Why was my Last Word cocktail red?
Last night I ordered a Last Word cocktail, which I've had a few times before. When it came, the waiter told me that the bartender had never made one before. It was red. It was very red. It was also quite strongly cherry flavored.
A Last Word is usually made with equal parts:
- Green Chartreuse
- Maraschino liqueur
- Lime juice
- Dry gin
What could've caused this drink to be so red? (I had to leave quickly or I would've pressed the bartender!) My only theory so far is that he used a cherry liqueur instead of maraschino.
Best Answer
More likely is that he used the syrup that maraschino "cherries" are stored in. It's sometimes used by those who don't know better in things like Shirley Temples. It is bright, bright red, very sweet, very strongly flavored of cherries (or more properly a sort of sickly, artificial interpretation of the flavor). I hope it's obvious that I'm not a fan of this stuff.
If this was his first time making the drink, it seems likely that he misinterpreted the term maraschino liqueur, which is altogether different. It's distilled from marasca cherries (which are actually quite sour and bitter, not sweet) and has a much more subtle, complex flavor.
Quite frankly, I'd consider this a pretty dumb error - it's like using orange juice instead of orange liqueur. If the bar doesn't carry maraschino liqueur, then they can't make a proper Last Word. Brands like Luxardo are pretty ubiquitous at good cocktail bars in the US these days, so there's not much excuse for lacking it.
My advice is either to buy this fellow a good craft cocktail book, or stick to ordering beer and wine from him from now on.
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What is the ingredients for last word?
1 part Gin1 part Green Chartreuse1 part Lime juice1 part Maraschino liqueurWhat does the last word cocktail taste like?
The Last Word is a sweet and sharp drink with a pale green hue and a bite bigger than its bark. This little palate cleanser is rich and pungent. It is best suited to those who like a sharp kick to a drink and The Last Word should be the first thing you order the next time you fancy a sweet, citrus hit.Can you use yellow Chartreuse for a last word cocktail?
We say: A cognac-based ginger riff on a Last Word. With: Equal parts rye, Yellow Chartreuse, Benedictine and lemon juice. We say: The robust flavours of rye combine harmoniously with the other ingredients. With: Equal parts mezcal, Italian red aperitivo, Yellow Chartreuse, and lime juice.Is a last word Shaken or stirred?
The Last Word consists of equal amounts of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and freshly pressed lime juice, which are combined in a shaker with ice. After shaking, the mix is poured through a cocktail strainer (sieve) into the glass so that the cocktail contains no ice and is served straight up.How to Make a LAST WORD | Gin \u0026 Chartreuse Classic Cocktail
More answers regarding why was my Last Word cocktail red?
Answer 2
Sounds like you're already satisfied with the answer, but I think it's odd that grenadine hasn't yet been mentioned! Did it have that characteristic saccharine-sweet pomegranate or blackcurrant taste? Seems far more likely as an ingredient than actual cherry juice/syrup.
Sorry if I missed a previous grenadine comment.
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