Rusty Nail
- 2 oz Scotch
- 3/4 oz Drambuie
Build Scotch and Drambuie in an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. Stir. Garnish with a lemon twist.
| Prep Time | 1 minute |
| Servings | 1 |
| Category | Liquor / Liqueur |
| Tags | Classic, Digestif, Sweet/ish |
| Proof | 72 |
| Strength | 1.8 standard drinks |
| Glass | Old Fashioned or Rocks Glass |
| Temp | Cold |
This drink has had many names since it first came on the scene in the first half of the 20th century. By the 1950's, the name Rusty Nail was winning out over other names. In 1963, Gina MacKinnon, the chairwoman of the Drambuie Liqueur Company gave the Rusty Nail her endorsement, which basically sealed the name of this drink for posterity. Blended Scotch is the traditional Scotch to use. If you use a blend, use a good one such as Dewar's 12, Chivas, or Johnnie Walker. Mixing Drambuie--a Scotch whisky based liqueur--with its base ingredient is a natural fit. Between the world wars, this combination was decorated with all sorts of bitters and served in a variety of glassware. But now, it has returned to its stripped down form--just Drambuie and Scotch with a twist over ice. The ratio of Drambuie to Scotch should be whatever you find appeals to you. It ranges from equal parts (quite sweet) to 4 to 1 Scotch to Drambuie (mush drier). I have struck a middle ground with the recipe on this page, but feel free to change the ratio if you wish.