Drambuie – the whisky liqueur with 270 years of history under its belt – is back on shelves in Australia and around the globe, but this time in a stunning new bottle design.

After being acquired by William Grant & Sons (of Glenfiddich and Balvenie fame) back in 2014, it was time for a refresh, but they’ve got enough experience in the trade to know that you don’t mess with 270 years of history, so fear not Drambuie fans, the recipe is still the same, it’s just the packaging that’s been given a well-deserved facelift! The amber glass, crimson cap and bold label work are a nice contemporary twist on the iconic Drambuie bottle design of the 50s, 60s and 70s and it really does look rather bonnie.

Speaking of which, the story of this whisky liqueur actually harks back to the 1740s and goes a little something like this. ‘One of history’s most charismatic royals, Bonnie Prince Charlie, gave the secret recipe to one of his clansmen as a gift for unswerving loyalty after defeat in his remarkable 1745 uprising. For more than a century after, Drambuie was enjoyed among the islanders of Skye in Scotland, whose gently hospitable nature was personified by this warm and elegant liquid. Such was its quiet success that it steadily gained in popularity until it was patented in 1893, and eventually bottled for sale in 1914.’

Tasted neat, the nose jumps out at you with notes of sweet honey, butterscotch, citrus and soft aromatic spices. The palate continues the theme with soft, creamy thick mouthfeel. There’s lots of sweet honey, buttery biscuity tea cake, a slight citrus tang, cinnamon quills and some background aromatic herbs and spices.

Sip it straight, over a large rock of ice, or mixed in a classic cocktail (such as the famed Rusty Nail). There’s really no wrong way to go about it, as long as you’re enjoying yourself!