Scotch whisky and Drambuie over ice — the Rat Pack's drink, and an unfairly ignored two-ingredient classic.
The Rusty Nail was the favourite cocktail of the Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. They drank it during the filming of Ocean's 11 in Las Vegas in 1960, and the drink became as iconic as the group. Drambuie is made in Scotland to a recipe supposedly given to Captain John MacKinnon by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746.
The drink fell out of fashion in the 1980s–90s as cocktail culture moved toward fresh ingredients and complexity. It's been quietly rehabilitated — a well-made Rusty Nail with a quality blended Scotch and good Drambuie is a genuinely excellent two-ingredient drink. The Drambuie's heather honey and herb complexity transforms what would otherwise be just Scotch on the rocks.
Add ¼ oz good Scottish heather honey to the glass before the spirits. A bit sweeter and more textured.
Use a lightly fruity Speyside single malt (Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12) instead of blended Scotch. The malt complexity elevates the drink considerably.
Add 2 dashes of orange bitters alongside the Drambuie. The citrus amplifies the herbal notes of Drambuie beautifully.