Toledo Spirits' Balanced Riff on The Last Word
The DAC
The Last Word is a cocktail with history, mystery, and undeniable charm. Originating in the early 20th century at the Detroit Athletic Club, it was a punchy equal-parts cocktail built with gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. Its sharp herbal edge and bold profile made it a cult classic - but at Bellwether, we thought it was time for an evolution.
Enter The DAC — our signature riff on The Last Word, named in homage to the cocktail's original birthplace. We've softened the edges, brightened the citrus, and let our own East Side Gin shine in a way that’s balanced, drinkable, and utterly elegant.
The DAC (Detroit Athletic Club)
Ingredients:
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2 oz East Side Gin
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0.5 oz Lemon Juice
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0.5 oz Simple Syrup
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0.25 oz Green Chartreuse
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0.25 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
Instructions:
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Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
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Shake well until chilled.
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Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
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Garnish with a fresh lemon wheel placed gently on the surface of the cocktail, topped with a pinch of fennel pollen.
The garnish is more than just beautiful — it’s aromatic. As you lift the glass, the lemon oils and delicate fennel pollen create an herbal, citrusy bouquet that enhances each sip and invites you deeper into the drink’s complex layers.
Our East Side Gin, made with juniper, lemon balm, cardamom, coriander, lemon verbena, and fennel pollen, is perfectly suited for this modern take. It brings a botanical brightness that plays effortlessly with the Chartreuse’s intensity and the cherry notes of the Luxardo.
The DAC is everything we look for in a cocktail. It’s a conversation between past and present, an homage to tradition, reimagined in style. Try it next time you’re at Bellwether, and taste history, balance, and brilliance in a single glass. Or make this one at home and prepare to impress yourself.
