Rusty Nail is a two-ingredient drink composed of blended scotch and Drambuie. Without a doubt, it is the most famous cocktail to ask for the honeyed Scottish liqueur. Drinks calling for the simple combination sailed under several names before the label Rusty Nail finally stuck (the name, first recorded in 1961, appears to have originated in New York City). Commonplace in postwar America and indicative of the era’s hard-drinking ways, the Rusty Nail’s adoption by Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack likely spiked its popularity. A drink requiring almost no skill to put together, it was popular with suburban bartenders; its reputation fairly screams “home basement bar.” It is typically, though not exclusively, served on the rocks. Classic proportions are two parts scotch, one part Drambuie, but those are frequently adjusted according to the drinker’s tastes.
Recipe: Combine 60 ml blended scotch and 30 ml Drambuie in rock glass filled with ice. Stir until chilled.
See also whisky, scotch.
Gahagan, Jerry. “Phyllis Back in the Tents.” Philadelphia Daily News, August 16, 1961, 35.
Wondrich, David. “How to Make a Rusty Nail.” Esquire. October 26, 2017. https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/recipes/a3796/rusty-nail-drink-recipe/ (accessed May 26, 2021).
By: Robert Simonson