Bramble

The Last Word is an equal-parts cocktail — ¾ oz of everything, no exceptions. The temptation is to reduce the Chartreuse or Maraschino because they're strong-flavored, but resist it. The magic of this drink is the precise balance of all four components. Shake hard and double-strain for a clean, silky texture.

Green Chartreuse is 110 proof and intensely herbal — it dominates if the other ingredients aren't in balance. Maraschino (use Luxardo, not the cheap stuff) adds a nutty, floral sweetness that tames the Chartreuse. Fresh lime juice ties everything together with brightness. The gin is almost a background note — use a clean London Dry like Tanqueray rather than something too botanical.

The Last Word was created at the Detroit Athletic Club around 1915 and largely forgotten until Ted Saucier included it in his 1951 book 'Bottoms Up.' Murray Stenson rediscovered it at Zig Zag Café in Seattle in the early 2000s, and it became one of the defining cocktails of the craft cocktail revival. It's now a benchmark drink — if a bar makes a good Last Word, they know what they're doing.

Final Ward

Swap the gin for rye whiskey and the lime juice for lemon juice. Phil Ward's variation from Death & Co is arguably even better than the original — the rye's spice plays beautifully against the Chartreuse and Maraschino.

Naked and Famous

Replace the gin with mezcal, the Chartreuse with Yellow Chartreuse, and the Maraschino with Aperol. Joaquín Simó's variation from Death & Co — smoky, bitter, and citrusy. A modern classic in its own right.