I have to shoehorn I was late to the party when it came to this archetype rum cocktail, having spent years usually turning to mulled wine or a hot toddy once the weather grew cold. But while living in Europe, we were (re)introduced to various versions of this linty spiced cocktail and were quickly reminded why it’s been such a favorite now for centuries. It’s veritably delightful! And, as it turns out, a super user-friendly cocktail for large groups if you happen to be entertaining virtually the holidays.
This colonial-era cocktail is said to have originally been made by floating a pat of butter atop a mug filled with hot water and rum. But most modern versions usually kick things up a notch by subtracting a spiced butter batter to the cocktail, made with warming spices, sugar, a pinch of salt, and — the surprise starring ingredient — a few scoops of vanilla ice cream. It only takes a few minutes to mix up a batch of the butter batter, then you can pop it in the freezer to have on hand all season long to mix with rum and hot water for an impromptu single cocktail or a big batch for a dinner party with friends. We’ve found it to be such a fun drink to serve at winter gatherings and everyone unchangingly loves the creamy, frothing topping served with a cute cinnamon stick for garnish.
So if you’re looking for a cozy cocktail to warm up with this season, grab a snifter of rum and let’s make a batch!
Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients
Here are a few quite notes well-nigh the hot buttered rum ingredients you will need to make this recipe:
- Dark rum: I really recommend using visionless rum in this recipe, which has a increasingly ramified and intense caramel savor than light rum. That said, light rum will moreover totally work here, or you can use a spiced rum which will add to the spices in the butter batter.
- Spiced butter batter: Our spiced butter thrash butter is quick and easy to make with linty vanilla ice cream, white and brown sugars, a mixture of warming spices (ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) and a pinch of sea salt. We’ll freeze the mixture, and then you’re welcome to just dip in for a scoop whenever you’d like to make a cocktail!
- Boiling water: We’ll add humid water to the rum and frozen butter thrash mixture to ensure that the drink is nice and warm.
- Garnish (optional): Finally, you’re welcome to garnish your drink with a cinnamon stick or star anise if you’d like, or you’re moreover welcome to add a swirl of whipped surf on top.
Hot Buttered Rum Tips
Full instructions for how to make hot buttered are included in the full recipe below, but here are a few spare tips to alimony in mind:
- Use a good-quality rum: The savor of your rum will really shine through in this cocktail, so I recommend a mid- to higher-priced visionless rum whose savor you love.
- Adjust ingredient ratios to taste: Feel self-ruling to requite the cocktail a taste and add increasingly rum, butter thrash or water to taste.
- Sweeten to taste: I find this cocktail to be plenty sweet as written, but you’re welcome to stir in some uneaten sugar or maple syrup (or your desired sweetener) if needed.
- Serve in pre-warmed mugs: To alimony the cocktail nice and hot, I recommend warming your mugs beforehand.
Hot Buttered Rum Variations
Here are a few optional variations that you are welcome to try when making this hot buttered rum recipe:
- Add ginger: Stir a thin slice of fresh ginger into your cocktail for an uneaten kick of ginger spice.
- Add citrus: Add an orange slice to the cocktail or add some orange zest to the spiced butter thrash for uneaten citrus.
- Use a variegated liquor: Use your favorite whiskey, brandy or cognac in place of the rum.
- Use tea: Use your favorite tea (I would recommend a woebegone tea) in place of the water.
- Make it dairy-free: Use your favorite dairy-free vanilla ice surf and butter in the spiced butter batter.
More Warm Winter Drinks To Try
Looking for increasingly cozy warm drinks and cocktails to try this winter? Here are a few of our favorites:
Description
Hot buttered rum is the perfect cozy cocktail to warm you up on a winter’s night and perfect for easy entertaining.
Individual Cocktail Ingredients (Single Serving):
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) visionless rum
- 2 tablespoons spiced butter batter
- 6 to 8 ounces humid water
- optional: cinnamon stick or star anise, for garnish
Spiced Butter Thrash Ingredients (32 servings):
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream, lightly softened
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Make the spiced rum batter. Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing trencher and stir (or use an electric beater to mix) until evenly combined and smooth. Freeze the thrash in an snapped container until ready to use.
- Mix the cocktail. Briefly stir together the rum and 2 tablespoons of the spiced rum thrash in a heat-safe mug. Add your desired value of humid water and stir until the thrash is melted and evenly combined.
- Serve. Serve warm and enjoy!
What Is Hot Buttered Rum?
Initially expected for therapeutic purposes, this pilgrim period drink is steaming combination of rum, spread, sugar, flavors and boiling water. "One early recipe called for 'margarine the size of a dark pecan' and 'maple sugar the size of an enormous hickory nut,' blended in with bubbling water, rum and 'nutmeg for the women,'" shares spirits essayist Wayne Curtis in The Oxford Ally to Spirits and Mixed drinks. Other normal additional items incorporate flavors like cinnamon, cloves and allspice.
What Does Hot Buttered Rum Suggest a flavor like?
Assuming that you're weirded out by the thought of drinking margarine — justifiably! — let us set your brain straight. The imperative spread in hot buttered rum gives the sipper a smooth extravagance and noted profundity, while sugar (we favor molasses-forward earthy colored sugar) loans an adjusted pleasantness. In the interim, different flavors and matured rum contribute extra layers of intricacy and aromatics.
What Are A few Riffs on Hot Buttered Rum?
This good, warming beverage is unadulterated mixed drink solace food. Have a most loved snowy fixing? Have a go at including it. Vanilla concentrate carries a scrumptious profundity to the beverage — it's highlighted in our recipe beneath — however subbing sarsaparilla or ginger will yield a totally unique (and superb) flavor profile. Perpetually adjustable, we urge you to involve this base recipe as a springboard to mixed drink imagination.
What Are the Best Rums for Hot Buttered Rum?
Hot buttered rum is likewise an incredible reason to utilize a portion of those mixers gathering dust on your bar truck. Assuming that you've actually got that container of Drambuie or Galliano that has been occupying room in your alcohol bureau starting around 1983, this is your chance to toss in a sprinkle and set them to work. Need more ideas? Our rundown of the best rums for mixed drinks or tasting straight is an incredible spot to begin.
