The recipe
for your table
Place a large ice cube in an old fashioned glass.
Pour the whisky and then the Drambuie over the ice.
Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20 seconds; Drambuie is syrupy and needs a moment.
Squeeze a lemon zest over the glass and place it inside.
The story
The combination of whisky and Drambuie dates back to the 1930s, but the name Rusty Nail only became established in the 1960s - and then it took off quickly. Frank Sinatra and his contemporaries drank it in Las Vegas, which was enough to put the cocktail on the map worldwide. Drambuie itself has an older history: according to tradition, the recipe goes back to a liqueur that Prince Charles Edward Stuart gave to a Scottish family in 1746. Whether that is true matters little; what matters is that the honey and spices in the liqueur complement what whisky already brings to the table.
The right glass
An old fashioned glass holding 30 to 43 cl - wide enough for one large ice cube, which matters more in this cocktail than in most. There’s no mixer, so everything that melts comes directly at the expense of the flavor. A wide glass also gives the whisky and spicy Drambuie aromas room to unfold; in a narrow glass, you miss half of them. Choose a heavy model with a thick base: this is a cocktail you’ll hold in your hand for half an hour.
RCR Adagio Tumbler 35 cl (6 pieces)
Stölzle Lausitz Kyoto Tumbler 43 cl (6 pieces)
Together € 64,90.
The right tools
For a Rusty Nail, you use a bar spoon to stir, a jigger for precise measuring, large ice cubes, and a zester for the twist. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you’ll find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools - together € 91,75.
Variations & twists
Replace the whisky with Irish whiskey and it becomes a Donald Sutherland; with bourbon, you get a sweeter version. A dash of Angostura bitters brings it closer to an Old Fashioned. Top it up with soda water to make a Rusty Nail Highball - lighter and perfect for a warm evening. A smoky Islay whisky makes it much more exciting. Find more inspiration in all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
The classic ratio was once 1 to 1, but that's far too sweet for modern tastes. Start with 2 parts whisky to 1 part Drambuie and, if necessary, go to 3 to 1. Really stir it well - Drambuie is syrupy and otherwise remains as a sweet layer at the bottom, making your first sips taste like whisky and your last like honey.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a Rusty Nail?
An Old Fashioned glass holding 30 to 43 cl. View our Old Fashioned glasses.
What exactly is Drambuie?
A Scotch liqueur made with whisky, honey, herbs, and spices. Around 40 percent alcohol and quite sweet - hence using less of it than whisky.
What's the right ratio?
These days, 2 to 1 in favor of the whisky. Older recipes call for 1 to 1, but most people find that too sweet nowadays.
Can you replace Drambuie?
Not really - it's half the recipe. With whisky, honey syrup, and a pinch of clove and fennel, you'll get close, but it remains an approximation.
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