IBA
Last Word – IBA
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 23.3% ABV ∙
The Last Word is an IBA-listed equal-parts sour of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice, shaken and served up.
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
- Keep the Chartreuse and maraschino to exactly 22 ml each; both are strong liqueurs, and even a slightly heavy pour buries the gin.
- Half the drink is sweet liqueur, so shake hard for a full 10-15 seconds; the extra water keeps it from drinking thick and heavy.
History
The Last Word – IBA is the International Bartenders Association's codified specification of the classic Last Word: equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. The IBA adopted the drink into its official roster after its revival in the 2000s.
The Last Word originated at the Detroit Athletic Club in Detroit, where it was on the menu by 1916, shortly ahead of Prohibition. After decades of obscurity, 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.
FAQ
What is the recipe for the Last Word cocktail?
Shake 22 ml each of London dry gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice hard with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. It comes out around 23% ABV.
What are the ingredients in the Last Word?
Gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice in equal parts. All four are vegan and lactose-free.
How do you make a Last Word without Chartreuse?
Swap in génépy, or yellow Chartreuse if you only want to skip the green. Either makes the drink lighter and sweeter, so taste and adjust the lime before serving. Green Chartreuse is a quarter of the drink and gives it its herbal bite, so expect a noticeably different cocktail.
