Skip to content

Warm Drinks

Hot Buttered Rum

A tavern drink from the 1700s: a spoon of spiced butter melted into dark rum and boiling water. Strictly for the grown-ups.

Mug of hot buttered rum with a pat of spiced butter melting on top
Prep time
20 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Medium
Save & shareEmail

A tavern drink from the 1700s, when a mug of this was considered medicine for a cold night. A spoon of spiced butter, dark rum, boiling water, and fresh nutmeg over the top.

Ingredients

Tick items off as you go.

Instructions

  1. Beat the butter, both sugars, spices, and salt together until fluffy. This keeps a week in the fridge.
  2. Drop a heaping tablespoon of the spiced butter into a warmed heatproof mug.
  3. Pour in 2 oz dark rum.
  4. Top with 6 oz boiling water and stir until the butter fully melts.
  5. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top and serve at once, while the butter still floats.

Why it works & making it ahead

Make the spiced butter days ahead — it keeps a week in the fridge and a month in the freezer, and it is the only part with any work in it. Warm the mug first so the butter melts smooth instead of clinging. Strictly for the grown-ups; swap the rum for strong black tea and the children can join in.

Share this recipeEmail

Adults only. For a version the whole porch can drink, replace the rum with strong black tea or hot cider.

More like this

All Halloween recipes