Hot buttered rum
Dark rum, spiced butter and hot water in a mug. Rich, sweet and warming.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Mug
- Strength
- 2 UK units
How to make a hot buttered rum
- Warm the mug. Fill a heatproof mug with hot water, leave it for a minute, then tip it away.
- Make the spiced butter. Mash the soft butter, brown sugar and allspice together in the mug with a spoon until it forms a smooth paste.
- Add the rum. Pour in the rum and stir once to loosen the paste.
- Top with hot water. Pour in the hot water and stir for about 20 seconds, until the butter has melted and the surface shimmers.
- Finish. Add the cinnamon stick and a grating of nutmeg. Drink it while hot.
- Glass
- MugNo mug? A heatproof glass or large cup.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Cinnamon stick and a little grated nutmegOr: A star anise.
What you need to make a hot buttered rum
Kit
Bottles we'd use
- Dark rumSomething with caramel and spice, such as Appleton Estate Signature or Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva.Find it on Amazon
- Dark brown sugarMuscovado gives the best flavour.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The hot buttered rum story
Hot buttered rum is an old North American drink from the days when rum was cheap in New England, though the exact origin is not documented. It has long been a cold-weather drink, with butter, sugar and spice added to hot rum.
The spiced butter is the whole trick. Mashed with brown sugar and spices, it melts into the water and gives the drink a rich, silky body. It keeps well, so make extra and you can have one in minutes any night.
Hot buttered rum: your questions answered
What is in a hot buttered rum?
A hot buttered rum is made with 50 ml dark rum, 15 g unsalted butter, dark brown sugar and ground allspice. Garnish: cinnamon stick and a little grated nutmeg.
How strong is a hot buttered rum?
Made to this recipe, a hot buttered rum contains about 2 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a hot buttered rum in?
Serve a hot buttered rum in a mug. No mug? A heatproof glass or large cup.
