Honey, heather and smoke in a heavy glass: that is the whole idea. Drambuie softens the whisky without masking it, and a slow stir over one large cube keeps the drink cold and strong. It is made for sipping at the end of the evening, not for rushing.
1½ oz
blended Scotch whisky a smoky Islay malt gives the darkest takee.g. Johnnie Walker · Chivas Regal · Famous Grouse · Glenfiddich · Monkey Shoulder
¾ oz
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Garnish: Lemon twist · Ice: One large cube
Black Nail
Smoke and malt from the whisky, rounded by honey, orange peel and spice from the Drambuie. Strong, smooth and slightly sweet.
The Black Nail is not a documented historical cocktail. Structurally it is a member of the Rusty Nail family, the pairing of Scotch whisky with Drambuie, the Scottish liqueur made from whisky, heather honey, herbs and spices. The Rusty Nail itself became a fashionable bar order in the 1960s and 1970s.
The darker name fits best when the drink is made with a peated, smoky Scotch, which pushes it away from the sweeter standard version. Treat it as a house style of the Rusty Nail rather than a separate classic: the ratio stays at roughly two parts whisky to one part liqueur.
Both use Scotch and Drambuie. The Black Nail as we make it uses a smoky, peated Scotch, which gives a darker, drier profile.
A Scottish liqueur based on Scotch whisky, sweetened with heather honey and flavoured with herbs and spices.
Strong. With no mixer it sits above 30 % ABV, so treat it like a neat whisky.
The perfect sound
A smoky dram by the fire in the Highlands.
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