Hot Buttered Rum

Winter can be an endless, freezing drag. Luckily, nothing helps melt through seasonal malaise like a cocktail classic: hot buttered rum. This hearty, warming drink is pure cocktail comfort food. Have a favourite wintry ingredient? Try adding it to the mix. The vanilla extract in this recipe brings a delicious depth to the drink, but substituting sarsaparilla or ginger will yield a completely different (and delightful) flavour profile.

Hot buttered rum is also a great excuse to use some of those liqueurs gathering dust on your bar cart - if you've still got that bottle of Drambuie or Galliano that's been taking up space in your liquor cabinet since 1983, this is your opportunity to throw in a splash and put them to work. Endlessly customizable, we encourage you to use this base recipe as a springboard to cocktail creativity.

1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter
½ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground allspice
pinch sea salt
2 oz dark or aged rum
6 oz hot water

Garnish:
cinnamon stick

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, vanilla extract, sugar, spices and salt. Beat until well combined.

In a heat-proof glass or mug, combine aged rum with 1 oz (2 Tbsp.) spiced butter mixture. Remaining batter can be stored in airtight container in refrigerator for future use.

Top with hot water and stir until ingredients are well incorporated. Garnish with cinnamon stick if preferred.

Makes 1 drink.