Last Word Cocktail Recipe: Equal Parts Gin, Chartreuse, Maraschino, and Lime

By Aquarium Guides Editorial Team · Updated November 9, 2026

Last Updated: November 9, 2026

The Last Word is made with equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice, three-quarters of an ounce each, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled coupe. It tastes herbal, tart, and slightly cherry-sweet all at once. The recipe is simple, but the ingredients are bold, so every pour matters.

The drink dates to the Detroit Athletic Club in the early 1900s and was revived in the 2000s by a Seattle bartender who found the recipe in an old book. Today it is considered a modern classic and the basis of many “equal parts” riffs. It is a strong drink, so sip slowly and drink responsibly.

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz London dry gin
• 3/4 oz green Chartreuse
• 3/4 oz maraschino liqueur
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• Ice
• Optional garnish: a brandied or maraschino-style cocktail cherry, or a lime twist

Instructions

1. Place a coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes.
2. Squeeze the lime juice fresh and measure carefully.
3. Add gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
4. Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds.
5. Strain into the chilled glass.
6. Garnish with a cherry or leave bare. The drink has a pale green hue and looks elegant without decoration.

What Each Ingredient Contributes

Green Chartreuse is a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks from a closely guarded recipe of 130 plants. It is higher in alcohol than most liqueurs, around 55 percent ABV, which is one reason the Last Word hits harder than it looks. Maraschino liqueur is not the sugary syrup in a jar of bright red cocktail cherries. It is a clear liqueur distilled from Marasca cherries, including the pits, which give it a nutty, dry complexity.

Tips for Getting It Right

• Use a juniper-forward gin. Chartreuse is assertive, so a gin with firm structure holds its place.
• Use fresh lime. Bottled juice makes the drink taste muddy and dull.
• Do not skimp on shaking. The dilution matters, since all the liqueurs are strong.
• Serve it cold. A chilled coupe keeps the last sip as crisp as the first.
• Measure precisely. With equal parts, even a small mistake changes the balance. If you taste too much Chartreuse, trim it to 1/2 oz and add a bar spoon of maraschino.

Variations on the Last Word

The “equal parts” template has inspired many riffs. A few well-known examples:

Final Ward

Replace gin with rye whiskey and lime with lemon juice. The result is spicier and more rounded.

Paper Plane

Equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice. This is a cousin rather than a direct variation, but it uses the same structure.

Naked and Famous

Equal parts mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, and lime juice. It is smoky, citrusy, and slightly bitter.

Division Bell

Mezcal, Aperol, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice, with a distinctly smoky and bittersweet character.

Yellow Chartreuse swap

Replace green Chartreuse with yellow Chartreuse for a sweeter, honeyed, saffron-tinted version that is less aggressive.

Substitutions When You Do Not Have Everything

• No maraschino liqueur: there is no perfect substitute, but a small amount of cherry liqueur with a drop of almond extract can approximate it. The drink will be sweeter.
• No green Chartreuse: this is the heart of the drink. Other herbal liqueurs will taste different but can still make a pleasant cocktail.
• No lime: fresh lemon juice works, but the drink becomes slightly softer and less sharp.

Serving and Pairing

The Last Word is an aperitif-style drink with enough power to carry through the beginning of a meal. Pair it with:

• Oysters or other raw shellfish, which suit the lime and herbal notes
• Ceviche
• Goat cheese crostini with a drizzle of olive oil
• Marinated olives and almonds
• Herb-forward Mediterranean small plates

Scaling for Two or More

For a pitcher serving four, combine 3 oz each of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. Add 2 oz cold water and refrigerate. When serving, shake each portion with ice rather than pouring directly from the pitcher, since the drink benefits from the aeration and chill of shaking. Use fresh lime juice the same day.

A Brief Note on Chartreuse

Chartreuse is produced in limited quantities, and supply has been tight in recent years. If a bottle is hard to find, start with a smaller bottle. A little goes a long way, since each drink uses less than an ounce, so a standard bottle yields many cocktails.

FAQ

What does a Last Word taste like?

Expect bright lime first, then a wave of herbs and mint from the Chartreuse, with cherry and almond notes at the end. Gin provides a piney backbone.

Why is it called the Last Word?

The name comes from the drink’s early history in Detroit in the 1910s and 1920s. The phrase is also a confident name for a drink with such a bold flavor profile.

Is the Last Word a strong cocktail?

Yes. It contains no mixer, and green Chartreuse is high in alcohol. Although the volume is modest at around three ounces before dilution, it has substantial strength.

Can I make it with a different gin?

Yes. A classic London dry is the usual choice, but a more citrus-forward or softer gin can create a lighter result. Avoid extremely sweet gins, as the liqueurs already add sweetness.

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