Food - Drink
The Best Type Of Gin For A Classic Last Word Cocktail
By MELISSA NICHOLSON
The Last Word cocktail, which has made a smashing comeback, is a sophisticated mix of gin, lime juice, green Chartreuse, and maraschino liqueur. Shaken with ice, the cocktail has unique flavors that combine the gin and Chartreuse’s herbal notes, the sweet maraschino, and the tartness of the lime — and the gin you choose matters.
The steeping time of the juniper berries in gin can greatly impact its flavor, and sometimes other flavors such as coriander, orris root, Angelica root, orange, cinnamon, or licorice are added as well. While tasting is the best way to choose the right gin for your Last Word drink, you can't go wrong with a London dry gin with light juniper notes.
The Last Word works best with straightforward, milder juniper notes, which helps each ingredient to take its turn as a starring note in your drink, without drowning out any of the other flavors. Some excellent London dry gin brands for a balanced and flavorful cocktail include Bombay Sapphire, Highclere Castle, and Ford's gin.