I do not like rum, so I wasn’t dying to celebrate National Hot Buttered Rum Day, but I knew that I had a couple of recipes for this cocktail and the weather was just cool enough for a hot drink to be appropriate.

So I picked up some little bottles and I made two versions.

The first is from the 2 in 1International Recipe Card Collection (1977)

That’s some ham and oyster empanada action there

Like I said, I do not like rum…

See my little cinnamon stick poking out?

…but I do like brown sugar and butter and spices.

I liked this–the “hot rum batter” really covered up the rum. And it got me tipsy–it was sneaky because it went down so easy. I didn’t feel anything until I got up from the couch and bam!

You have been warned!

The second recipe is from one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, Benson & Hedges 100’s Presents Drink Recipes from 100 of the Greatest Bars (1979).

I couldn’t find mace

This recipe is nearly identical to the one in the recipe card set, but with one big difference: Dark Jamaican Rum vs. Light Rum.

Can you see the nutmeg floating?

What a difference the rum makes. So it turns out, that although I hate rum,  I hate Jamaican Rum more. I won’t be trying this one again, but I do want to go visit the The Landmark Tavern.  It’s still up and running on 11th Avenue in Manhattan! It opened in 1869 and is one of the oldest, continually-operating establishments in NYC.

I love it when the restaurants from my cookbooks are alive and well–so many have closed since publication (see: the Scandia Danish Bloody Mary (1979), , Bookbinders’ Snapper Soup (1965),  and Chasen’s Chili. The list goes on).

It’s really amazing for a restaurant to survive 10 years, let alone 40+. To you, Landmark Tavern, I say, MAZEL!

yinzerella

View Comments

  • I need to be in the mood for rum, but when I am, I do enjoy it. I was introduced to hot buttered rum at a dorm party where the whole thing was made in an electric kettle (the only heating appliance allowed in the dorm). Graduated to having it out of a crock pot at other parties. Definitely better with light rum.

  • After reading your article I was inspired to try this. Found a recipe just like the first one, with the batter and all, just cut down for one serving. It was good. Not great as I had high hopes for a nice winter toddy, but interesting. Glad I tried it as I’ve been wanting to forever since Clarence thought of ordering one in Its a Wonderful Life, lol. Thanks for the inspiration!

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