The Rusty Nail did up its hipness quota in the 1970s when it gained favor with Rat Pack. It’s neither appealing nor clever, and arguably what has helped to sideline an otherwise delightful cocktail. Far be it from me to question the wisdom of my people (despite my very Italian surname, I’m a proud Scotsman on my mother’s side), but it’s a terrible name. This is likely where the “D&S” (Drambuie and scotch) name originates since these were the same innovators who brought us the B&B (Bénédictine and cognac) cocktail.Īll this nonsense was put to rest in 1967, when Drambuie chairwoman Gina MacKinnon declared that the popular cocktail should henceforth be called the Rusty Nail. The venerable “King Cocktail” Dave DeGroff, however, offers a different take positing that the Rusty Nail was a result of bartender experimentation at New York’s famous 21 Club. A drink made to mark the occasion of a trade show doesn’t scream “cool.” Let’s face it: drunken businessmen don’t make great spokespeople. An early version first appeared in England in 1937 under the name “BIF,” short for British Industries Fair. Tracing the history of the Rusty Nail, I found a cocktail with a serious identity crisis. It’s a classic don’t-knock-it-’til-you’ve-tried-it cocktail. While scotch may be intimidating for some, the honey and herbal notes from the Drambuie cut the bite while elevating the overall scotchiness of the drink. But what really makes it so different from the Moscow Mule or the Negroni - both cocktails from bygone eras that have been enthusiastically rediscovered as of late? When is it going to be the Rusty Nail’s turn?Ĭomposed of scotch and Drambuie, an often-overlooked scotch-based liqueur, the Rusty Nail is smoky and sweet - the ideal after-dinner sipper that packs a stealthy punch. Like Saul, the Rusty Nail’s best days are behind it. It does not store any personal data.That scene says everything you need to know about the current cultural status of the Rusty Nail: a dated drink for sad sacks clinging to their former greatness. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Performance'. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Necessary'. A couple of these after a bad day will renew your spirts and make you forget about it. The sweet Drambui sweetens the not so sweet Scotch for a potent combination. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Other. Scotch & Drambuie are a perfect mate, such as coffee and donuts, or pizza & beer, etc.

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Rusty nail recipe