The history of the Last Word: a world-famous cocktail reborn in Seattle

Equal parts gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime — this is all you need for a Last Word, now a world-famous cocktail that was reborn right here in Seattle at Zig Zag Cafe .

While delicious (it was once described as perfectly balanced by Audrey Saunders, another world-famous bartender) , this cocktail didn’t just put Seattle on the map. The Last Word also helped restart a public fascination with the art of cocktail making.

Why did we say “reborn?”

Cocktails have been in and out of fashion for centuries. The Last Word was originally created by a Vaudeville singer in 1920s Detroit , but didn’t stand the test of time — yet . The cocktail later appeared in a 1951 recipe book titled “Bottoms Up,” which is where bartending legend Murray Stenson found the recipe in 2003.

A Zig Zag employee at the time, Stenson was just looking for something to help the bar compete with another bar in Pioneer Square. However, despite his jokes about his discovery being a fluke, the drink spread like wildfire.

A friend tried the drink and was so impressed that he took the idea over to New York. Then word traveled to San Francisco, then London, and then the world — and, well, the rest is history.

Wanna try one for yourself?

Zig Zag Cafe is a fabulous place to start, but other bars like Tin Lizzie (which claims to use the very original specifications for the drink) , Roquette , Le Coin , and Tavern Law are some great sources, too. It’s a classic, so feel free to order even if it’s not on the menu.