From Sparrow’s cocktail list, A Proper Rusty Nail is our most premium pour, a smoke-kissed take on the great Rat Pack classic, equal parts Scotch and Drambuie ($21).
About A Proper Rusty Nail
The Rusty Nail is one of the great classic cocktails, equal parts Scotch and Drambuie served over ice, invented in the early 1960s and immediately adopted by the Rat Pack. Sparrow’s version earns the word Proper. Monkey Shoulder, a masterfully blended Speyside Scotch designed specifically for cocktails, meets Drambuie, the legendary whisky liqueur built on a secret recipe of Scotch, heather honey, herbs, and spices dating to the 18th century. And then there is the smoke. The glass is prepared with aromatic smoke before the cocktail is poured, sealing the smoke inside so it surrounds the drink. Your first sip arrives through a haze of wood smoke that dissipates slowly as you drink, a detail that turns a great classic into a genuine experience.
The Recipe
- 1.5 oz Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch
- 1 oz Drambuie
- Aromatic smoke (applied to the glass)
Season a rocks glass with smoke, sealing it inside. Stir the Scotch and Drambuie over ice until well chilled and diluted. Strain into the smoke-kissed glass over a large, clear ice cube. Monkey Shoulder is a triple-malt blend of three Speyside distilleries (Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie), conceived as the cocktail Scotch, smooth and malty with notes of vanilla, honey, and gentle baking spice. Drambuie has been a secret recipe since the mid-1700s, made from aged Scotch whisky, heather honey, and a guarded blend of herbs and spices.
Tasting Notes
Smoky, honeyed, and deeply warming. The smoke greets you first, present but not aggressive. Vanilla, malt, and honey from the Scotch and Drambuie fill the palate. Herbal spice builds through the mid-palate and lingers into a long, clean finish. This is a cocktail to sit with, not to rush, served on the rocks with a large ice cube.
What to Pair It With
Order this with Sparrow’s most substantial dishes from the dinner menu, the American Wagyu steaks, the Sparrow-Smoked Rack, or the Braised Duck. The sweetness and smoke hold their own against the richest bites on the menu, and it is also exceptional on its own at our Kirkland quartzite bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Rusty Nail?
A Rusty Nail is Scotch and Drambuie. Sparrow’s Proper Rusty Nail uses Monkey Shoulder blended malt Scotch and Drambuie, served over a large ice cube in a glass sealed with aromatic smoke.
How much is A Proper Rusty Nail at Sparrow?
It is $21, our most premium cocktail, served at Sparrow in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Black Manhattan and the Passerella. We are on the Eastside in Kirkland, so reserve a table and come taste it.