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Key Takeaways
- Frank Sinatra’s favorite two-ingredient cocktail, the Rusty Nail, blends Scotch and Drambuie.
- Popular in the 1950s, the cocktail is now rare in bars but easy to make at home.
When we think about two-ingredient cocktails, “sophisticated” or “trendy” aren’t necessarily the words that come to mind. Typically, these are easy-to-make mixed drinks consisting of one spirit and one mixer—such as soda, tonic water, or the ever-popular cranberry juice.
With such a vast selection of craft cocktails (elaborate concoctions with a wide variety of ingredients) available today, a drink that calls for only two components may seem like a thing of the past.
What Is a Rusty Nail Cocktail?
In this case, it is from the past, but it’s so effortlessly cool that we think it deserves a comeback. Say hello to the Rusty Nail, a straightforward yet stylish sip that was once said to be Frank Sinatra’s go-to when he frequented P.J. Clarke’s in New York City.
The drink came about in the 1930s but didn’t become the “it” cocktail until Sinatra helped popularize it in the ’50s. Given Sinatra’s love for whiskey and mixing drinks—he was known for whipping up drinks in his trailer for friends—it makes perfect sense that this drink became highly sought-after once Ol’ Blue Eyes gave it his seal of approval. It was smooth and sophisticated, just like him, and to top it off, super simple to make.
Brent Hofacker/Adobe
How to Make a Rusty Nail Cocktail
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To master the Rusty Nail, all you need is scotch and Drambuie, a whisky liqueur made of aged scotch and flavored with honey and spices. Mix the Drambuie and scotch with ice and stir, making sure it’s nice and cold before straining it into a glass over a big, fancy ice cube.
Legend has it that this drink got its name because bartenders originally stirred it with a rusty nail. But we prefer the alternative explanation—that the name comes from its rich, amber hue.
Sadly, this may not be the easiest drink to order the next time you’re out at the bar. It disappeared long ago for reasons no one really knows. Many bars no longer even carry Drambuie. However, you can still create this sip at home, and it’s worth it, too. If not for just feeling like one of the Rat Pack, then for its smoky, subtly sweet taste. It’s an easy drink to create from your at-home bar cart, yet cool enough to have your guests thinking you fussed.
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