Welcome to a tongue-in-cheek, but sometimes super serious column documenting adventures with spirits and cocktails when out and about or from the comfort of my own home. Let's discover new things together!
When is coming across a rusty nail not a bad thing? When it's a cocktail! (And not something that gave me a flat tire while heading downtown on North Central Expressway.) This is a terrible joke, but a delicious drink.
A Rusty Nail cocktail combines Scotch whisky and Drambuie, a liqueur created from Scotch whisky that's been flavored with spices, herbs and honey. Essentially you're combining equal parts regular and sweetened whiskey. Doesn't that sound fun and delicious?
According to the website, Drambuie comes from the Gaelic phrase "an dram buidheach," which translates to "the drink that satisfies." It definitely lives up to the name, even on it's own. I recommend it to my friends who typically order cocktails at happy hour or are usually too nervous to try scotch straight up. It's a way to really ease into whiskey. On the flip side, it's perfect for those who want to taste a hint of scotch when they aren't drinking scotch.
Recently, I used Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky in my Rusty Nail. You can also try Drambuie with a cola (equal parts).
Here are a couple of other Drambuie recipes from the website (head there for even more):
Drambuie
- 25 ml (about 1 oz.) Drambuie
Serve straight in a heavy tumbler. Note: This is so easy; you really have no excuse for not making it right now. I even did the conversion for you and you also have my permission to use any glass if you don't have a heavy tumbler.
The Bee's Knees Royale
- 1 part Drambuie
- 1 part Hendrick's Gin
- ½ part fresh lemon juice
- ½ part honey syrup
- 2 parts champagne
Combine ingredients (except champagne) and shake well. Strain up into a coupe, top with champagne and garnish with orange peel.
Booze News Insider Rachel Hart believes in the importance of expanding one's happy hour and nightcap repertoire beyond a glass of wine (although, she'll happily take one). She loves to discover creative quality spirits and cocktails and hopes you'll go on the journey with her.
