Drambuie Whisky Liqueur Isle of Skye Malt Whisky 40%

A recipe said to have travelled with a prince in flight, an inn on Skye and a Gaelic phrase about a dram that satisfies. Drambuie has had almost three hundred years to embroider its own story, and it has used them well.

The expert description

Drambuie is a Scotch Whisky Liqueur built on malt whisky from the Isle of Skye, sweetened with heather honey and seasoned with herbs and spices, bottled at 40%.

The story starts in July 1746. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was in flight after the defeat at Culloden, and on his way to the Isle of Skye he was helped by John MacKinnon of Clan MacKinnon. In return, the prince is said to have handed MacKinnon the recipe for his personal liqueur. By 1873 it could be had at The Broadford Hotel on Skye, where guests called it an dram buidheach, the dram that satisfies. The Ross family registered the name as a trademark twenty years later, and The Drambuie Liqueur Company was founded in 1914.

In 1916 Drambuie became the first liqueur admitted to the House of Lords, and it reached Buckingham Palace the following year. Prohibition in the United States and the Second World War came close to killing the brand off, but it survived. Drambuie is owned today by William Grant & Sons.

Tasting notes

Nose

Orange peel and honey first, then aniseed, saffron and a dry herbal edge that keeps the sweetness in check.

Palate

Oily and full. Honey, toffee and citrus settle first, then the malt whisky pushes through with spice and a clean acidity that lifts the whole thing.

Finish

Warm and long with nutmeg, clove and a final bitter orange note.

Specifications

Name: Drambuie
Producer: Drambuie
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Scotch Whisky Liqueur
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010391100703
Serving suggestion: Neat over ice or in a Rusty Nail with Blended Scotch Whisky

Flavour profile

Sweet · Spiced · Honeyed · Citrus · Herbal

Did you know?

The name Rusty Nail only appeared in the 1960s at a club in New York, but the drink had been around for decades under other names, among them BIF, D and S and Little Club No. 1. It was only once bartenders settled on a single name that it truly caught on.

See our full range of Drambuie

Frequently asked questions about Drambuie

What is Drambuie made from?

Scotch malt whisky from the Isle of Skye, heather honey, herbs and spices. The exact recipe has never been published, but aniseed, saffron and nutmeg are among the notes you can most clearly taste your way towards.

How do you make a Rusty Nail?

Two parts Blended Scotch Whisky to one part Drambuie over ice in a tumbler, stirred not shaken, with a twist of lemon peel over the top. Increase the Drambuie for a sweeter drink, or cut it back to put the whisky in front. Browse our Blended Scotch Whisky.

Is Drambuie a whisky?

No, it is a liqueur with whisky as its base. Sugar and honey mean it cannot legally be called Scotch Whisky, but the underlying spirit is Scottish malt whisky.

How is Drambuie best served?

Neat over ice is the simplest way in, since the cold tightens the sweetness and brings the spice forward. It also works in coffee, over vanilla ice cream and in place of sugar syrup in classic whisky drinks.

How long does an opened bottle keep?

Longer than whisky. The sugar acts as a preservative and an opened bottle stays in good condition for several years, as long as it is kept dark and closed. The flavour does gradually soften.

What does the name Drambuie mean?

It comes from the Gaelic an dram buidheach, loosely the dram that satisfies. The phrase came from guests at The Broadford Hotel on Skye, long before it became a trademark.

Does Drambuie work as a gift?

Yes, particularly for someone curious about whisky but not yet sold on high strength. The sweetness makes it approachable, and the story behind the bottle gives the table something to talk about.