Drambuie is a honey gold colored liqueur that hails from Scotland.  It’s made from Scottish whisky, heather honey, and a special blend of herbs and spices.  According to the maker, it was originally made for Bonnie Prince Charlie as a health tonic, which he imbibed daily to keep his strength and vitality up.

My Take:

I find Drambuie to be a bit strong and overpowering for my palette, even when combined in cocktails.  It has a top note hit of sweetness that, when combined with it’s distinct blend of herbs and spices, reminds me of licorice.  I am not most decidedly NOT a licorice person. But even so, the sweetness lingers as the liqueur settles and mellows, allowing me to enjoy the warm, herbal/spicey combination.  It’s nose gives me hints of herbs, warm honey, and even a bit of butterscotch.  I find Drambuie to be quite the experience–the taste and smell transports me back into history.  And even though it is not one of my favorites, I do keep it on my bar as there is one cocktail in particular I enjoy.

Applications:

There are a variety of drinks you can make with Drambuie, but the Rusty Nail is perhaps the most well known one:

  • 1 part Drambuie
  • 2 parts Scotch
  • lemon twist
  • Ice

Pour all ingredients into a rocks glass, stir, garnish with a lemon.

While the Rusty Nail is not my personal cup of tea, I do truly enjoy the The Bee Knees Royale:

  • 1 part Drambuie
  • 1 part Hendricks
  • 1/2 part fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 part honey syrup (I always use local, unfiltered honey–it’s better for you)
  • 2 parts champagne

Combine first 4 ingredients, shake well, strain into a fresh glass, top with champagne, garnish with an orange peel (optional–I personally do not like the addition of the orange)


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Author

Travel lover, cocktail enthusiast, & joy seeker, inspiring others to sip, savor, & explore

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