Rusty Nail
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 33.3% ABV ∙
The Rusty Nail is a two-ingredient whisky drink built over ice from blended Scotch and a honey herbal liqueur such as Drambuie.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour all ingredients directly into an old fashioned glass filled with ice: Blended Scotch whisky 45 mlHoney herbal liqueur (e.g., Drambuie) 25 ml
- Stir gently
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Stir gently for just a few seconds in the glass; the ice does the chilling, and over-stirring waters the drink down.
- Twist the lemon peel over the drink before dropping it in, so its oils cut the liqueur's honeyed sweetness.
History
The Rusty Nail pairs Scotch whisky with Drambuie, a Scotch-based honeyed herbal liqueur, and its early history is murky and often disputed. Many accounts trace the combination to the 1937 British Industries Fair, where it reportedly circulated under the name B.I.F. after the event, though other tellings place its creation at a bar in Hawaii in 1942. The drink has also gone by several other names, including D&S, Knucklehead, and Mig-21. Several rival stories claim the name came from an actual rusty nail once used to stir the drink, or from rusty nails found in Drambuie shipping crates.
The Rusty Nail gained wider recognition after bartenders at New York's 21 Club began serving it in the early 1960s, and its popularity was reinforced when Gina MacKinnon, then chairwoman of Drambuie, publicly endorsed the name and recipe around 1963. It became closely associated with the Rat Pack, particularly Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, whose patronage helped cement the cocktail's fame through the 1960s and 1970s.
FAQ
What is a Rusty Nail made of?
Two ingredients: 45 ml blended Scotch whisky and 25 ml of a honey herbal liqueur such as Drambuie. It comes in at about 33% ABV.
How do you make a Rusty Nail?
Chill an old-fashioned glass, then pour the Scotch whisky and honey liqueur directly over ice in the glass. Stir gently to combine and chill, then finish with a lemon twist expressed over the top.
What does Drambuie taste like?
Sweet and honeyed, with notes of heather and anise over a light whisky base. Drambuie is a Scotch whisky liqueur sweetened with honey and flavored with herbs and spices. It is much sweeter and softer than straight Scotch, which is why it tames the whisky's bite in a Rusty Nail.
What is a substitute for Drambuie in a Rusty Nail?
Another Scotch-based honey liqueur, since the drink depends on that honeyed, herbal sweetness against the whisky. Benedictine works in a pinch, though it tastes drier and more herbal than honeyed.
