Make Spiced Butter Mixture

The most essential ingredient in Hot Buttered Rum is arguably its spiced butter mixture (or “batter” as it is often referred to) as it is a pure concentration of flavor.  Even without a prescriptive recipe, these mixtures tend to incorporate many of the same spices and flavors.  To that effect, the ingredients and the amount you choose to use will determine the overall flavor of the beverage.  My go-to recipe, found in the Smuggler’s Cove cocktail book, is both extremely flavorful and easy to make as it calls for household ingredients and spices you may already have on-hand:

• 1 stick of Salted Butter

• 1 cup of Light Brown Sugar

• 0.5 tbsp of Mild Molasses

• 0.25 tsp of Vanilla Extract

• 0.25 tsp of Ground Cinnamon

• 0.25 tsp of Ground Nutmeg

• 0.25 tsp of Ground Black Pepper

• 0.125 tsp of Ground Cloves

• 0.125 tsp of Ground Allspice

• 0.125 tsp of Ground Anise Seed

Depending upon how often you intend to sip on Hot Buttered Rum, feel free to adjust the recipe to personal preference.  One should consider the butter’s expiration date as that is how long it is recommended to last in the fridge for optimal flavor.