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Named after the direct Spanish translation of Last Word, hence the use of mezcal in place of the gin in a classic Last Word cocktail. Pineapple juice...
The pineapple juice adds smoothness to the body of the drink. Comparing to original last word. However, depending on what type of pineapple juice you’re using e.g freshly squeezed, retail pineapple juice - you may get different results. Some pineapple juice may make the drink too sweet and you need to try the pineapple juice beforehand to make a balanced one.
I tried this after a Yellow Cactus Flower and will post the comment from there. I would definitely try them against each other:
Oh wow - these two drinks are so different but at the same time so the same. Both are Mezcal, Lime, Pineapple and Chartreuse - but one yellow the other green. The big change being Suze for Maraschino
Very similar in taste breakdown but with one bright yellow the other a mint green the Eye taste makes a difference.
For me the Ultima takes edges it - marginally sweeter and a faint marmalade flavour.
I followed the recipe (including its simple ratio) here for the Ultima Palabra with the substitution of Yellow for Green Chartreuse, and really enjoyed it. I liked the earthy smokiness of the mezcal coming through as a tangent from the juniper of a gin.
Ok, I did also use a reposado Xicala mezcal, but I don't think the barrel resting mad a difference that came through, but who knows.
Pretty interesting variation. Use fresh pineapple juice or don’t bother. The smoke level of your Mezcal will make or break this drink and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Enjoyed the interplay of the mezcal and chartreuse and the sweet/sour element. Further study and enjoyment required.
The first sip felt very smoky and mezcal forward. However, the next ones I felt the taste of chartreuse to be more dominant. The flavor is so complex I felt like every sip was a little bit different, but each one was delicious. The balance between sourness and sweetness was perfect for me. I'm not an expert on the topic but this was one of the most interesting cocktail experience I've ever had.
It's probably the "ultima" combination of tiki and classic cocktails in a glass, and certainly one of my favourite riffs on The Last Word. I feel like this is one of those cocktails that don't need to be served up, it could just as well be served on crushed ice like a tiki. Wonderful job!
Excellent ! The presence of the mezcal is obvious but the balance is nice with the other ingredients. And one feel the herbal side of chartreuse (and also the pineapple).
I make a ‘mezcal last word’ at least once a week and love drinks that combine the smokiness of mezcal with pineapple, so I assumed I would love this.. but it just doesn’t work.
I feel like you need a good smoky Mezcal to have a chance against the Chartreuse, otherwise it disappears in the background and it feels unbalanced, albeit still good. Montelobos Mezcal works for me.
I've yet to have a Last Word variation that I did not like and this one works. However I like The Last of the Oaxacans much better. Will leave the pineapple juice for my wife's Jungle Birds in the future.
You should try this as your third drink of the afternoon or evening. Once you get past the ABV, you'll appreciate its complexity. No other drink combines Mezcal and Green Chartreuse quite like this one. If there’s one cocktail I see myself enjoying ten years from now, it's this one. It's complex and delicious when experienced properly.
Loved this Last Word riff with the smokey pineapple flavor & hint of Chartreuse, balanced by the acid from the lime. I'm interested to try and get more Chartreuse flavor in here by using 2/3oz each of everything except 3/4oz Chartreuse.
I really enjoy this but made a few variations. I used Del Maguey Las Milpas and added an extra 3/4 oz of Don Fulani Fuerte. I also added a touch of saline solution and it comes across a bit drier with a hint of salt that suites my tastes.
I really like Mezcal, Green Chartreuse and Pineapple, but this is just ok for me. Not as good as either the Last Word nor Naked and Famous. I wanted to really like this, but it just wasn’t quite there for me.
Made it as described and found it delightful! A nice balance of flavors. This could be a good introduction to mezcal for someone. We'll definitely make this one again!
I prefer this over the Closing Argument/Last of the Oaxacans as the pineapple takes the edge off the Mezcal, but I still prefer the regular Last Word. Excellent drink though.
I mistakenly added 3/4 oz of bianco vermouth to this tonight (the spec for an Algonquin was in the back of my mind), and it makes for an interesting effect--a subtle addition that slightly complicates the long herbal finish of the chartreuse. Not sure if it's an improvement, but perhaps worth trying as an odd variation.
Amazingly it works…and works very well! Any preconceptions of what it may taste like go out of the window on the first sip. Perfectly constructed (you can skip the thyme garnish).
This was excellent! The flavors all blended together harmoniously. I didn’t think the pineapple would come through, but it did! A glorious riff on the Last Word!
One person says it’s thyme, another says it’s rosemary? Looks like thyme to me, but what’s it supposed to be, because neither are in the cocktail itself?
Hi Nicola, the garnish is a thyme sprig. The previous photo on this page mistakenly showed a rosemary sprig but we've now reshot the image with the correct garnish.
Anonymous
13th January 2022 at 01:59
I had this my first time at a bar in the middle of CT a couple years ago. Probably my favorite cocktail.