Recipe: Hot Buttered Rum

While I'm on the topic of holiday beverages, here's a recipe for one of my favorites -- hot buttered rum. Instead of bringing wine to a party, I show up with a thermos of this goodly brew. Instant friends!

Hot Buttered Rum

1/4 to 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3/4 to 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon cinnamon plus additional for garnish
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, or to taste
1/2 to 2/3 cup dark rum

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, the butter, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, the nutmeg, the cloves, and 2 cups water and bring the mixture to a boi, whisking constantly. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes and stir in the rum. Divide the mixture among 4 heated mugs, and sprinkle each drink with some of the additional cinnamon.

Makes 4 drinks