Hot buttered rum punch – a nostalgic and warming traditional winter recipe that’s perfect for holiday parties.
Table of Contents
Hot Buttered Rum
Rum is made from fermented and distilled sugar cane by-products such molasses and cane juice. Mainly produced in the Caribbean, there is a vast array of grades, variations, flavours and characters. I think it would be fair to think of it as the tropical equivalent to whisky. It has endless variations, from everyday blends to rare single malts.
It was certainly the favoured drink of the navy from very early on, and quickly found its way into the hearts of the British. Hot buttered rum is a wonderful tradition, dating back more than 200 years.
From the scalding hot rum and butter with which Mrs Sparsit was forced to retire in Dickens’ Hard Times to the winter dreams of Crosby and Kaye in White Christmas, it stands for comfort and cheer on a cold night. Perfect timing! I set to work.
Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum
Appleton Estate have recently launched their 30-year-old rum blend. It is the oldest blend available commercially in the world, with notes of baked pear, maple and orange peel. With only 70 bottles available in the UK , selling for £550 in Harrods this is luxury rum. It’s certainly not one that you would turn into a hot punch. My bottle, however, was much more suitable.
The Appleton Estate V/ X may be more humble than the grand version mentioned above, but it is excellent. I found it far smoother than a whisky or brandy for the same price. Subtly spiced, flavoured with brown sugar and butterscotch, with a hint of pear and orange, it has made me curious to learn more about rum.
The hot buttered rum was delicious, perfect for a late afternoon warmer on a snowy day, or in front of the fire on Christmas Eve. My winter-themed choux buns filled with an orange and rum cream were equally good.
How to Make Hot Buttered Rum
Step one – Place the butter, sugar and spices in a mug or coffee glass.
Step two – Pour in your golden rum and muddle together. Pour in the boiling water.
Step three – Stir, garnish with orange peel and cinnamon stick and enjoy your hot buttered rum!
More winter cocktails and drinks
Hot Buttered Rum Punch
Ingredients
- 50 ml Appleton Estate V/X
- 75 ml Boiling Water
- 1 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- 2 tsp Butter
- Ground Cinnamon (Optional)
- Ground Nutmeg (Optional)
- Cinnamon Stick
- Orange Peel
Instructions
- Place the butter, sugar and spices in a mug or coffee glass. Pour in Appleton Estate V/X and muddle together. Pour in the boiling water. Stir, garnish with orange peel and cinnamon stick and enjoy!
Keeping it Green
Looking at Appleton’s website I was very pleased to read that they are committed to green manufacturing. The company is doing what it can for the environment and reducing their carbon emissions. When sugar cane is harvested, it is common practice to burn the stubble. Appletons are committed to move towards “green cane harvesting” where this burning does not take place. Instead, the dead material is left to protect and fertilise the soil. The factory is powered by an emission free boiler running on bagasse, the sugar cane fibre byproduct.
Appleton Estate V/X Rum is available from all major supermarkets.
Thanks to Appleton for my free bottle.
If you enjoyed this recipe for hot buttered rum punch, why not try my other Christmas drinks, such as this spiced mulled cider or my Christmas martinis?
Jacqueline
I feel the same as you about reviewing products. I turn down so many, although I never say no to chocolate, hehe, but I do accept those I think I will enjoy and review them if I think I can recommend them.
Never tried hot buttered rum before, I wonder why not. Could do with a glass now. I am at work and it is freezing. It was -18c here in Dundee last night. Brrrrrrr!
Kavey Eats
Yeah, same here.
Firstly, I do same as you, in filtering what I accept out of the things offered to things I think I’ll enjoy, whether that’s product or restaurant invitations.
Secondly, on occasion I don’t post. If all I can say is “I was sent this, it was OK”, it’s boring to write, boring to read, so doesn’t go on the blog.
Conversely, if there’s something I dislike but have got something to say, I’ll post it. So there are definitely negative reviews of paid and freebie stuff, but not loads of them.
Helen
I went back earlier in the year and regraded about half my Amazon reviews. It does need doing from time to time.