Rare and Vintage Drambuie Tasting

This episode's featured cocktail is several variations on a rusty nail.

Now, to make the original, you need two ounces of blended Scotch whiskey up to an ounce of Drambuie.

Dial it back to three quarters or half an ounce if you want it less sweet.

And that's it.

It's basically a honey and herb Scotch old fashioned.

Combine your ingredients in a cocktail mixing glass with ice, stir until properly chilled and diluted, garnish with an expressed lemon twist, and enjoy.

Now, let's get to the variations.

A quick Google search reveals that simply by switching up your base spirit, you get the excuse to give this cocktail all sorts of fun names.

For example, Drambuie in bourbon is called a rusty bob.

A shot of Drambuie in a pint is called a rusty ale.

Drambuie in a smoky scotch is called a smoky nail.

Drambuie in mezcal is called clavo ahumado.

A shot of drambuie in your cold brew coffee is called a railroad spike.

And of course, drambuie in Canadian whiskey is called a Donald Sutherland.

I really like that last one because apparently in Canada, they're low on nails and low on rust, which seems like it evens out across the board.

But I do think you could be a bit more creative, Canada, and call it something like a rusty moose or a rusty rink or a rusty icicle or something like that.

And since we're getting silly, here are some other international spirits that, if mixed with Drambuie, might yield the following names.

Drambuie and Rum? Rusty Sail.

Drambuie and Bijo? Rusty Chopstick.

Drambuie and Vodka? Rusty Nyet.

Drambuie and American Single Malt, Rusty Identity Crisis.

Drambuie and Cognac with a Red Wine Float, Rusty Guillotine.

And finally, if you're like me and you like Drambuie on salad, well, that of course is a Rusty Kale.

I think this pretty much sets the tone for this lighthearted tasting.