Hot Buttered Rum
Dark rum, hot water and a spoonful of spiced brown sugar butter, stirred into a rich, warming mug that tastes like liquid gingerbread. A classic winter warmer.
other · Approx. 10% ABV
Hot Buttered Rum is exactly what it sounds like: dark rum, hot water and a spoonful of spiced butter and brown sugar, stirred together into a rich, warming drink that tastes like a liquid gingerbread biscuit. It has its roots in colonial North America, where rum from the Caribbean was the everyday spirit and hot drinks were a winter necessity, and it remains one of the cosiest things to drink on a cold, dark evening. The secret is a batch of spiced butter batter, which keeps in the fridge so you can make a mug in a minute.
Ingredients (One Drink)
50ml dark or spiced rum
1 heaped tbsp spiced butter batter (see below)
120ml just-boiled water (or hot apple juice for a fruitier version)
A cinnamon stick, to garnish
Freshly grated nutmeg, to finish
Spiced Butter Batter (Makes 4–6 Drinks)
60g unsalted butter, softened
60g soft light or dark brown sugar
1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
A pinch each of ground cloves and allspice
A small pinch of salt
Method
Make the batter: beat the softened butter, sugar, honey, spices and salt together with a spoon until smooth. It will keep in a covered jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Warm the mug: fill a heatproof glass mug or tankard with hot water, leave it for a minute, then tip it away.
Build the drink: add a heaped tablespoon of the batter and the rum to the warm mug.
Add the hot water: pour in the just-boiled water and stir well until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
Garnish and serve: add a cinnamon stick, grate over a little fresh nutmeg and serve straight away while it is hot.
Tips
Pick a characterful rum: a dark or spiced rum gives the best flavour. A light white rum gets lost under the butter and spice.
Do not boil the rum: adding it to the mug rather than heating it in a pan keeps the alcohol and flavour where they belong.
Stir as you drink: the butter can rise to the top, so give it a stir now and then.
Make it richer: some people add a small scoop of vanilla ice cream to the batter. It is decadent, but very good.
Making it for a crowd: keep a jug of just-boiled water and the jar of batter on the side and let everyone build their own.
Alcohol-Free Version
Leave out the rum and use hot apple juice or cloudy apple and ginger juice in place of the water. A few drops of rum essence or vanilla extract gives a hint of the original flavour. It makes a lovely warming drink for drivers and anyone not drinking.
Serving Suggestions
Hot Buttered Rum is a natural after-dinner drink and a good match for spiced desserts. Try it with sticky toffee pudding, apple and blackberry crumble or a mince pie. If you like a hot drink with a kick, try our Hot Toddy or Irish Coffee too.
Please drink responsibly. Know your limits, and never drink and drive.