
The Ted Perez drink of the week is the Rusty Nail. The Rust Nail, which is a combination of Scotch whisky and Drambuie, is a classic cocktail that was invented in the late 1950's by Norman MacKinnon of New York's 21 Club. It's most commonly enjoyed on the rocks, however, it can also be ordered straight as a 'Straight Up Nail'. The origin of The Rusty Nail's name has been rumored ever since its invention. Some say it was originally stirred with a rusty nail while others have tried to rename it entirely [one west coast-based barman tried to rename it the Knucklehead, but it never took off.
Beyond it's roots as a classic American cocktail, the Rusty Nail is also an official IBA [International Bartenders Association] cocktail that is used in the annual World Cocktail Competition [one of only eleven cocktails in it's category - After-Dinner Cocktail/Sweet]. Due to this, the Rusty Nail is one of the most noticeable and frequently ordered drinks made by professional bartenders.
Unlike most cocktails, the Rusty Nail is 100 percent liquor. As such, it's important to choose a quality Scotch whisky since it will be providing the bulk of the cocktail's depth and flavor. The addition of Drambuie is only incorporated as a sweetener and counterbalance to the biting, hot taste of the Scotch. With this in mind, Ted Perez + Associates carefully selected a diverse range of Scotch whiskies that range from traditional choices like Johnnie Walker Red Label to single malts from craft distilleries like Lagavulin. The cocktail is a simple 2 to 1 combination of Scotch whisky and Drambuie.
