The Last Word

[Adam George]

My waiter asks me for an "End of the World" today.

I told her I was gay.

It turned out her guest asked for a Last Word.

Awkward....

[FrogPrincesse]

It turns out there is such a thing as a World's End cocktail, but it's not related to the Last Word. It's a riff on the Corpse Reviver No. 2 with blue curaçao, inspired by the movie. Who knew?

 

I tried a tequila variant of the cocktail recently, Adam Robinson's Last Rites: blanco tequila, lemon juice, yellow chartreuse, maraschino liqueur. It's from a little book, The Cocktail Hour - Tequila (thanks Rafa, my secret Santa!).

It's very good. Switching from green to yellow chartreuse allows the tequila to shine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tanstaafl2]

It turns out there is such a thing as a World's End cocktail, but it's not related to the Last Word. It's a riff on the Corpse Reviver No. 2 with blue curaçao, inspired by the movie. Who knew?

 

I tried a tequila variant of the cocktail recently, Adam Robinson's Last Rites: blanco tequila, lemon juice, yellow chartreuse, maraschino liqueur. It's from a little book, The Cocktail Hour - Tequila (thanks Rafa, my secret Santa!).

It's very good. Switching from green to yellow chartreuse allows the tequila to shine.

 

 

 

Interesting. Might it warrant a trial with lime juice instead of lemon? I would likely also explore the use of a reposado to see if it adds a touch of depth. Between the maraschino and chartreuse it might already have plenty of bite to it.

 

In any case there seems to be room to play!

[JoNorvelleWalker]

I tried a tequila variant of the cocktail recently, Adam Robinson's Last Rites: blanco tequila, lemon juice, yellow chartreuse, maraschino liqueur. It's from a little book, The Cocktail Hour - Tequila (thanks Rafa, my secret Santa!).

It's very good. Switching from green to yellow chartreuse allows the tequila to shine.

 

Is this equal proportions?

[Hassouni]

Most likely

[Rafa]

Huh, I thought I had added that one to KC. I believe it was equal parts.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Huh, I thought I had added that one to KC. I believe it was equal parts.

 

I reflected on the Last Rites a while.  Considering the ingedients I have on hand I thought the drink would be too sweet to be enjoyable as it stood with equal proportions.  Here is my solution (pun possibly intended):

 

1 1/2 oz Patron anejo

3/4 oz yellow Chartreuse VEP

3/4 oz maraschino

3/4 oz lemon juice

 

 

One of the more satisfactory beverages I have had.  And it just fit in the coupe!

 

Not to let that stand in the way, I made another version:

 

2 oz Patron anejo

1/2 oz yellow Chartreuse VEP

1/2 oz maraschino

1 oz lemon juice

 

 

I like this too, but I think I should have held the lemon at 3/4 oz, or possibly switched to lime.  However I realize this is getting into the realm of a different drink.

 

Yeah, nice...too bad I didn't measure.

[FrogPrincesse]

The original recipe indeed calls for equal parts.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

OK, for science!  I measured carefully.  No limes were harmed in the making of this drink:

 

3/4 Patron anejo

3/4 oz yellow Chartreuse VEP

3/4 oz maraschino

3/4 oz lemon juice

 

 

This is a dessert drink, and sadly I have not had dinner yet.  Even for a dessert drink this is far too sweet for me.  I would not make this again.  I guess different folks have different tastes.  As for me I can't choke this down.  An old, old drink like Widow's Kiss is so much better.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Shook another shot of tequila.  Fixed it up so I could drink it.  I do love the flavors though.

 

In all my years I'd not had maraschino nor Chartreuse till recently.  What a waste.  In the forties and fifties our bathroom was chartreuse, and I think that turned me off.

[Adam George]

These have to be the most expensive homemade drinks I've ever seen...

[Czequershuus]

Looking over my notes I realize I have had a few Last Word variants in the past week or so.

 

I found the Final Answer (Link) when I was looking for more things to do with my Buffalo Trace White Dog. The recipe looked quite large for a rich drink, so I cut it in half.

 

1.5 Oz (0.75 Oz) White Whiskey (Recipe called for Death's Door, I used my Buffalo Trace)

1 Oz (0.5 Oz) Green Chartreuse

1 Oz (0.5 Oz) Maraschino

1 Oz (0.5 Oz) Lemon Juice

 

I think there is an inherent sweetness to the white dog that tips the balance a little to far in this one. However, the herbalness of the chartreuse really does star without the gin botanicals present in a Last Word. This one grew on me as it warmed up.

 

 

Other variation I had just a couple nights ago was The Last Stand (Link)

 

0.75 Oz Del Maguey Vida Mezcal (My Vida is now almost empty )

0.75 Oz Green Chartreuse

0.75 Oz Maraschino

0.75 Oz Lime Juice

 

This is one of the last word variants that truly stands shoulder to shoulder with the original. The spicy Mezcal adds a great dimension to the drink. I think Mezcal and Chartreuse is an even better pairing than Tequila and Chartreuse...

[JoNorvelleWalker]

These have to be the most expensive homemade drinks I've ever seen...

 

They use lemon juice, not lime.

[Hassouni]

I think he means the $166 bottle of VEP Yellow and ~$70 (?) Patron Añejo

[FrogPrincesse]

I think she is messing with us, but in any case the Patron is "only" ~ $50.

[EvergreenDan]

They use lemon juice, not lime.

:laugh:

[Hassouni]

I dunno, in Montgomery County, the cheapest place in the DC area, the Añejo is $65

[FrogPrincesse]

Might be our proximity to the border. BevMo has it for $49.99. Although I would rather have the Siete Leguas for less money.

[Hassouni]

Hm turns out MoCo is not cheaper than DC for Patron Añejo, where the going price at the respectable places seems to be $60. Still....

Edited April 30, 2014 by Hassouni (log)

[FrogPrincesse]

Le Mot de la Fin (Julien Escot), a Suze-based version of the Last Word with Beefeater gin, maraschino liqueur, Suze classique, lemon juice, lavender garnish.

 

 

[ChrisTaylor]

Looks interesting. I can't help but imagine the aroma of the garnish dominating proceedings, though.

[FrogPrincesse]

Not really; the lavender was discrete and the Suze had the upper hand.

[ChrisTaylor]

Well, I tried it. I agree, really. Lemon and Suze dominated. Followed by the Luxardo. The garnish, even when backed up with lavender bitters, had a subdued presence. 

[FrogPrincesse]

The Last Wynd (Sian Ferguson via Gaz Regan) with Havana Club añejo 3 rum, yellow Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur (Luxardo), lime juice, honey (local sage blossom honey, Mikolich family). I reduced the honey by half and it was still quite sweet. It would be better with less Chartreuse & maraschino.

 

 

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

 

The Last Wynd (Sian Ferguson via Gaz Regan) with Havana Club añejo 3 rum, yellow Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur (Luxardo), lime juice, honey (local sage blossom honey, Mikolich family). I reduced the honey by half and it was still quite sweet. It would be better with less Chartreuse & maraschino.

 

 

 

 

Thanks!  I doubled the rum (Cana Brava) and omitted the honey altogether.  Just right.