Rusty nail (cocktail)
Scotch and Drambuie cocktail popularized by the Rat Pack.
The rusty nail combines Scotch whisky and Drambuie, typically in a ratio of one-to-one or two-to-one. It is most often poured over ice in an old-fashioned glass, but can also be served without ice in a stemmed glass. The drink first appeared in 1937 at the British Industries Fair, but became widely popular in the 1950s after New York’s 21 Club endorsed it. Its fame increased further in the 1960s when the Rat Pack adopted it as their signature cocktail.
Any aged spirit can replace the Scotch, though a blended Scotch whisky in a one-to-one or two-to-one ratio is traditional. Adding more Drambuie makes the drink sweeter. A citrus twist, usually orange, can be added to brighten the acidity and flavor. Other versions include the rusty compass, which adds cherry liqueur; the clavo ahumado, which uses mezcal instead of whisky; and the Donald Sutherland, which substitutes Canadian rye whisky for blended Scotch.
According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, the rusty nail took time to find its place. The combination of Drambuie and Scotch first appeared in 1937 as the B.I.F., credited to F. Benniman and named after the British Industries Fair. Over the next generation, the drink went by several names, including the D&S, the Little Club No. 1, the Mig-21, and the Knucklehead. Dale DeGroff noted that the drink is often credited to bartenders at the 21 Club in the early 1960s. The name “rusty nail” was cemented in 1963 when Gina MacKinnon, chairwoman of the Drambuie Liqueur Company, endorsed it in *The New York Times*. DeGroff also reported that the Rat Pack’s fondness for the drink in the early 1960s likely drove its wide appeal.
- type
- Cocktail
- primary_spirit
- Scotch whisky
- liqueur
- Drambuie
- traditional_ratio
- 1:1 to 2:1 (whisky to Drambuie)
- glassware
- Old-fashioned glass (rocks glass) or stemmed glass
- earliest_known_precursor
- 1937 (B.I.F. cocktail)
- name_cemented
- 1963
Quick Facts
- Base
- Scotch whisky, Drambuie
- Ingredients
- 45 ml Scotch whisky · 25 ml Drambuie
- Served
- On the rocks: poured over ice
- Garnish
- Orange peel (optional)IBA calls for lemon zest
- Prep
- Pour all ingredients directly into an old fashioned glass filled with ice. Stir gently.
- Drinkware
- Old fashioned glass
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, the combination of Drambuie and the whisky it is made from first appears in 1937 in the form of the B.I.F., credited to one F. Benniman and ostensibly named after the British Industries Fair. Wondrich notes that 'it took another generation or so for the drink to assume its classic name and form, during which time it tried on several identities,' including the D&S, the Little Club No. 1, the Mig-21, and the Knucklehead.
The cocktail authority Dale DeGroff said 'the Rusty Nail is often credited to the clever bartenders at the 21 Club in Manhattan sometime in the early 1960s.' The cocktail's name was finally cemented in 1963, when Gina MacKinnon, the chairwoman of the Drambuie Liqueur Company, gave the rusty nail her endorsement in The New York Times. DeGroff reported that in the early 1960s '...the Rat Pack was enamored of the drink, which may have been responsible for the wide appeal in those years.'
Variations of the drink can be made using any aged spirit with the Drambuie, although using blended Scotch whisky in a 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 ratio is traditional. Other variations include the rusty compass (adds cherry liqueur), the clavo ahumado (uses mezcal instead of whisky), and the Donald Sutherland (substitutes Canadian rye whisky for the blended Scotch whisky).
Reader's Guide
The rusty nail holds a significant place in cocktail history as a simple yet iconic two-ingredient drink that rose from a 1937 British trade fair to become a symbol of mid-century cool. Its journey from the B.I.F. to the 21 Club and finally to the Rat Pack illustrates how a drink can be shaped by social circles and marketing. The cocktail's name was not fixed until 1963, when the Drambuie company chairwoman endorsed it in The New York Times, resolving years of alternative names. The drink's legacy is tied to the Rat Pack's embrace, which propelled it into widespread popularity in the 1960s. Variations using different aged spirits show its adaptability, but the traditional Scotch-and-Drambuie ratio remains the standard. The rusty nail exemplifies how a straightforward recipe, when adopted by influential figures and venues, can achieve lasting cultural resonance.
Did You Know?
- The rusty nail's precursor, the B.I.F., was named after the 1937 British Industries Fair and credited to one F. Benniman.
- Before being called the rusty nail, the drink was known as the D&S, Little Club No. 1, Mig-21, and Knucklehead.
- The cocktail's name was cemented in 1963 when Drambuie chairwoman Gina MacKinnon endorsed it in The New York Times.
- A variation called the Donald Sutherland substitutes Canadian rye whisky for blended Scotch whisky.
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