Last Call
- Glass
- Coupe
- Difficulty
- Easy
- ABV
- ~22%
Ingredients
- ¾ ozmezcal22 ml
- ¾ ozyellow chartreuse22 ml
- ¾ ozmaraschino liqueur22 ml
- ¾ ozfresh lime juice22 ml
Instructions
Combine mezcal, yellow chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or no garnish. The Last Call is an equal-parts cocktail that reimagines the Last Word with mezcal and yellow chartreuse — smoky, herbal, and perfectly balanced.
Sips & Tips
Technique
Equal-parts cocktails are all about precision — measure carefully, as even a small imbalance will throw off the drink. Shake hard to integrate the viscous maraschino and chartreuse with the lime juice. The mezcal's smoke should be present but not overwhelming; choose a lighter mezcal if needed.
Balance
Use yellow chartreuse (not green) — it's sweeter and less intensely herbal, which pairs better with mezcal's smoke. The maraschino (Luxardo is the standard) adds cherry and almond notes. Choose a mezcal with moderate smoke like Del Maguey Vida or Banhez. Too much smoke will overwhelm the other ingredients.
History
The Last Call is a modern variation on the Last Word, itself a Prohibition-era classic from the Detroit Athletic Club. By swapping gin for mezcal and green chartreuse for yellow, the drink gains a smoky, slightly sweeter character. It's part of a family of equal-parts 'Last Word variations' that bartenders have been creating since the original's revival in the 2000s.
The Last Call is what happens when you add smoke to perfection — the Last Word template works beautifully with mezcal's earthy complexity. Equal parts, maximum impact. Cheers.
Variations
Last Word (Original)
Use gin and green chartreuse instead of mezcal and yellow chartreuse. The original Last Word is more herbal and juniper-forward — a different drink entirely but equally balanced.
Final Ward
Use rye whiskey, lemon juice, green chartreuse, and maraschino. Phil Ward's famous variation swaps the base spirit and citrus for a whiskey-forward take on the template.
You might also like
Last Call
Glass: Coupe | Difficulty: Easy | ABV: ~22%
Ingredients
- ¾ oz mezcal
- ¾ oz yellow chartreuse
- ¾ oz maraschino liqueur
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
Instructions
Combine mezcal, yellow chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or no garnish. The Last Call is an equal-parts cocktail that reimagines the Last Word with mezcal and yellow chartreuse — smoky, herbal, and perfectly balanced.