Mix. Drink. Enjoy.
Discover amazing cocktail recipes and elevate your mixology game
Major Tom
Posted: July 18, 2026
Categories
About
Named after David Bowie's fictional astronaut who appears across three of his albums, the Major Tom is a Rusty Nail variation that swaps Scotch for bourbon, grounding the honeyed heather sweetness of Drambuie in caramel and vanilla rather than peat and smoke. The result is softer, more approachable, and arguably more versatile than the original — a stirred aperitif that works equally well before dinner or as a nightcap. Three ingredients, zero frills, endlessly satisfying. If you love the Rusty Nail but find Scotch too bold, Major Tom is your rocket ship.
Instructions
- Combine bourbon, Drambuie, and dry vermouth in a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir for 30 seconds until well chilled and diluted.
- Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass or over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the oils over the surface.