Drink Rusty Nail, classic whisky cocktail Drambuie 2 cl Whisky 4 cl Grants Blended Whisky Glass Old Fashioned glass with ice Garnish Lemon zest Ratio 2 to 1, whisky to Drambuie Invented 1937
Procedure Pour both ingredients into a glass with ice, stir lightly and serve. Then add the garnish (Use the traditional lemon peel that is twisted over the glass to release the bitter citrus oils of the peel)
Remember the right equipment makes the difference - see our Cocktail Kit here Find other cocktails with whisky here Watch the video below with an alternative smokier version of the Rusty Nail with Talisker.
VIDEO Rusty Nail history: what do we know? According to Wikipedia the drink can be traced to the British Industries Fair in 1937, where a mix of Drambuie and whisky first appears as the B.I.F. It is credited to F. Benniman, who is said to have named it after the fair.
The name Rusty Nail was cemented in 1963, when Gina MacKinnon, chairwoman of the Drambuie Liqueur Company, endorsed the drink in The New York Times. Before that it went by several names, among them D&S, Little Club No. 1, Mig-21 at USAF officers' clubs in Thailand and South Vietnam, and Knucklehead in the upper Midwest. Dale DeGroff points to the bartenders at the 21 Club in Manhattan as those often credited with it, and Wikipedia mentions that the Rat Pack had it as a favourite.
Our Rusty Nail and the classic Our recipe and Wikipedia Whisky 4 cl blended (ours) / Blended Scotch (Wikipedia) Drambuie 2 cl (ours) / Drambuie (Wikipedia) Ratio 2 to 1 (ours) / 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 (Wikipedia) Garnish Lemon zest (ours) / Lemon zest (IBA) (Wikipedia) Glass Old Fashioned with ice (ours) / Old fashioned with ice (Wikipedia)
We sit at the strong end of the traditional range. More Drambuie makes a sweeter drink, and David Wondrich finds a half-and-half mix too sweet, according to Wikipedia, although some prefer it.
Variations of the Rusty Nail You can make a smoky version with Talisker 10 year , as in the video above. According to Wikipedia there is also the Rusty Compass with cherry liqueur, the Clavo Ahumado with mezcal instead of whisky and the Donald Sutherland with Canadian rye instead of blended Scotch.
About the ingredients in your Rusty Nail Drambuie is the one ingredient found in every variation. According to Wikipedia Wondrich calls it "the world's most distinguished Scotch-based liqueur". You can find it here: Drambuie Whisky Liqueur . The recipe is made with Grants Blended Whisky, which we do not have online. If you want something from our range, have a look at our blended Scotch whisky .
Tips for your Rusty Nail Start at 2 to 1 and adjust to your sweet tooth. Stir lightly so the ice does not water the drink down. See our cocktail equipment for the home bar for the rest of the bar.
Our verdict on the Rusty Nail It is one of the easiest whisky drinks you can make, since there are only two ingredients. It is sweet and round, and the lemon peel keeps it from getting too sticky. If you want more edge, switch to a smoky whisky.
Frequently asked questions about the Rusty Nail recipe What is a Rusty Nail? A classic whisky cocktail with half Drambuie and half whisky, served in an Old Fashioned glass with ice.
What goes in a Rusty Nail recipe? Our recipe uses 2 cl Drambuie, 4 cl Grants Blended Whisky and lemon zest as garnish.
What is the ratio of whisky to Drambuie? 2 to 1 in our recipe, that is 4 cl whisky to 2 cl Drambuie. According to Wikipedia the traditional ratio is 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 with blended Scotch.
When was the Rusty Nail invented? As early as 1937, and the drink is included in Difford's Guide Top 100 Cocktails. Wikipedia mentions the 1937 British Industries Fair, where the drink first appears as the B.I.F.
Why is it called Rusty Nail? The name was cemented in 1963, when Gina MacKinnon of the Drambuie Liqueur Company endorsed it in The New York Times, according to Wikipedia. Before that the drink went by several other names.
What is a Straight Up Nail? A Rusty Nail served without ice.
Which whisky works in a Rusty Nail? We use a blended whisky. We do not have Grants Blended online, so pick another blended Scotch from our range. You can also try a smoky version with Talisker.
How do I garnish a Rusty Nail? With lemon zest. Twist the peel over the glass to release the bitter citrus oils.
Should a Rusty Nail have ice? Yes, our recipe is served in an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Without ice it is a Straight Up Nail.
Are there variations of the Rusty Nail? Yes. According to Wikipedia the Rusty Compass adds cherry liqueur, the Clavo Ahumado uses mezcal instead of whisky, and the Donald Sutherland uses Canadian rye.
Read more about cocktails Find more cocktails with whisky here at Whisky.dk, or see all our drink recipes . You can also read Wikipedia about the Rusty Nail .
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