Some cocktails are having a moment. The Last Word has had over a century.
This equal-parts classic was created in the early 1900s at the iconic Detroit Athletic Club — a place known for polished service, old-school glamour, and very well-made drinks. The cocktail perfectly matched the setting: sophisticated but bold, simple but layered.
The Last Word was born in an era when cocktails were bold, structured, and unapologetically spirit-forward. The DAC, long synonymous with old-world elegance and impeccable hospitality, was exactly the kind of place where a drink like this would take shape: refined, precise, and memorable.
While the cocktail was created at the Detroit Athletic Club around 1915, historical accounts suggest a performer named Frank Fogarty either introduced the drink to the club or made it popular there — rather than a documented in-house bartender creating it. As with many pre-Prohibition cocktails, exact records are a little hazy, but Fogarty’s name is the one most consistently tied to its story. That my friends, is local cocktail history at its finest.
What makes The Last Word stand out is its symmetry. Four ingredients. All the same measurement. That’s it. No overthinking, no fussy technique — just balance. But don’t confuse simple with boring. This drink is bright, herbal, slightly sweet, and perfectly tart all at once.
The gin lays down a botanical base. Green Chartreuse brings that unmistakable herbal intensity (it’s been made by French monks for centuries - it's a story you should really read more about if you don't already know how amazing this tradition is). Luxardo Maraschino liqueur adds cherry and almond notes, and fresh lime juice pulls everything together.
It tastes intentional. It tastes like a bartender who knows exactly what they’re doing.
Like many pre-Prohibition cocktails, The Last Word disappeared during the 1920s and basically ghosted the bar scene for decades. It wasn’t until the early 2000s, when craft cocktails started making a serious comeback, that bartenders rediscovered it. Once it reemerged, it spread fast. Turns out, a perfectly balanced drink never really goes out of style.
Today, it’s considered a modern classic — a go-to for cocktail lovers who appreciate structure and flavor without extra stuff.
Served up in a chilled Nick & Nora glass with a single Luxardo cherry, The Last Word looks as polished as it tastes. No dramatic garnish. No smoke bubbles. Just a sharp, clean pour that speaks for itself.
It’s the kind of drink you order when you want something classic but not predictable. Something with personality, but still refined. Equal parts confident and cool.
After one sip, the name makes sense.
Balanced. Bold. Timeless.
Some cocktails compete for attention.
This one simply gets the last word.
The Last Word
The Build (equal parts = the perfect balance):
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.75 oz New Zealand gin
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.75 oz Green Chartreuse
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.75 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
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.75 oz fresh lime juice
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Shake with ice
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Double strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass
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Garnish with a Luxardo cherry
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