As fall set in, I ventured out to Left Hand Path on Wyckoff avenue, one of the newest places to open up recently in Bushwick. The entrance was inconspicuous, as any bar that respects itself should be, and upon entering I was transcended into a great atmosphere. Ample bar space, great stools, and behind the bar was Travis Boettcher, the owner of the establishment. I was ready for some good ol’ drinking time. I asked for a cocktail list, there was none. Travis offered to make whatever I asked for. Instead, I asked for his advice. He offered me his favorite drink of the summer.
Even the backyard cat (almost) enjoyed The Last Word
The Last Word is one of the most classic cocktails. Simple, refreshing and with a good amount of alcohol to get the buzz going, The Last Word is a cocktail that has fueled a lot of good summers with its herbal notes and strong acidic flavor. To start off, the base spirit is gin and in the case of the Left Hand Path’s version the preferred gin is Beefeater. Maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse and lime are then added to complete a cocktail that has been around since the Prohibition. All of the ingredients are shaken in equal parts providing a balanced cocktail with pungency, sourness and sweetness. While explaining the cocktail, Travis made sure I tasted the Chartreuse by itself to discover all the herbal notes that it delivers.
Maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse, Beefeater, and lime juice are the ingredients of The Last Word
As I tasted the cocktail, I was getting more and more enchanted by its complex flavor profile. I was falling for its notes that reminded me of the summer. The sweet moments of freedom, with the pungency of the moments under the sun, along with the intense sourness of tastes that prevail during the summer were all present while I was enjoying the cocktail in the gorgeous backyard of The Left Hand Path.
The Last Word in one of Left Hand Path’s tables.
When I first sat down Travis offered me a book to choose my drink from. As I was perusing it, I came across this quote.
“Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.”
William Cowper, The Task Book II, “The Time-Piece”, 1785
More so than ever, variety is the main ingredient of the summer that gives us all these great moments to remember and to survive through the winter. With a cocktail like The Last Word, the variety of ingredients and the tastes of it will definitely make me remember of this summer and make me anticipate drinking it again next summer.
Bushwick Mixer is a weekly column somewhere at the crossroads of pop culture and mixology in the bars of Bushwick. Hashtag your photos of Bushwick cocktails with #BushwickMixer and let us know why they should be tasted by the author of the column.
The Last Word is served at The Left Hand Path, 89 Wyckoff Avenue for $10.
The author of the column enjoying The Last Word.
