The Last Word - Ann Arbor

Jaclyn Nagel
Dec 29, 2016
2 min read

As a student in Ann Arbor, you rarely hear about any bar outside of the grimy college establishments: Rick’s, Skeeps, and Good Time Charley’s. However, turning 21 opens up a new door into Ann Arbor drinking life—a door that fake IDs have no chance of passing through. One of those doors is to The Last Word, an old school speakeasy that specializes in whiskey and escapist fantasies for 1920s drinking enthusiasts.

Even with specific instructions, finding the entrance is no easy feat. My friend and I walked past it three times, pegging the unmarked door to be an emergency exit or a kitchen entrance for the bar above. We eventually opened the door, half expecting to walk into a busy kitchen, but luckily, we were right.

Our table was so small our drinks could barely fit on it and we were shoved so far in the corner that the idea of getting up to go to the bathroom was laughable. But besides that, The Last Word was everything I hoped it would be. The atmosphere was enviable, with a stacked bar, a packed dining room, and the obvious mood lighting, and the drinks were even better.

The cocktail menu contains three chapters: chapter three (“lighter on the palette”), chapter four (“bitter and herbal classics”), and chapter five (“heavier characteristics with sweeter finishes”), as well as a long list of whiskeys, wine, and craft beer. We stuck to the lighter cocktails, sampling “Los Lobos,” “Cali 75,” and “Cabaret”. The Cali 75 was sweet and tasted strongly of absinthe, while the Cabaret was lighter and a bit sour, with a vodka base. However, the Los Lobos is the one we will be returning for. Made with fresh pineapple, lime, and agave nectar, this tequila cocktail’s pink peppercorn garnishing gave it the ideal finishing touch.

Like the cocktails, which ranged from $8-$11, the snacks were also reasonably priced. The sliders were fantastic and came with three on a plate, while the pork buns could’ve easily been skipped. We also enjoyed a cheese plate, and while it aired on the expensive side, the cheeses were delicious and the jam was phenomenal. Overall, the night was the sophisticated escape we needed before returning to college life with $1 Skeeps Long Islands and spray-able cheese (just kidding…Well, at least for me).