Cookies in a Cup

This quintessential winter warmer, Hot Buttered Rum should be in every bartender’s playbook.

Hot Buttered Rum is a hearty, warming drink that is associated with the holiday season in my family. The name doesn’t sound appealing to some people I know, but trust me, it is delicious. It is pure cocktail comfort food. The flavor of this cocktail is much like that of a sugar cookie with a punch. The mash you create in the bottom of the glass before pouring in the liquid is even called “batter.” The best part is you can make the batter in large batches and freeze it for later use. The actual alcohol content of this drink is determined by your rum to water ratio. If you prefer a less alcoholic drink, you can easily pour more hot water to dilute the alcohol. The butter melted with the spices and rum is a very rich and flavorful creation. I am familiar with summery variations which use cream, confectioners’ sugar and white rum for a blonde version, but I stick to the dark rum, brown sugar and vanilla recipe in the winter months. This drink will warm your belly and your bones, and I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does.