The Last Word was created at the Detroit Athletic Club around 1916, fell out of favour during and after Prohibition, sat forgotten for most of the 20th century, and got reintroduced by Murray Stenson at the Zig Zag Cafe in Seattle in 2004. Within ten years it became one of the most-poured modern classics in the world. The recipe is bulletproof: four ingredients, equal parts, no fuss.
Ingredients
- London Dry gin 22ml
- Green chartreuse 22ml
- Maraschino liqueur 22ml
- Fresh lime juice 22ml
Method
- Combine everything in a shaker with ice. Equal parts.
- Shake hard for 10 seconds.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish: brandied cherry, or nothing.
Why equal parts works
Same logic as the Paper Plane. Each of the four ingredients does a different structural job: gin provides juniper backbone, green chartreuse provides intense herbal complexity, maraschino provides cherry-and-bitter depth, lime provides acid. Equal volumes mean none dominates and they all show up in the same sip.
The result reads as endlessly complex on a simple ratio. New tasters often describe it as "I keep finding new things in it".
Why green chartreuse specifically
Green chartreuse is made by Carthusian monks in the French Alps from a 17th-century recipe of 130 herbs and botanicals. The exact recipe is known to only two monks at a time. 55% ABV, intense herbal-mint-anise character, slightly sweet but mostly bitter.
Yellow chartreuse (40% ABV, sweeter, milder) works but produces a softer, less interesting Last Word. Use the green.
Brand sourcing: there is only one Chartreuse (the monks make it all). Limited global supply. In Malaysia, available at Cellarbration and a few specialty importers. RM 320-420 per bottle. Worth keeping a bottle for the Last Word alone.
Variations worth knowing
Naked & Famous: mezcal + yellow chartreuse + Aperol + lime, equal parts. Smoky version of the format.
Paper Plane: bourbon + amaro + Aperol + lemon, equal parts. Bourbon version of the format.
Final Ward: rye + green chartreuse + maraschino + lemon, equal parts. Rye-based variation of the Last Word.
All three share the "equal parts modern classic" DNA. See our deeper piece on the family in the Negroni family tree.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Last Word served in?
A chilled coupe, up, no ice. The drink is pale yellow-green from the green chartreuse and the colour alone is part of the serve. A Nick & Nora works too. The size is small (around 100ml), so the glass should be too; a wide coupe lets the herbal nose open.
Can I substitute the green chartreuse?
Yellow chartreuse works but produces a softer, less interesting drink because it's milder and sweeter. There is no real substitute for green chartreuse; the 130-herb recipe made by the Carthusian monks is structurally unique. Supply is limited globally. If you must, a high-proof herbal liqueur like Strega comes closest. Better to wait until you can source green chartreuse.
How strong is the Last Word?
Around 28 to 32 percent ABV in the glass after the shake. The green chartreuse is 55 percent ABV, which keeps the drink potent even with the dilution. Built as a serious aperitivo or after-dinner pour, not a first-thirst-quencher. One Last Word is usually enough; the herbal complexity rewards slow drinking.
Where can I order a Last Word in PJ or KL?
On request at Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya (43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue to Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) and at Soluble Solids in SS2, Petaling Jaya (50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed to Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651). Both bars are in Tatler Asia Top 20 Bars 2025/26. We keep green chartreuse on the back bar specifically for this drink.
What food pairs with the Last Word?
Aperitivo plates: olives, salted almonds, anchovy bruschetta. Mediterranean small plates broadly. Goat's cheese and crackers. The chartreuse's herbal complexity wants something simple, not competing. Avoid heavy mains; this is a pre-dinner or post-dessert drink, not a with-the-meal pour. For Malaysian context, satay or grilled chicken wings work.