To Make the Perfect Last Word, Dorian Garcia Says Go All-In on Luxardo
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words by EMILY PRICE
photography by JEFF BROWN
The Last Word — a cocktail composed of gin, green herbal liqueur, maraschino liqueur, and lime — might be nearly a century old, but it’s still the smooth-talking, sharp-dressed cocktail that bartenders turn to when they want something that’s equal parts refreshing, punchy, and quietly complex.
Just ask bartender Dorian Garcia.
“It’s definitely one of my favorites,” he says. “It’s a really simple drink to sit down and enjoy, but it still retains a ton of bite from the gin. And it’s such a great recommendation for people who aren’t sure how they feel about gin. It’s citrusy, not overly sweet — universally enjoyed.”
Garcia runs the bar program at a hidden speakeasy tucked inside Manhattan’s historic Radio Waves Building, where Nikola Tesla once lived and worked. The bar nods to that past with moody lighting, scientific flourishes, and a menu that ties each drink to a moment in Tesla’s life. But Garcia’s focus when it comes to the Last Word is staying true to the original — while using Luxardo ingredients to elevate the build.
“The access we still have to legends in the bourbon industry is really cool,”
Garcia recently got the chance to build the cocktail using a full lineup of Luxardo ingredients, including the brand’s London Dry Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, and its newest player in the herbal category, Del Santo. The result is a version of the Last Word that honors tradition but speaks with a distinctly Luxardo accent.
“Classically, you can’t really call it a Last Word if it doesn’t have maraschino,” he says. “Luxardo’s Maraschino is a definite must. I’m sure you could use another sweet liqueur if you wanted, but I’d just say — it’s not a Last Word then.”
For the gin, Garcia favors Luxardo London Dry. “There’s all kinds of gins you could use, but this one in particular is great,” he says. “It has a ton of aroma — piney juniper, zesty orange, and a little faint ginger. Those tasting notes go really well with the Del Santo.”
That would be Luxardo Del Santo, the brand’s herbal liqueur — and Garcia’s preferred alternative to green Chartreuse. With Chartreuse increasingly difficult to source, he says Del Santo more than holds its own.
This article is sponsored by LUXARDO USA.
Hover over the ingredients to learn more about the Last Word
FRESH LIME JUICE
Provides acidity to balance the sweetness and herbal flavors
LUXARDO DEL SANTO
An herbal liqueur with warm spice and earthy notes that adds richness and depth to any Last Word
LUXARDO MARASCHINO LIQUEUR
Made from Marasca cherries and lightly sweet, nutty, and floral with a dry finish
LUXARDO LONDON DRY GIN
Piney juniper, zesty orange, and faint ginger tasting notes go hand-in-hand with the Del Santo
LUXARDO MARASCHINO CHERRIES
Luxurious, rich, and slightly tart — perfect as a garnish
“I’ve made the Last Word side by side with Chartreuse and with the Luxardo lineup,” he says. “If I did a blind tasting, it’d be really hard to say which was which — and I mean that in the best way possible. Del Santo has the same herbaceousness, just the right sweetness. I was so impressed with it. Hands down, it’s great.”
Here’s how to make your own Last Word:
The Last Word
Ingredients
¾ ounce Luxardo London Dry Gin
¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino Originale Liqueur
¾ ounce Luxardo Del Santo
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
Garnish: Luxardo Maraschino Cherries
Garnish: lime twist
Directions
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with cracked ice.
Shake well until chilled, then strain into a coupe glass (a Nick and Nora glass works great here as well).
Garnish with a lime twist and Luxardo Maraschino cherry.
Garcia also offers one key piece of advice for anyone making the drink at home: pay attention to your ice. “Because it’s an equal-parts cocktail, you really want to be careful not to over or under dilute,” he says. “Even behind the bar with good ice, it’s something I think about. I usually go for a 6-8 second hard shake.”
Garnish with a Luxardo Maraschino cherry, which can either float elegantly in the glass or be speared on a pick, depending on your vibe.
“I like to set the cherry on a pick over the glass so it doesn’t get in the way,” he admits.
“I like to set the cherry on a pick over the glass so it doesn’t get in the way,” he admits. “But it’s totally your call. Just don’t skip the cherry; it’s part of the whole experience.”
Outside of the Last Word, Garcia’s been using Luxardo in other creative ways too — like a returning summer favorite on his menu called Off to Italy, which is a vodka sour with Luxardo Limoncello, Greek yogurt, fresh citrus, and housemade pistachio orgeat. “It’s a sleeper hit,” he says. “We had people begging for it back.”
But when it comes to balancing herbaceous, citrus, and just the right amount of sweet, The Last Word says it best. And with Luxardo in the glass, it says it loud and clear.
CLICK the ingredients to learn more
about the Last Word