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Rusty Nail

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (199)
Rusty Nail image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Blended Scotch whisky
2⁄3 fl oz Honey herbal liqueur (e.g. Drambuie)
2 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glassware

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Rusty Nail contains 196 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.8 standard drinks
  • 31.52% alc./vol. (63.05° proof)
  • 25.5 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Said to have been created in 1942 at a Hawaiian bar for the artist Theodore Anderson but popularised during the 1950s at New York City's Club 21.

David Wondrich has traced the mixing of scotch whisky with Drambuie liqueur back to 1937 and a drink called B.I.F. for the British Industry Fair. However, given that Drambuie originated in an Edinburgh cellar in 1908 we suspect the combo was first tried decades earlier.

Review

The liqueur smooths and wonderfully combines with Scotch whisky. The proportions of Scotch to Drambuie vary wildly and are a matter of taste. However, somewhere around 3:1 appears to be preferred by most.

Variations/similar cocktails

Rusty Sour
Scottish Gypsy
Tapered Nail

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$3.42 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

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* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Riccardo Pompei
Instead of Drambuie, we used Shanky’s Whip. It’s still a whiskey-based liqueur, but it increases the sweetness with a creamy, vanilla profile :)
score: 0
Mike Premium Member
3:1 works very well, IMO. Very easy drinking and a nice change from an old fashioned.

Monkey Shoulder.
score: 2
William Smith
always gone for 50/50 myself, one of my all time favorites
score: 1
M T
My go-to: 2:1 with Laphroaig 10 and expressed lemon peel, no bitters. With blended scotch I'd lean 3:1.
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Certainly very pleasant, anda Bona fide classic, but I can see how turning this into a sour is going to improve it. The intense sweetness of the Drambuie is hard to get past, even with increasing the booze and bitters. After a few experiments of both single malts and blended scotches I ended with 4:1 Johnny Walker black and Jerry Thomas bitters for extra tang, but really you could go in almost in direction you please/that your palate takes you.
score: 2
John CARR Premium Member
Nice workout for my new-second hand Krosno whisky glasses too. A very fitting stage to play upon.
score: 1
eddie richards Premium Member
My riff on the Rusty Nail uses one dash of Angostura Bitters and two dashes of Black Walnut Bitters to lend a toasty, nutty complexity that complements the Scotch and sweet liqueur. Rusty Walnut, anyone?
score: 3
eddie richards Premium Member
Rusty Walnut - 45ml Blended Scotch - J&B Rare or Monkey Shoulder, 15ml Drambuie, 1 dash Angostura Bitters, 2 dashes Black Walnut Bitters. Serve in a Gibraltar Glass over a 1 inch ice cube
score: 6
Alexandros Bousoulegkas
I recommend to try it by replacing Scotch with Rye. 2:1 Rye:Drambuie +2 dash Angostura Bitters; just perfect!
score: 8
Chris Dimal
Did not try the cocktail (no Drambuie available), but what in the world is the picture? How would it be possible to get pink on a Rusty Nail? Hilarious to me!
score: 2
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
We do like to amuse! Obviously, wrong image has replaced the original. Please bear with us. That said, adding bitters will colour, more the wrong glass and garnish that troubles me.
score: 4
R. M.
I am sure that is just lighting. ?
score: 1
R. M.
Love Rusty nails.
I have tried this drink with many different types of scotch and found the Dalmore Port Wood the best for the mix. It adds a nice exotic oaky aroma to it.
score: 2
John Alexander
Yes at 4:1. The perfect nightcap. Used to drink these with the other bartenders after our shift.
score: 7

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Difford’s Shop logo
$3.42 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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