Rusty Nail

The Rusty Nail has nearly a century of history under its belt; and yet in recent years it’s been overshadowed by resurgent classic cocktails like the Manhattan, Sazerac, and old-fashioned. Thankfully, there’s room for all at the whiskey bar. The origin of the Rusty Nail is hazy, but some believe it was invented in the late 1930s at the British Industries Fair, an exhibition hall in Birmingham, England. By the 1960s it was a popular menu item in New Orleans and New York City bars, particularly after Frank Sinatra and other members of the Rat Pack were rumored to drink their fair share of Rusty Nails at the famed Manhattan speakeasy, the 21 Club.

Made with two ingredients in equal measure, the Rusty Nail is an easy cocktail recipe to remember, but you may want to play around. Start with a quality Scotch whisky you like to drink. Blended scotch or single malt works, but keep in mind you’ll be mixing it and serving it over ice, so you may not want to break the bank. Drambuie, a scotch-based liqueur, brings pleasantly herbal, honeyed notes that distinguish this cocktail from others of its era. For a drier drink, hold back on the liqueur; for one with a softer edge, scale back the scotch. Any way you go, build your Rusty Nail directly in the old-fashioned or rocks glass you plan to drink it from. If you like, garnish with a lemon twist to brighten the boozy finish.