Rusty Nail

The Rusty Nail emerged in the early 1960s and became the cocktail of choice for the Rat Pack era. It's beautifully simple: Scotch whisky lengthened with Drambuie, a Scottish liqueur made from whisky, honey, herbs, and spices. The name supposedly comes from the practice of stirring it with a rusty nail — though a bar spoon works just as well.

Drambuie: The Key Ingredient

Drambuie is a Scotch-based liqueur flavoured with honey, herbs, and spices. It's sweet but not cloying, with a herbal complexity that lifts the base Scotch. The recipe is said to date back to Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746, though Drambuie itself has been commercially available since 1910.

The Ratio

The classic ratio is 2:1 Scotch to Drambuie, which gives a balanced, slightly sweet drink. If you prefer something drier, go 3:1. Equal parts is too sweet for most palates but was common in the 1960s when sweetness was in fashion.

Scotch Selection

A good blended Scotch is ideal — Johnnie Walker Black, Dewar's 12, or Famous Grouse. The Drambuie adds enough complexity that you don't need a single malt, and the honey-herbal notes complement blends beautifully.