The Rusty Nail - Scotland in a glass

made with Bonnie Prince Charlie's Elixir

The great hall of Holyrood Palace blazed with candlelight, the flames dancing off the gilded walls and casting dramatic shadows behind the assembled Highland chiefs and Lowland nobles. The walls were covered with portraits of the kings of Scotland. The victory at Prestonpans had electrified Edinburgh, and now the ancient palace hummed with energy and anticipation.

Prince Charles Edward Stuart stood before the gathering, his tartan sash draped elegantly across his chest. He was resplendent in his tartan, as he stood among the portraits of his family. His youth and vitality seemed to fill the chamber, drawing all eyes to him as he raised his glass. The musicians fell silent, and the rustle of silk and wool subsided as the assembly turned to hear their Prince speak.

"My friends," he called out, his voice carrying clear and strong through the hall, "today we celebrate not just a victory, but a promise fulfilled. At Prestonpans, our Highland warriors proved what I have always known - that courage and conviction can triumph over any odds."

He turned slightly, acknowledging the Highland chiefs who stood proud in their tartans, their victories still fresh in their minds. Among them stood Lord George Murray, whose military genius had helped secure their triumph, and the young Camerons and MacDonalds whose clans had charged so fearlessly into battle.

"To our brave men who swept the field like the mountain wind," the Prince continued, "and to all of you who have risked everything for our cause. The House of Stuart shall never forget your loyalty." He paused, his eyes sparkling in the candlelight. "And to our enemies who thought us merely Highland rabble - they have learned their lesson well at the point of our broadswords!"

A roar of approval went up from the assembled crowd. The Highland chiefs raised their glasses, their fierce pride evident in every face. Ladies in their finest gowns smiled and nodded, their jewels glinting in the warm light.

"Let all of Scotland know," Charles declared, raising his glass higher, "that this is but the first step on our road to London. To victory!"

"To victory!" The cry echoed through the hall as glasses were raised and drained. The music struck up again, a triumphant reel that set sporrans swinging and silk skirts swirling as the celebration continued into the night.

Yet among the revelers, some of the older chiefs exchanged knowing glances. They had seen war before, and knew that one victory, however sweet, did not guarantee the next. But for tonight, at least, hope and triumph ruled in Holyrood's ancient halls, and the Young Pretender's star shone bright and promising in the Scottish night.

As the celebrations continued, Prince Charles withdrew to a quieter corner of the hall, where Lord George Murray stood observing the revelry with a measured expression.

"You're not celebrating, my Lord George," Charles said, his voice still carrying the warmth of his earlier toast.

"I celebrate our victory, Your Highness," Murray replied carefully, "but I must speak of what comes next. Your council is divided on the matter of England."

Charles's expression hardened slightly. "The road to London lies open before us. We must strike while our momentum is strong."

"With respect, sire," Murray said, lowering his voice, "the clans fight well on Scottish soil, defending their own lands. England is different territory altogether. We risk stretching our supply lines thin, and winter approaches."

"The English Jacobites will rise to join us," Charles insisted, his eyes bright with conviction. "Our friends in Manchester and Wales only await our arrival. Every day we delay gives Cumberland time to gather his forces."

Murray's weathered face showed his concern. "And if they don't rise? We'd be deep in hostile territory with a small army. The Highlanders..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Some of the chiefs worry about leaving their lands unprotected."

"Then we must convince them," Charles declared, the same charisma that had won him support now focused entirely on his general. "Lord George, you know as well as I do that Scotland alone cannot sustain our cause. The throne of Britain is our goal, and it sits in London, not Edinburgh."

Murray recognized that look in the Prince's eye - the same determined gleam he'd shown before Prestonpans. He bowed slightly. "Then may I suggest, Your Highness, that we split our advance? Two columns moving south would allow us to gather more support and supplies along the way."

Charles smiled, clapping Murray on the shoulder. "Now you begin to think like a conqueror, my friend. We'll discuss the details tomorrow. Tonight..." He gestured to the celebrating crowd, "tonight we let them dance."

Murray watched as the Prince returned to his admirers, and took a long drink from his glass. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to gamble everything on a desperate throw of the dice.

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The Skye Boat song tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charlies escape to Skye

The Rusty Nail cocktail combines Scotch whisky with Drambuie, a liqueur whose origins trace back to one of Scotland's most turbulent periods. To understand this drink's heritage, we must first explore the fascinating story behind its key ingredient.

Drambuie began as an elixir created for Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. As the Catholic heir to the deposed Stuart dynasty, Charles launched the Jacobite Rising of 1745 to reclaim the British throne from the Protestant Hanoverian King George II.

Landing in Scotland in July 1745 with just seven companions, Charles raised an army of Highland clans. Despite initial successes, including capturing Edinburgh and advancing into England, his forces were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746. The battle was devastating - Charles's 5,000 exhausted clansmen were no match for the 9,000 disciplined government troops led by the Duke of Cumberland.

With a £30,000 bounty on his head (equivalent to over £15 million today), Charles fled through the Highlands and Islands. During his escape, he carried a small bottle containing a concentrated medicinal tincture created by his personal physician. According to Donald MacLeod, who helped protect the prince, Charles would take "so many drops every morning and throughout the day" and even used it to cure a companion's cholick.

During his five-month flight, Charles eventually made it to the Isle of Skye, famously disguised as Flora MacDonald's maid. The MacKinnon clan played a crucial role in his escape, and legend holds that Charles gifted them his precious elixir recipe in gratitude. This recipe, originally intended to be mixed with brandy or whisky, would eventually become Drambuie.

The MacKinnons kept the recipe within their family for nearly 150 years until it was passed to John Ross, proprietor of the Broadford Hotel on Skye. Ross and his wife Eleanor refined the recipe, combining the elixir with whisky, honey, and other ingredients. A guest supposedly coined the name "Drambuie" from the Gallic "An dram buidheach" - "the drink that satisfies."

In 1916 Drambuie became the first liqueur to be allowed in the cellars of the House of Lords. Drambuie's neck label was redesigned to include 'As supplied to the House of Lords' on either side of the House of Lords portcullis emblem.

Drambuie was shipped to the officers' messes of Highland Regiments serving overseas and this helped establish export sales. During WW1 and WW2 trade was effectively closed from the continent and making Drambuie almost the only liqueur available in the UK.

The Rusty Nail's origins are quite controversial. Many sources state that the drink was invented in 1937 for the British Industries Fair trade show. The Fair's main goal was to connect British-produced goods with overseas consumers, so it would make sense that Drambuie, a Scottish liqueur, would make an appearance there. This was called the B.I.F. cocktail.

The cocktail seems to have gone through a collection of names, a modified version appeared in Waldorf-Astoria Hotel publicist Ted Saucier's 1951 cocktail book "Bottoms Up," as a drink called the Little Club #1. A later recipe appears in 1967's "Old Mister Boston Official Bartender's Guide."

The name Rusty Nail is attributed to the exclusive 21 Club bar in New York City, but the cocktail's name was finally nailed down when the chairwoman of Drambuie gave it the official stamp of approval.

The cocktail's name origin remains debated - some attribute it to the drink's amber color, while others claim bartenders stirred it with actual nails (though this is likely folklore).

The cocktail became associated with the Rat Pack who famously enjoyed scotch. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in particular enjoyed many a Rusty Nail at P.J. Clarke's in New York. This made the drink one of the most popular in the 60’s and 70’s.

Today the Rusty Nail has faded from the spotlight, it doesn't help that many bars don't even carry Drambuie.

While the cocktail's popularity waned in the 1980s and 90s during the era of sweet, fruity drinks, it remains a sophisticated blend of smoky Scotch and the honeyed, herbal complexity of Drambuie.

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The Classic Recipe

The Rusty Nail remains elegantly simple:

- 2 oz Scotch whisky

- 1 oz Drambuie

- Ice

- Lemon twist (optional garnish)

Pour ingredients over ice, stir gently, and optionally garnish with a lemon twist.

The proportions of whisky to Drambuie can be adjusted depending on your preference. It can be made with any kind of whisky including Irish Whiskey but was traditionally made with smoky scotch.