The Origin Of The Rusty Nail, The Rat Pack's Signature Drink

How to make a Rusty Nail suitable for Sinatra

The Rusty Nail is one of the simplest cocktails you can make, featuring just two ingredients: Scotch and Drambuie. While the proportions can be adjusted to suit your taste, Dale DeGroff suggests that a classic 2:1 ratio of spirit to liqueur is popular for a reason. To craft a Rusty Nail worthy of the stars, mix 1½ ounces of Scotch with ¾ ounce of Drambuie in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, stirring until well chilled. Pour the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice, and if you like, add a twist of citrus peel for garnish.

There are also several variations of the Rusty Nail that replace Scotch with other spirits or introduce new ingredients. For example, the Rusty Spike uses bourbon instead of Scotch, while the Rusty Compass incorporates cherry liqueur. The Clavo Ahumado, which translates to "Smoky Nail" in Spanish, features mezcal in place of Scotch. The whimsically named Donald Sutherland cocktail uses Canadian rye whisky, a nod to the actor's Canadian roots, although there's no indication he actually enjoys this version. However, the classic combination of Scotch and Drambuie is the one that gained fame through the Rat Pack, so if you want to channel the vibe of a mid-century icon, it's best to stick with the original recipe.