🥃 Drambuie Liqueur
The core Drambuie expression: a Scotch whisky liqueur with heather honey, herbs and spices; 40% ABV; whisky age not stated.
Drambuie Liqueur is the core expression of the Drambuie brand: a Scottish liqueur made on a base of Scotch whisky, heather honey, herbs and spices. According to Difford's Guide it is 40% ABV, and the age of the whisky is not stated. This is the version other Drambuie bottlings are compared with.
Production. According to the brand, the recipe is kept in a safe at a blending plant near Glasgow, and only three people know it; one of them personally blends the essence for each batch. The producer is the Drambuie Liqueur Company, owned by William Grant & Sons. Difford's Guide tasters note honey, saffron, clove, orange, vanilla and a light malty note of Scotch; the producer also mentions heather, anise and nutmeg.
Why it matters for you. This is the most common Drambuie and the base of the Rusty Nail cocktail: according to the brand's recipe, 40 ml of Scotch and 20 ml of Drambuie over ice. Compare it with Drambuie 15, which is drier and built on Speyside malts. Remember that this is a sweet liqueur, not a whisky. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | name Drambuie registered in 1893 (James Ross); production in Edinburgh from 1909 (according to the brand) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | aged Scotch whisky, heather honey, herbs, spices (producer) |
| Minimum maturation | whisky age not stated (according to Difford's Guide) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (according to Difford's Guide) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Drambuie Liqueur → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Drambuie, 🍸 Liqueurs
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Drambuie 15, 🥃 Drambuie 15, 🥃 Glayva
Frequently asked questions
Is Drambuie just whisky with honey?
Not exactly. According to the brand, it is a liqueur made from aged Scotch whisky, heather honey, herbs and spices; the recipe is more complex than a simple mix of two components.
What is the strength of Drambuie Liqueur?
According to Difford's Guide, 40% ABV. Check the label of your own bottle for the exact figure.
How does the core Drambuie differ from Drambuie 15?
The core liqueur blends Scotch whiskies with no stated age, while Drambuie 15 is built on Speyside malts aged at least 15 years and, according to Difford's Guide, contains less sugar syrup.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Glayva — Scotch whisky liqueur with mandarin, almond, honey and spices; created in 1947 in Leith, Edinburgh; 35% ABV; produced by Whyte & Mackay.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Drambuie 15 · 🥃 Midori Melon Liqueur · 🥃 Jägermeister Orange · 🥃 Bénédictine D.O.M. · 🥃 Blenders Pride Rare Premium · 🥃 Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Drambuie liqueur (40 % ABV, no age statement, Scotch whisky base, honey and herbal flavours, owner William Grant & Sons)
- Drambuie: About us (blend of aged Scotch whisky, spices, herbs and heather honey; recipe kept at the blending facility near Glasgow)
- William Grant & Sons: Drambuie (whisky liqueur produced in Scotland; heather, anise, nutmeg and saffron notes)
- Drambuie: Rusty Nail (20 ml Drambuie, 40 ml Scotch whisky, ice)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)