A unique and complex sipper, the Mezcal Last Word offers a strong swirl of sweet, herbal, and citrus notes.
The argument had started last night and went all the way through until morning. It never actually ended, if you get right down and analyze every screaming, heated moment. Passions were inflamed, and with every rebuke, the dishes in the kitchen suddenly had a license to fly. Before any more ceramic shards could explode around my head, I took the proverbial high road. Or rather, the fire escape.
Who knows what set my better half off? Maybe it was the offhand joke about it smelling like something had died in the oven. Or my accidentally spraying floor cleaner onto their freshly baked tuna casserole. Then my suggestion of dino-shaped chicken nuggets to replace said casserole went over like a lead balloon. Wine bottles began to fire in my direction like missiles. It was time to take a break.
Moments later, I was down in the neighborhood bar, lamenting to the barkeep about how I can never do anything right, and that I’ll probably never get the last word. That’s when a drink slid in front of me. I sipped, tasting the herbaceous notes from green Chartreuse, the tang of lime juice, and the sweetness from a maraschino liqueur. But there was a smokiness that carried it all, an earthy, agave-forward bouquet to match. Of course… a Mezcal Last Word.
And at the end of the bar sat my significant other, smiling at me and sipping on the same tipple. It looked like we both ended up having some pleasant Last Words together.
What is the best mezcal to use in a Mezcal Last Word?
I was cat-sitting for our friends a few days ago, and noticed a bottle of Vida sitting on the shelf of their bar cart. Always welcome to a little glass of something, I whipped up a Mezcal Last Word using the smooth and reliable brand. I’ve noticed many establishments themselves utilize Vida when an elixir calls for the smoky, agave-distilled spirit. It’s easy to find at your local liquor or grocery stores too, and it won’t break the bank. If you’re new to exploring mezcal, Vida is a great place to start.
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce mezcal
- 3/4 ounce Green Chartreuse
- 3/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
- 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 lime twist for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the mezcal, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice.
- Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express a lime twist over the drink and drop it into the glass.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Chill a coupe as you prep your drink by filling it with ice cubes or storing it in your freezer for about 15 minutes. When ready, dump the ice or take the glass out of the freezer, pour, and express a lime twist over your cocktail. Garnish with the lime twist on top.
What is the best maraschino liqueur to use?
Luxardo is what most people think of when maraschino liqueur is brought up. Easy to find, and of a fantastic and reliable quality, this is most armchair mixologists’ brand of choice. There’s also Maraska, Lazzaroni and Bols.
Similar cocktails to the Mezcal Last Word
The Mezcal Last Word is a robust and enticing riff on a classic concoction that has been around since 1915. Having a resurgence during the cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s, many inspired offshoots and variants of it have emerged on our mixed drink timeline, so to speak. Try a few of them out with these recipes found right here at Twist & Toast.
- The Last Word – The original gin-based version is a timeless icon.
- Naked and Famous – Mezcal, yellow chartreuse, and Aperol help craft this contemporary masterpiece.
- Final Ward – Have a dram that’s a little sweet and a little spicy.
- Paper Plane – Bourbon and Aperol give this drink an orange and smoky-sweet spin.
I and my better half have had Mezcal only once – at a tasting in Mexico City. We were gifted a bottle and, apart from simply sipping it, were wondering what sort of cocktails we might make with it. Thanks to you, we now have a number of options! This drink sounds wonderful.
Hope you enjoy!