This cocktail is one of the legends, just ask any member of the Rat Pack, by Make Me a Cocktail. Rusty Nail is a combination of Scotch Whisky, Drambuie and bitters. Drambuie, as The Spruce Eats explains, is a scotch-based liqueur flavored with honey, herbs, and spices — the exact ingredients and quantities of which remain unknown for sure. Drambuie is soft and complex. The taste of whiskey is the driving force, but the bite is restrained by sweet, spicy honey. It’s the perfect sidekick to straight scotch mixed with it in a Rusty Nail.
With bitters, the robust whiskey presence punches the Rusty Nail but isn’t overwhelming. Not to mention that both Drambuie and Scotch are considered digestives, so not only is this after-dinner cocktail deliciously punchy, but your stomach will thank you too.
According to Concrete Playground, the origin of the name “rusty nail” has a few different accounts from folklore, each having to do with explaining the “nail” part of the name. One explanation is that a bartender actually mixed the drink with a nail in it. The outlet explains, however, that the most likely reason is the color of the drink, thanks to the Drambuie. However, whatever the truth, the Rusty Nail is a classic cocktail that is just as suitable for bars as it is for your home. It was the signature cocktail of Frank Sinatra and his entourage, which is a reason to try it in itself.
