We’re going green.
Take my Word.
Two drinks I really love are a Gin & Tonic and The Last Word. One day I was constructing the former and I thought, “I wonder if adding a few drops of Elixir Vegetal de la Grande Chartreuse (an interesting Chartruese variant we discussed some time ago) might be interesting?” And it was. But then I thought, “I wonder if adding the other flavours in a Last Word might be even more interesting?” And it was. So with a little splash of Maraschino and a long thin strip of lime peel (AKA a horse’s neck) the Take my Word was born. If you lack Elixir Vegetal (highly likely) simply use a scant half a teaspoon of green chartreuse instead. Done correctly the result is still very much a gin and tonic but with just a hint of the indulgent pleasure that is a Last Word. It’s certainly a quirky twist on the classic G&T but is it actually any good? Take my Word for it…
Take my Word.
2oz / 60ml London dry gin of choice. I like Tanquaray No 10 in this.
6 drops Charteuse elixir vegetal or green Chartreuse (see text).
0.25oz / 7.5ml Luxardo maraschino liqueur
200ml of a fairly neutral tonic water*.
Long swathe of fresh lime peel.
Add above to a well iced gin glass and stir very gently.
Toast James Lovelock (1919 – 2022). The King of Green.
*Standard issue Fever Tree Indian tonic, Schweppes or similar.
