IBA
Last Word – IBA
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 25.4% ABV ∙
The Last Word is an IBA-listed equal-parts sour of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice, shaken and served up. Cold and razor-sharp, it balances herbal bitterness against cherry-sweet richness, with bright acidity cutting through a silky, chilled finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 22 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse) 22 mlMaraschino liqueur 22 mlLime juice 22 ml
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass
Tips
- Measure the Chartreuse and maraschino precisely — both are strong liqueurs that overwhelm the gin if poured even slightly heavy.
- Shake hard for a full 10-15 seconds; the equal-parts build needs vigorous dilution to keep it from tasting syrupy.
- Pre-chill the glass before straining so the drink doesn't lose its temperature edge in the first few sips.
History
The Last Word – IBA is the International Bartenders Association's codified specification of the classic Last Word, listed among the IBA official cocktails with an equal-parts build of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. The IBA listing standardizes the recipe for competition and bartender training rather than documenting a separate invention story of its own.
The Last Word itself originated at the Detroit Athletic Club in Detroit, reportedly before 1916 and shortly ahead of Prohibition. It fell into obscurity for decades until Seattle bartender Murray Stenson came across the recipe in Ted Saucier's 1951 book Bottoms Up! and revived it at the Zig Zag Café in 2003, after which it spread widely and was eventually adopted into the IBA's official roster.
FAQ
What is the recipe for the Last Word cocktail?
The Last Word is built as equal parts of four ingredients, shaken hard with ice and strained into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. The equal-parts ratio keeps the gin, herbal liqueur, maraschino, and lime in balance, giving a drink around 25% ABV.
What are the ingredients in the Last Word?
Gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice, mixed in equal parts and shaken. All four ingredients are vegan and lactose-free, and the finished drink runs about 220 calories per serving.
How do you make a Last Word without Chartreuse?
Chartreuse is what gives the Last Word its herbal backbone, so swapping it out changes the drink significantly, but a green herbal liqueur such as Genepy or a yellow Chartreuse can stand in if green Chartreuse is unavailable. Either substitute shifts the flavor lighter and sweeter, so taste and adjust the lime before serving.
