The Last Word
- Drinking and Thinking
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
A classic from Detroit of the 1910s
This "modern classic" 20th century cocktail was developed at the Detroit Athletic Club in the late teens of the 20th century and I included some family photos I found from Detroit around that time. I have an amazing one somewhere of some guys sunbathing and smoking cigarettes on the roof of the actual club in 1920 but I can't find it so you'll just have to take my "word" for it.
This cocktail has "classic" written all over it. It is literally "the last word" in balance and complexity with a perfectly simple 4 equal parts ratio. What makes this work so well is how each ingredient complements and balances the other 3. It's a real world manifestation of the concept of Gestalt where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts which is the foundational principle behind all great art. The reason it works so well is that each ingredient plays an equal role, like an ensemble cast. No single ingredient is allowed to upstage the other, but all of them are allowed to have their moment in the limelight.
The primary spirit of gin is not so much the star but the botanical foundation that drives the story. The fact that it is only 1/4 of the volume of the drink makes it seem less boozy, but in fact the Chartreuse has a higher proof which kicks it back up. Most primary spirits are 80 proof or 40% ABV (alcohol by volume) and most liqueurs are roughly 25% to 35% ABV, but Chartreuse is a whopping 55% ABV. This booziness is partially masked by its intense spiced/herbal flavor which is what gives the drink its distinctive character. By themselves or in tandem these two ingredients have an almost unbearable intensity of flavor, but then add the sweet fruity cherry flavor of Luxardo maraschino liqueur to temper the medicinal quality of the Chartreuse and you're getting closer to balance. Since both liqueurs have a significant amount of sugar, the most important balancing agent for all that sweetness is the citric acid from the lime. And there you have the perfect equilibrium of a quadratic equation and a handful of mixed metaphors and clichés!
What is most fascinating to me about this particular cocktail is how it can be used as a basis for endless experimentation and riffing. Another great classic from just a decade or two later is the Blood and Sand or the 21st century classic Paper Plane which uses bourbon instead of gin for the primary spirit; Amaro Nonino for the herbal/spiced/sweet component; Aperol for the fruity sweetness and lemon for the citrus. Once you understand the basic flavor/chemistry/alchemy concept you can make endless variations. There's no guarantee that they will all be winners, but it's a great starting point and way to learn how to create balance. It's a slightly more sophisticated template for experimentation than a Negroni or Manhattan where one ingredient replacement creates a similar tasting variation.
Much like the 3 equal part Negroni, each ingredient can be swapped out for a similar variation of the chemical/flavor composition. As an example, if you use dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth in a Negroni you have a White Negroni. Or swap the Campari with Aperol and it's just lighter and less bitter, etc. I have made two of my own original Last Word variations that I will post here in the near future because they're awesome and you need to try them too!
But for now it's time to make the original! You can watch my first video where I fumble around and show you the process or you can just skip down below and read the simple recipe.
The Last Word
¾ oz gin
¾ oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur
¾ oz Green Chartreuse
¾ oz lime juice (fresh squeezed)
lime wedge as garnish
Shake with ice, fine strain into coupe, garnish with lime. Simple, right?
