If you’ve never had a Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail, then you need to re-evaluate your weekend plans.

I first shared this Hot Buttered Rum Cocktail recipe on my friend Amanda’s site.

Buttered Rum Cocktail

A Hot Buttered Rum is a delicious, dessert-like cocktail with a rich, buttery flavor that is gently spiced and finished off with a twist of orange.

Not to be confused with a hot toddy, which is also delicious in it’s own right but lacks the creaminess that the addition of butter adds to the Buttered Rum cocktail, and also usually lacks any aromatics (like cinnamon and nutmeg). The original Hot Toddy was simply a hot Old Fashioned without the bitters – a hot rum-based drink thought to help fight off winter colds.

A hot buttered rum is the perfect winter cocktail – pairing equally well with dessert and friends as it does with a leather-bound classic book and a toasty spot in front a fire.

In doing a bit of research to come up with the best version of this recipe, I came across several versions that also added a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Personally, I don’t think the cocktail needs it but I’m not one to shoot down having your dessert and your drink in one!

This hot cocktail is best enjoyed fresh – but you can prep the spiced butter in advance, up to one week. A small mason jar of the spiced butter, along with a bottle of rum and a recipe card would be a great gift – especially for a friend fighting off a winter cold. (Don’t knock it ’til you try it! My friend swears by it, and for the very least, it will help get you ready for some restorative rest.)

Tip: I often order my liquor from Drizly because they have a quick delivery time (sometimes within 40 minutes) and no expensive mark-ups. Purchasing from them supports local retailers, too. You can order the Rum needed for this recipe from them.

Ingredients for a Hot Buttered Rum

For the spiced butter:

For the cocktails:

Boiling Water
Rum
Orange Juice
Orange zest

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: You can substitute any dark liquor for the rum. Many people enjoy whiskey or scotch in it’s place.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful:

Kettle
Liquid measure
Cocktail mugs

I really loved using my gorgeous Omishome Bartending Kit to make this recipe. The pretty bamboo holder contains all of the tools you need to make perfect cocktails, and those pretty gold tools add a touch of class to your home bar set-up.

How to Make a Hot Toddy

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter and spices until light and fluffy.

Refrigerate for up to one week. (Does not need to be refrigerated before making cocktails.)

Potion 2 Tablespoons of the spice butter into each cocktail glass.

Measure 1 1/2 oz of rum into each glass and top with 3/4 cup boiling water.

Stir well to break down the butter.

Add a splash of orange juice and a sprinkling of orange zest.

Serve hot.

Pin this easy Hot Rum Cocktail recipe:

Grab your free printable for our hot buttered rum recipe:

Yield: 2 cocktails

Buttered Rum Cocktail Recipe

Name: Buttered Rum Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Cocktail recipe
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon ginger; 3 cups boiling water; 6 oz rum; 2 oz orange juice; Orange zest

A delicious hot cocktail for winter, a Buttered Rum cocktail is a creamy, buttery cocktail perfect for warming up on cold winter nights

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the spiced butter:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger

For the cocktails:

3 cups boiling water
6 oz rum
2 oz orange juice
Orange zest

Instructions

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter and spices until light and fluffy.
Refrigerate for up to one week. (Does not need to be refrigerated before making cocktails.)
Potion 2 Tablespoons of the spice butter into each cocktail glass.
Measure 1 1/2 oz of rum into each glass and top with 3/4 cup boiling water.
Stir well to break down the butter.
Add a splash of orange juice and a sprinkling of orange zest.
Serve hot.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 496Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 29gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 393mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 1gSugar: 47gProtein: 1g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

For more delicious rum recipes, check out our Coconut Rum cocktail recipe or our Jamaican Rum Punch cocktail recipe.