Final Say

The Last Word is a cocktail legend — gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, equal parts, shaken and served up. It was invented in Detroit in the 1920s, disappeared for decades, and was resurrected by bartenders in the early 2000s who recognised a masterpiece when they found one.

The Final Say takes that blueprint and rebuilds it around Landlocked Navy Rum and Yellow Chartreuse. The result is its own drink entirely.

Where the original is herbal and sharp, the Final Say is warmer, richer, and more generous. Landlocked Navy Rum brings a robust, full-bodied rum character that can hold its own against Yellow Chartreuse — a liqueur that is itself a force of nature, packed with over 130 alpine herbs and plants and tasting like something between honey, gentian, and a mountain walk. Lime juice provides the sour backbone, while orgeat adds a soft almond sweetness that ties together the rum's molasses richness and the Chartreuse's complexity.

Equal parts of rum, Yellow Chartreuse, and lime, with the orgeat playing a supporting role. Shake everything hard over ice and double strain into a chilled martini glass. The colour is a pale, luminous gold. The garnish is a maraschino cherry — the one unambiguous piece of fun in a very serious cocktail.

This is a drink that rewards attention.

THE RECIPE

Landlocked Navy Rum is available here.