prohibition era · shaken
Last Word recipe
Equal parts gin, Chartreuse, maraschino, lime. Perfectly balanced.
A Last Word is 22.5 ml (21.2 g) Gin, 22.5 ml (20.9 g) Green Chartreuse, 22.5 ml (23.4 g) Maraschino and 22.5 ml (23.2 g) Fresh Lime Juice, shaken and served in a coupe. It pours to about 90 ml before ice, at roughly 31.8% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glasscoupe
- Methodshaken
- Pour volume90 ml
- Strength (est.)31.8% ABV
- Time4 min
Last Word ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gin | 22.5 ml | 21.2 g | 0.94 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Green Chartreuse | 22.5 ml | 20.9 g | 0.93 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Maraschino (Luxardo) | 22.5 ml | 23.4 g | 1.04 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Fresh Lime Juice | 22.5 ml | 23.2 g | 1.03 | Weighed by the coaster |
How to make a Last Word
- Set your coupe on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Add Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino and Fresh Lime Juice to a shaker, weighing each ingredient rather than eyeballing a jigger.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
Last Word: the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Last Word?
Roughly 31.8% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Strong. This is a stirred, undiluted-style drink — one is a full measure.
What glass should a Last Word be served in?
A coupe. Chill it first — a room-temperature stemmed glass will undo half the work you just did in the mixing tin.
Can I make a Last Word without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
If you like the Last Word
Gimlet
Gin and lime, properly balanced. Shaken or stirred.
Aviation
Gin, maraschino, lemon and a whisper of crème de violette.
Casino
Gin sharpened with maraschino, lemon and orange bitters.
Ramos Gin Fizz
Gin, citrus, cream and egg white whipped to a cloud, topped with soda.
Singapore Sling
Gin, cherry liqueur and a tropical chorus of juice and liqueurs.
Bijou
Gin, sweet vermouth, and Green Chartreuse. Jewel-bright.