Hot Buttered Rum is more than just a cozy winter drink—it’s a cup of history, a touch of rebellion, and a warm embrace of holiday spirit. This classic cocktail starts, of course, with rum. It’s a spirit beloved by both pirates and Santa Claus. Interestingly, the phrase “Ho-ho-ho and a bottle of rum” was first penned in 1883 by Robert Louis Stevenson in Treasure Island. Santa, ever the opportunist, “borrowed” it for his holiday rounds, a move that might require royalty payments under today’s copyright laws.
Pirates
Pirates have long been associated with rum. Legend has it that Blackbeard himself enjoyed a variation of Hot Buttered Rum—though his drinking days came to an abrupt end when he lost his head to Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard at Ocracoke Island. Thankfully, our holiday indulgence has a far less dramatic legacy.
Origins
Hot Buttered Rum is traced to Colonial America, where rum was abundant, and colonists began adding butter, sugar, and spices to create a drink that was both warming and indulgent. Over the centuries, it has become a quintessential holiday treat, evoking images of crackling fires, festive gatherings, and snow-covered landscapes.
There’s no better time to enjoy this rich, buttery cocktail than the holidays. It’s a drink steeped in tradition and brimming with cheer—the perfect way to warm your spirits and celebrate the season. So, here’s to pirates, Santa, and a steaming mug of hot buttered rum made just for you!
Postscript:
Yes, for you fact-checkers, I know Captain Flint’s crew actually sang “yo-ho-ho“, because I still have Treasure Island in my library. It was a gift when a book was a ticket to adventure using your imagination. I took literary license to enhance my story and it’s called fake news today. Gee, I hope twitter doesn’t ban me for this. Print
Hot Buttered Rum
Warm, Dark Rum, brown sugar, butter, honey , cinnamon and other holiday spices!
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 packed TBL dark brown sugar
- 1 TBL butter
- 1 TBL honey
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground allspice
- 2 oz dark rum
- 5 oz water
- 1 cinnamon stick – garnish
Instructions
Single Serving
- Place a pot of water on boil
- Melt the butter in your mug, in the microwave
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and brown sugar to the mug and mix with a muddler
- Measure and pour 5 oz of boiling water, the honey and rum to the mug
- Stir with the muddler until fully combined
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!
Batch Serving – Adjust by the Number of Drinks
- Place a large pot of water on to boil
- Melt all the butter in a pitcher or a large mixing bowl with a pour spout
- Add all the spices and sugar to the butter proportionally and whisk together
- Add the honey, rum and measured boiling water proportionally to the mix and whisk together
- Divide the drinks equally among the mugs and garnish each one with a stick of cinnamon