That said (and I’m sure much to the annoyance of the Drambuie company) I’ll just point out that if you don’t have Drambuie but have another 80-proof honeyed and spiced liqueur-Bénédictine, say-you’d still be able to make yourself a fine drink according to the specifications above. To make a proper Rusty Nail, you must use Drambuie. of a big smoke bomb like Laphoirg, Ardbeg or Lagavulin.ĭrambuie: From the isle of Skye (like Talisker scotch itself), Drambuie is, as mentioned, a honeyed and spiced scotch-based liqueur bottled at 80 proof. of a mild blend like Compass Box Artists Blend and 0.5 oz. If you like smoky scotch, this is a perfect time to use it-I thought the Islay monsters were too much, but something a touch more subtle like Talisker, Caol Ila or Johnnie Walker Black were perfect. Aside from that, grab your favorite inexpensive scotch and go for it. The only style that doesn’t work are heavily sherry wood-aged or port wood-aged scotches, which are beautiful to sip but they bring a sweet richness that the Rusty Nail already has too much of. Scotch: Across all our tests, most bottles worked great. The Rusty Nail is the sole reason Drambuie has taken residency in bars across the world. It’s pretty good all told and more versatile than it seems, but as far as classic cocktails go, it’s a one-hit wonder. Drambuie is a scotch-based liqueur, sweetened with honey and flavored with “a blend” of herbs and spices, but most notably anise, orange and vanilla, bottled at 40 percent alcohol. The Rusty Nail-or the combination of those two ingredients, anyway-was invented in some form as early as the 30s, but you see it embraced by the Drambuie company in the 1960s and really take off over the next decade. It’s like if you met someone who had never heard of pizza but was always baking flatbreads topped with ketchup and melted cheddar cheese. It’s an Old Fashioned! Reduce the sweetness and add bitters and it’s just as good as anything. But there’s a great drink in there and it’s not even hard to see. Yes, the Rusty Nail as it is normally conceived-scotch and Drambuie, either 2:1 or even equal parts (God forbid), served on ice without garnish or bitters-is two-dimensional and oversweet. But more than that, there’s the cocktail’s potential. Maybe it’s the name-to me it sounds like some creatively defined sex act, but there’s obviously something to it considering that there are currently more than 20 different American bars and restaurants called the Rusty Nail (extra points to Wichita, KS, where the bar serves a “Tetanus Shot” and their kids’ menu is titled “Little Nailers”). Highland Park Aged Its New Cask Strength Whisky in Bourbon and Port BarrelsĪnd yet, there’s something about the Rusty Nail we just can’t quit. Not to mention, Drambuie packs a ton of warm spice flavors reminiscent of the tastes of India.The 11 Best Rye Whiskeys to Buy Right Now, From Michter’s to WhistlePigĭominique Crenn’s New Membership Club Gives You Exclusive Access to Her 3-Michelin-Starred Restaurant While it appears to be something from the English-speaking world, we added it to our Chandigarh series because Scotch is an import to the Indian subcontinent and for those Indians that do enjoy a cocktail or two in the evenings, Scotch-based cocktails are among their favorites. It is the perfect cocktail to warm you up on those cold winter nights. Other stories explain its origins in the 1960s in New York as opposed to Scotland as it was a favorite among Frank Sinatra and other members of the rat pack.Īlthough its origin appears to be somewhat of a mystery, this punchy scotch-forward cocktail made a name for itself in the 1960s and lately, has been coming back into style! It is classically prepared with scotch whiskey, Drambuie, and lemon juice. So, what exactly is a “Rusty Nail,” you ask? Some tales send us back in time to 1963, when Scotsman bearing dirty fingernails would walk into a bar requesting a boozy scotch-based cocktail be prepared for their arrival.Īnother tells the story of Al Brown, a bartender in Glasgow who came up with the cocktail one day when a customer demanded scotch but in the form of a cocktail as opposed to its traditional service, straight up.
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