"this is it...The Last Word"

This Gin based prohibition-era cocktail was almost lost to obscurity until a Seattle based bartender gave it a cult re-birth.  Murray Stenson created a buzz with his "Last Word" cocktail while bartending at the Zig Zag Cafe.

According to Ted Saucier's cocktail book "Bottoms Up", the Last Word was created in the early 1920's in Detroit, where it was first served at the Detroit Athletic Club.  The cocktail consisted of equal amounts of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and fresh lime juice.

*The Detroit Athletic Club during the prohibition era

The Last Word Cocktail
3/4 oz Tanqueray Gin
3/4 oz Green Chartreuse
3/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
3/4 oz Lime Juice
Combine all ingredients into a shaker and shake with ice.  Strain into a Martini Glass

Audrey Saunders of the Pegu Bar in New York considers it amongst her bar's best cocktails..."I love the sharp, pungent drinks, and this has a good bite.  It's a great palate cleanser and it's perfectly balanced: a little sour, a little sweet and a little pungent."

Cheers to you Murray Stenson...