Name: Hot Buttered Rum
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons brown sugar (I used Swerve brown); .5 teaspoon ground cinnamon; .25 teaspoon ground nutmeg; pinch sea salt; 12 ounces water; 6 ounces dark rum; freshly grated nutmeg - cinnamon sticks (to garnish)

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This traditional Hot Buttered Rum recipe is a delicious mixture of butter, sugar, spices, and dark rum. It is served warm, and makes a wonderful cocktail for winter! It has long been associated with the holidays, but is commonly served at any time during the fall and winter months.

Two clear glass mugs filled with hot buttered rum and topped with grated nutmeg.

This rich and creamy drink is guaranteed to warm you up, and would be perfect after a long day of skiing or shoveling snow!

Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients

Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, water, butter and dark rum in white bowls.

How to make Traditional Hot Buttered Rum

Melt butter over medium heat in a medium sized saucepan.

Stir in the brown sugar and heat until sugar is dissolved.

Melted butter and brown sugar in a saucepan.

Add the cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt, stir to combine. Continue to heat and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.

Melted butter, brown sugar and spices in a saucepan.

Whisk in the water and bring up to a simmer.

Water whisked into the mixture in a saucepan.

Once heated through, remove from heat and stir in the rum. Divide the mixture between two mugs, garnish with freshly grated nutmeg (if desired) and serve.

Looking at the side of a hot buttered rum cocktail in a clear glass mug with a bottle of rum in the background.

Word of warning, this drink packs a punch! This is the type of cocktail that you sip slowly and savor every last drop.

Can I use a different type of alcohol?

This drink is traditionally made with dark rum, but yes, you can substitute light or golden rum. I'm sure it would be equally delicious with whiskey!

As you can imagine, there a hundreds of variations of this drink. Back in colonial days each family had their own version, so feel free to adjust to fit your own tastes. Add cloves or allspice. Substitute spiced rum and omit the spices. I have even seen recipes that include ice cream! I prefer to keep my cocktail lactose-free thank you very much.

More warm alcoholic drink recipes

Enjoy!!

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum is a delicious mixture of butter, sugar, spices, and dark rum. It is served warm, and makes a wonderful cocktail for winter!

5 from 1 vote

Print Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dark rum, cocktail recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: Servings

Calories: 345kcal

Author: Lisa Johnson

Equipment

Saucepan

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar I used Swerve brown
.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch sea salt
12 ounces water
6 ounces dark rum
freshly grated nutmeg - cinnamon sticks to garnish

Instructions

Melt butter over medium heat in a medium sized saucepan.
Stir in the brown sugar and heat until sugar is dissolved.
Add the cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt, stir to combine. Continue to heat and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.
Whisk in the water and bring up to a simmer.
Once heated through, remove from heat and stir in the rum. Divide the mixture between two mugs, garnish with freshly grated nutmeg (if desired) and serve.

Notes

Substitute any type of alcohol that you like.
Adjust spices according to tastes - add cloves or allspice if desired.

Nutrition