This is another classic cocktail that I think is perfect. It somehow reminds me of a Whiskey Sour or Negroni cocktail – just as golden, just as sunny. It would seem that two 40-degree alcoholic drinks, well, how can you drink this? But no, the amazing taste of Drambuie liqueur is simply amazing. It softens the whiskey so much that the Rusty Nail is drunk as well as any other short drink, although it surpasses any other cocktail in terms of strength. And you can’t imagine cooking easier, you don’t need a shaker, a strainer, or a bartender’s skill. All you need is real Scotch whiskey and authentic Drambuie.
History of the rusty nail cocktail
There is no doubt that this cocktail is Scottish. At least the mandatory presence of scotch in this cocktail, and not another whiskey or bourbon. According to legend, he appeared in one of the Scottish bars, on one of those days when fog lies in Scotland and pours like a bucket.
One Englishman decided to warm up in a Scottish bar, which already promised a fun situation. He asked the bartender to mix whiskey and drambuie, but on top of that, he also asked the bartender for a stick to mix the ordered drink. The bartender showed all his resourcefulness and great love for England, pointing out to his guest a rusty nail sticking out of the counter.
That’s how the cocktail was given this unusual name. The very first official mention of the cocktail took place in 1963, when the New York Times published an article about a party in honor of the famous Rat Pack show business team. The star of this party was the Rusty Nail cocktail, which the bourgeois call Rusty Nail. Of course, the cocktail entered the bar classics and to this day is listed on the bar chart of the International Bartending Association as “unforgettable”.
Cocktail recipe Rusty nail
Innings:
- old fashion (rocks);
Ingredients:
- 45 ml scotch whiskey;
- 25 ml Drambuie liqueur.
Preparation:
- fill an old fashion glass with ice;
- then add whiskey and Drambuie;
- stir with a cocktail spoon and garnish with a lemon twist (zest strip).
[Quick reference].
Drambuie is a strong, 40% liqueur based on Scotch malt whiskey, heather honey, with the addition of a special set of herbs and spices, the recipe of which is kept in strict confidence.
Simple, delicious, unforgettable. By the way, the presence of ice in this cocktail is very important, since its absence indicates the preparation of a completely different cocktail, which is called the Straight Nail. But if you replace Scotch with Canadian whiskey, you get a Donald Sutherland cocktail. In no case do not try to prepare this cocktail in a shaker – it will turn out not right. You can not stand on ceremony with the proportion and change it at your discretion.
Many bars serve this cocktail in a 1:1 ratio and no one complains. By the way, I first tried a rusty nail cocktail according to this recipe. Well, read the Rum Diary, subscribe to updates of our magazine, comment. Wish you all the best!