How To Make A Mezcal Last Word

Gin and mezcal are about as different as two spirits can get. One’s smoky and agave-based, and the other is usually some kind of grain alcohol flavored with juniper. So why do they both work in a lot of the same cocktails? We think it’s because both spirits are super assertive, and they tend to get along with other ingredients that also have strong personalities. A Mezcal Last Word illustrates this perfectly. The Last Word is a classic gin cocktail with two highly flavorful ingredients in maraschino and Green Chartreuse, and when you swap mezcal for the gin, the results are magical. If you enjoy yourself a good Mezcal Negroni, this is the next logical step for you.

photo credit: Emily Schindler

Mezcal Last Word

You’ll Need:

Makes 1 Mezcal Last Word

• Ice

• Coupe or Martini glass

• .75 ounce mezcal

• .75 ounce maraschino

• .75 ounce Green Chartreuse

• .75 ounce lime juice

Step One: Lime Juice

The good news is, this cocktail calls for equal parts of everything, and that should make your life pretty easy. Let’s start things off with (fresh) lime juice. Add .75 ounce to you shaker.

Step Two: Maraschino

Maraschino is a type of liqueur flavored with marasca cherries. There are a few different varieties out there, but Luxardo is the most common one, and we’re fans of its tangy assertiveness. It has an extremely powerful flavor - but don’t worry. Mezcal can stand up to it. Pour .75 ounce into your cocktail shaker.

Step Three: Green Chartreuse

Get yourself a bottle of Green Chartreuse. Not just for this cocktail, but for life as well. (It’s great after dinner.) This French liqueur is made from over 130 different ingredients, and, much like maraschino, it packs a ton of flavor. Put .75 ounce into your shaker.

Step Four: Mezcal

There’s a lot of great mezcal out there, but you don’t need to go all out for this cocktail. Pick up a bottle in the $40 range, like Del Maguey Vida, Unión, or Pelotón de la Muerte. Whatever you choose, add .75 ounce to your cocktail shaker.

Step Five: Shake

Throw 5 or 6 ice cubes in your shaker, and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Next, strain your cocktail into a coupe or martini glass, and take a sip. It should taste complex and indefinable, as if there are multiple emphatic flavors competing for the spotlight (because there are). A cocktail this idiosyncratic doesn’t need a garnish, so just go ahead and keep drinking.