Hoeveel procent alcohol zit er in Drambuie?

Drambuie bevat 40% alcohol, evenveel als de whisky waar hij van gemaakt is. Daarmee is het een van de sterkste likeuren; ter vergelijking: Baileys zit op 17% en Licor 43 op 31%.

Wat zit er in Drambuie?

Gerijpte Scotch whisky, heidehoning en een geheime mix van kruiden en specerijen, waaronder saffraan, nootmuskaat en kaneel. Het exacte recept is alleen bekend bij een handvol mensen.

Wat is een Rusty Nail?

Een cocktail van blended Scotch whisky en Drambuie, meestal in de verhouding 2 op 1, geroerd met ijs in een tumbler en afgemaakt met een citroenzest. De cocktail werd in de jaren zestig beroemd via de Rat Pack en is nog altijd de bekendste manier om Drambuie te drinken.

Hoe drink je Drambuie?

Puur over ijs in een tumbler, in een Rusty Nail met whisky, of warm in een Hot Toddy. Ook lekker met ginger ale of soda en een partje citroen. Op kamertemperatuur puur is hij voor de meeste mensen te zoet.

Is Drambuie een whisky?

Nee, het is een likeur op basis van whisky. Door de toegevoegde honing en kruiden en de zoete smaak valt hij onder de likeuren, al is het alcoholpercentage met 40% gelijk aan dat van whisky.

Hoe lang is een geopende fles Drambuie houdbaar?

Jaren. Door het hoge alcoholpercentage en de suiker bederft Drambuie niet. Bewaar de fles rechtop, goed afgesloten en uit de zon; na een paar jaar kan de smaak iets afvlakken.

Whisky liqueur · Scotland · recipe from 1746

Drambuie

Scottish whisky, heather honey and herbs in one golden liqueur. Everything about its flavor, the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Rusty Nail and the glass to serve it in.

Whisky liqueur40% alcoholScotlandHoney, herbs & Scotch

At Gall & Gall from € 22,991 offerView prices ↓

Go to the cocktails

40%alcohol · 70 cl

On this pageWhat is Drambuie?The bottle Flavor How to drink it Cocktails The right glass Questions Buy

What is Drambuie?

The liqueur a prince left to Scotland

Drambuie is a Scottish liqueur made with aged Scotch whisky, heather honey and a secret blend of herbs and spices, including saffron, nutmeg and cinnamon. The name comes from the Gaelic 'an dram buidheach', meaning the drink that satisfies. According to legend, Bonnie Prince Charlie gave the recipe to the MacKinnon family on Skye in 1746, in gratitude for helping him escape after the Battle of Culloden.

The MacKinnons launched the liqueur in 1909 and kept the recipe in the family for more than a century. Since 2014, Drambuie has been part of William Grant & Sons, the company behind Glenfiddich. At 40% alcohol, it is one of the stronger liqueurs and the foundation of the Rusty Nail, the best-known Scottish cocktail.

At a glance

TypeWhisky liqueur

Alcohol40%

OriginScotland · recipe from 1746, on the market since 1909

BaseAged Scotch whisky, heather honey, herbs and spices

FlavorHoney, spices, orange and whisky

GlassTumbler with ice; liqueur glass neat

Types

What bottles of Drambuie are available?

Drambuie has one recipe in three sizes. If you enjoy the combination of whisky and sweetness, these are the alternatives to explore.

Drambuie

40% · 70 cl

The standard bottle with its distinctive gold label. Sweet, spicy and warm, with the whisky clearly coming through.

Best for: Rusty Nail, neat over ice

Drambuie 1 liter

40% · 100 cl

The large bottle for anyone who often makes a Rusty Nail or Hot Toddy. Better value per glass.

Best for: home bar, winter

Drambuie 50 cl

40% · 50 cl

The small bottle for trying it out or giving as a gift. Same liqueur, more convenient size.

Best for: trying, gifting

Bottle of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey 70 cl

Jack Daniel's Honey

35% · alternative

The American counterpart: Tennessee whiskey with honey liqueur. Sweeter, milder, and without the spices.

Best for: shots, with ginger ale

More about Jack Daniel's →

Tip

One bottle of Drambuie and one bottle of blended Scotch: that’s all you need for a Rusty Nail.

Go to the cocktails →

What does Drambuie taste like?

Honey, spices, and the warmth of whisky

Nose

Heather honey & orange

Sweet honey and candied orange up front, followed by cloves, nutmeg, and a hint of whisky.

Palate

Sweet, rich, and spicy

Syrupy and sweet, but not bland: the spices and 40% alcohol keep it balanced. Saffron and cinnamon in the background.

Finish

Long and warm

The whisky takes over in a long, warming finish with a slight bitterness from the spices.

Sweet 4/5

Spicy 4/5

Fruity 2/5

Strength 4/5

Drambuie’s flavor profile neat at room temperature. With ice, it’s fresher and less sweet.

How to drink it

Three ways to drink Drambuie

Drambuie is sweet and strong at the same time. It’s best enjoyed chilled or mixed with whisky; in winter, it’s also delicious warm.

Rusty Nail

45 ml blended Scotch and 25 ml Drambuie, stirred with ice in a tumbler and garnished with a lemon twist. The classic from the sixties, ready in a minute.

Go to recipe →

On the rocks

Pour 40 ml Drambuie over a large ice cube in a tumbler. The cold tames the sweetness and brings out the spices. Also delicious with a splash of soda.

Glass: tumbler →

Hot Toddy

40 ml Drambuie, a lemon slice, and hot water in a heat-resistant glass. The honey is already in the bottle, so there’s no need for extra sugar.

Go to recipe →

Cocktails

The best cocktails with Drambuie

All cocktail recipes →

The classic

From the webshop

The right glass for Drambuie

A heavy tumbler for a Rusty Nail or on the rocks, a liqueur glass for sipping neat, and a heat-resistant glass for a Hot Toddy. These are the glasses we recommend.

100% breakage-proof delivery

For a Rusty Nail

Onis Icon Tumbler

Set of 6 · 35 cl · heavy base, classic whisky glass

€ 33,95View

For on the rocks

L.S.A. Borough Tumbler

Set of 4 · 30 cl · the all-rounder, also for whisky on the rocks

€ 41,95View

For drinking neat

Luigi Bormioli Mixology Spirits Glass

Set of 6 · 23 cl · tulip-shaped for liqueur and aged spirits

€ 31,95View

For Hot Toddy

Onis Bill Irish Coffee Glass

Set of 6 · 24 cl · heat-resistant glass on a stem

€ 21,95View

Frequently asked questions

Everything you still wanted to know about Drambuie

Can't find your question here? Browse our cocktail recipes or get in touch.

To the cocktail recipes →

What percentage of alcohol does Drambuie contain?

Drambuie contains 40% alcohol, the same as the whisky it's made from. This makes it one of the strongest liqueurs; for comparison, Baileys is 17% and Licor 43 is 31%.

What is in Drambuie?

Aged Scotch whisky, heather honey and a secret blend of herbs and spices, including saffron, nutmeg and cinnamon. The exact recipe is known only to a handful of people.

What is a Rusty Nail?

A cocktail made with blended Scotch whisky and Drambuie, usually in a 2-to-1 ratio, stirred with ice in a tumbler and finished with a lemon twist. The cocktail became famous in the 1960s through the Rat Pack and is still the best-known way to drink Drambuie.

How do you drink Drambuie?

Neat over ice in a tumbler, in a Rusty Nail with whisky, or warm in a Hot Toddy. It's also delicious with ginger ale or soda and a wedge of lemon. Neat at room temperature, it's too sweet for most people.

Is Drambuie a whisky?

No, it's a whisky-based liqueur. Because of the added honey and herbs and its sweet taste, it falls into the liqueur category, even though its alcohol content of 40% is the same as whisky's.

How long does an opened bottle of Drambuie keep?

Years. Thanks to its high alcohol content and sugar, Drambuie doesn't spoil. Store the bottle upright, tightly sealed and out of the sun; after a few years, the flavor may become a little less pronounced.

At our partner Gall & Gall

Buy Drambuie

Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Drambuie online from Gall & Gall.

Offer

On sale now

Drambuie

70 cl · sold by Gall & Gall

~~€ 29,49~~€ 22,99At Gall

At Gall & Gall

Drambuie

100 cl · sold by Gall & Gall

€ 40,49At Gall

Prices as of November 3, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can find the current price and availability at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it won't cost you anything extra. No 18, no alcohol.