The Ultima Palabra, translating to "The Last Word" in Spanish, is a modern adaptation of the Prohibition-era cocktail originally crafted at the Detroit Athletic Club. While the classic Last Word features gin, the Ultima Palabra swaps it out for mezcal, bringing a smoky depth to the flavor profile.
On top of the common Last Word ingredients, this shaken mezcal riff also includes pineapple juice as a tropical addition. This addition blends perfectly with the herbal, smoky notes of the cocktail, adding subtle sweet, and fruity notes.
Quick facts about the Ultima Parable cocktail
- Method: shaken
- Flavor profile: sweet, sour, smoky, herbal, fruity
- How to serve it: Chilled in a coupe glass, no extra ice
- Glassware: Coupe glass
- Alcohol content: ~ 17.7% ABV, 21.5 grams of alcohol per serving
History
A riff on the Last Word cocktail that was first made by Simone de Luca at High Road House Club in Chiswick, London.
Ingredients
- 0.75 oz Del Maguey Mezcal Vida: Provides a smoky, earthy base and a solid backbone for the other ingredients.
- 0.75 oz Green Chartreuse: A French liqueur made by Carthusian monks, containing 130 herbs and plants. It's vibrant green and highly potent, bringing incredible herbal complexity to the cocktail.
- 0.75 oz Maraschino Liqueur: A clear, dry liqueur made from sour Marasca cherries, including crushed pits, which impart a slight almond flavor.
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice is key here, as it brings in acidity and balance.
- 0.75 oz Pineapple Juice: Adds a layer of tropical sweetness and smoothness to the cocktail.
- Thyme Sprig: A fresh sprig of thyme herb adds an herbal aroma that complements the Green Chartreuse.
Required Bar Tools
- Cocktail Shaker: A solid Boston Shaker or Tin-on-Tin shaker is your best option.
- Jigger or Measuring Tool: Always use a jigger for accurate measurement of liquids. This helps immensely to deliver consistent results in your cocktails.
- Hawthorne Strainer: Fits over the shaker to strain the cocktail into the glass, filtering the bigger bits like fruit pulp and ice shards.
- Fine Mesh Strainer: Optional, but essential for an extra smooth texture by catching small ice chips and pulp.
- Citrus Juicer
- Ice: Both for shaking and (optionally) chilling the glass.
A step-by-step guide to making the perfect Ultima Parabla
- Chill your glassware: Add ice to your coupe glass or store it in the freezer for about 10 minutes before making the drink.
- Add ice and Ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice to chill your ingredients properly. Then measure and add mezcal, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and pineapple juice to the shaker.
- Shake Vigorously: Seal the shaker and shake your drink for about 15 seconds until well-chilled and the shaker is frosty on the outside.
- (Double-)Strain and Serve: Get your chilled coupe glass and strain the cocktail into the glass with a Hawthorne strainer (and a fine mesh strainer if desired).
- Garnish: Add a thyme sprig on top for a visual and aromatic touch.
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
- 1 Fine-mesh strainer
- 1 Citrus Juicer
Ingredients
- 0.75 oz Mezcal - Del Maguey vida or Montelobos Espadin
- 0.75 oz Green Chartreuse
- 0.75 oz Maraschino liqueur
- 0.75 oz Lime juice - fresh juice is best
- 0.75 oz Pineapple juice
- 1 Thyme sprig
Instructions
- Chill your coupe glass in the freezer or all it up with ice and water to chill while making the drink.
- Add all ingredients into your cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake for about 15 seconds or until the shaker gets frosty on the outside.
- Discard ice and water from your Coupe glass, then double-strain the cocktail into the glass.
- Garnish with a sprig of thyme for some herbal aromas
FAQs
Yes, but the pineapple juice adds a tropical sweetness that balances the cocktail. Omitting it will result in a drier drink with more pronounced herbal and smoky notes.
A joven (young) mezcal like Del Maguey Mezcal Vida is ideal due to its smooth and smoky characteristics. It blends well without overpowering the other ingredients.
Both are Mexican spirits made from agave plants, but mezcal can be made from various types of agave and is often roasted in underground pits, giving it a smoky flavor. Tequila is typically made from blue agave and has a cleaner, earthy taste. For more details, check out our Mezcal vs. Tequila guide.