What ingredients are in a Rusty Nail?

1 1/2 oz Scotch, 1/2 oz Drambuie, 1 twist of Lemon peel

What glass do you use for a Rusty Nail?

A Rusty Nail is traditionally served in a Old-fashioned glass.

How strong is a Rusty Nail?

A Rusty Nail has an estimated ABV of 28.80%.

How many calories are in a Rusty Nail?

A Rusty Nail contains approximately 150 calories per serving.

What ingredients are in a Rusty Nail?

The Rusty Nail is an IBA Official Cocktail made with just two ingredients: Scotch whisky and Drambuie, a Scottish liqueur made from Scotch whisky, honey, and spices. The Drambuie adds sweetness, herbal complexity, and a honeyed richness to the Scotch's smoky, malty backbone. The proportions typically favor Scotch (2 parts) to Drambuie (1 part), though sweeter versions use equal parts.

How is a Rusty Nail served?

Build the Rusty Nail directly in an old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube or cubed ice by pouring Scotch first, then adding Drambuie and stirring gently to combine. The drink should not be shaken, as the goal is a spirit-forward, minimally diluted cocktail. A lemon twist garnish is optional but adds a bright citrus aroma that complements the Scotch and honey notes.

What is the origin and history of the Rusty Nail?

The Rusty Nail gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s as a favorite of the Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and their Hollywood circle — which significantly boosted its popularity. The name is believed to derive from bartenders stirring the early versions with a rusty nail, though this story is likely apocryphal. It is also known by the alternate name Knucklehead and remains one of the most enduring two-ingredient classic cocktails in bartending history.

Two ingredients are all the Rusty Nail requires: Scotch whisky and Drambuie, the honey-and-herb Scotch-based liqueur, stirred over ice in an old-fashioned glass and finished with a lemon twist. Its elegance lies in how the two complement each other, the peaty, malty Scotch meeting the sweet, herbal Drambuie to form a whole greater than its parts. An IBA classic from the Unforgettables category and also known as the Knucklehead, it has remained a cocktail-lounge fixture since the 1950s. At nearly 29 percent alcohol by volume it is decidedly spirit-forward, yet the Drambuie softens the whisky's edge into something rounded and approachable, accounting for its lasting popularity despite the minimal build.

Rusty Nail

Knucklehead

グラス Old-fashioned glass

難易度 Easy

カロリー ~150 kcal

ABV 28.80%

材料

Scotch 1 1/2 oz
Drambuie 1/2 oz
Lemon peel 1 twist of

手順

Pour the Scotch and Drambuie into an old-fashioned glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lemon twist.

IBA Classic

ラスティ・ネイルは、スコッチウイスキーとドランブイリキュールが調和するクラシックなスコッチカクテルです。ドランブイのハーブと蜂蜜の香りがスコッチのスモーキーな風味をさらに補完し、オン・ザ・ロックでゆっくり楽しむのに理想的です。

History & Origins

The Rusty Nail's origins are debated, but it is most commonly attributed to members of the Rat Pack in the early 1960s, who reportedly popularized it at the 21 Club in New York City. Drambuie, its key ingredient, has been produced in Scotland since the early 20th century, and Scotch-Drambuie combinations appeared in bartending literature before the Rusty Nail name became standard. The IBA lists it among its Unforgettables, a category reserved for enduring canonical cocktails.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honeyed heather and herbal complexity from the Drambuie mingling with the Scotch's malt, smoke, and vanilla. Palate: Rich and warming, with the Scotch's character — malt, light peat, and oak — beautifully softened by Drambuie's honey sweetness and herbal liqueur notes; the lemon twist adds a citrus brightness. Finish: Long, warming, and complex with lingering honey, herbs, and Scotch smoke.

smoky honeyed herbal warming malty

Pro Tip

Use a quality blended or single malt Scotch and avoid stirring too aggressively so the Drambuie retains some density, allowing the flavors to evolve as it gradually integrates.

使用テクニック

Stirring

Data verified 11月 2016

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