Drambuie

Drambuie is a Scottish liqueur based on whisky, honey, and a blend of herbs and spices. It has an amber color and a smooth, honeyed flavor with herbal notes. The liqueur is typically bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, but it is described as a blend of aged Scotch whiskies infused with honey and botanicals.

The brand’s lore ties Drambuie to the Jacobite era of the 18th century and the MacKinnon clan. A story often cited is that Bonnie Prince Charlie was given a personal reserve recipe by a MacKinnon chief, which later became the formula for Drambuie. The name Drambuie is believed to derive from the Scottish Gaelic phrase an dram buidhe, meaning “the drink that satisfies.”

Variants and usage: A notable premium expression is Drambuie 15, aged 15 years for a richer flavor. Drambuie is widely used in cocktails, most famously in the Rusty Nail, which pairs it with Scotch whisky. It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as a component in cocktails to add sweetness, body, and herbal complexity.

Production and branding: Drambuie is produced by the Drambuie Liqueur Company Ltd in Scotland. The liqueur combines a blend of whiskies, honey, and botanical ingredients and is aged in oak casks to develop its character. It is distributed and enjoyed worldwide as a versatile whisky-based liqueur.