007, though Ward himself has said it actually happened earlier, while he was still at the Pegu Club. The name plays on its lineage — Last Word becomes Final Word, and Word becomes Ward, after its creator's surname.
FAQ
What is in a Final Ward?
Equal parts, 20 ml each, of rye whiskey, an herbal liqueur such as green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and fresh lemon juice.
Is a Final Ward shaken or stirred?
Shaken, hard, for 12–15 seconds with plenty of ice. Anything shorter leaves the lemon juice and the two heavy liqueurs too warm and not diluted enough.
How is a Final Ward different from a Last Word?
A Final Ward swaps the Last Word's gin for rye whiskey and its lime for lemon, so it tastes spicier and warmer. The equal-parts structure of spirit, herbal liqueur, maraschino and citrus stays the same.
