Rusty Nail: The 2-Ingredient Cocktail Beloved By Frank Sinatra
BY NIKITA EPHANOV
The Rusty Nail is a two-ingredient cocktail that mixes Scotch with Drambuie, a whisky liqueur flavored with herbs and honey. It was a favorite of iconic musician Frank Sinatra.
Likely invented at a trade show in the 1930s, the drink was a hit in the 1960s and '70s in bars like P.J. Clarke's in New York City, where Sinatra helped popularize it.
This recipe provides the drink with a stronger alcoholic taste with a balanced sweetness. However, some recipes call for equal parts of each for a sweeter flavor.
Many versions also toss in a dash of bitters before stirring the cocktail with ice and pouring it into a glass. One thing most recipes agree on is the use of a lemon peel garnish.