Last Word

Author Notes

Originally created at the Detroit athletic club in the 1920s, a Last Word—equal parts gin, lime, maraschino liqueur, and chartreuse—is perfectly suited for rotgut bathtub gin, which is almost certainly what was used in the original cocktail. Bold, spicy, vegetal, and tart, the Last Word has become a favorite amongst cocktail enthusiasts and is appropriately named for both its relatively high alcohol content and the intensity of its flavor. This cocktail is a closer. —Erik Lombardo

Test Kitchen Notes

We love the Last Word because it’s balanced, bright, decidedly boozy, and—best of all—made with four ingredients of equal volume. Like its equal-part cousin, the Negroni, the Last Word is the sort of cocktail that you make once and know forever. Both bold and refreshing, it’s a cocktail that belongs at any occasion at any time of year. Our preferred Last Word drinking experience? Just as the name suggests: after dinner, possibly—but not necessarily—with friends, you’re closing the night out strong. —Food52