A light yellow cocktail in a coupe glass

Final Ward
Cocktail Recipe

Herbal
Spicy
Citrus

Sharp citrus, herbal depth and rye spice give the Final Ward its unmistakable vibrancy. Created in New York in the early 2000s as a whiskey riff on the pre-Prohibition classic The Last Word, it quickly became a modern cult favourite among bartenders. Equal parts vibrant and complex, it’s the kind of cocktail that feels daring at first sip, then surprisingly balanced by the last.

Ingredients

  • Rye whiskey
    25ml
  • Green Chartreuse
    25ml
  • Maraschino liqueur
    25ml
  • Fresh lemon juice
    25ml
  • Ice

Number of servings

01

Equipment

  • Coupe glass
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Cocktail strainer

Bartender tip: The Final Ward recipe is perfectly balanced with equal amounts, so don't be tempted to add slightly more of one ingredient. Measuring carefully will provide you with a wonderfully balanced cocktail.

A brown liquid is poured into a copper cocktail shaker over ice, with a bowl of green olives nearby
Method
STEP 01
Pour
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice
STEP 02
Shake
Shake vigorously until the surface feels very cold
STEP 03
Strain
Strain into a coupe glass

The 'Final Ward' cocktail draws inspiration from the pre-Prohibition classic 'The Last Word', substituting gin with rye whiskey to create a richer, more vibrant masterpiece.

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