Smooth and buttery, rich and sweet, sometimes spicy…ah yes, as our dear country was taking shape, our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new…flavor!

During colonial times, liquor - or more specifically, rum - making and trade was a lucrative business.

And, as this particular liquor became highly available, recipes utilizing the warm, spicy beverage were commonly passed along from one household to the next.

Of course, the greatest recipes are said to stand the test of time, and by this standard, hot buttered rum is surely one of the best!

As rum became the preferred liquor in the northeast portion of our newly forming nation, hot buttered rum quickly became a household favorite, and for good reason!

Pause with me for a moment as we slowly examine the timeless flavors of this cocktail…

• Rum warms you from the inside out

• Butter adds a rich, smooth, and velvety texture

• Spices infuse into the rum adding an extra touch of depth and warmth

• Then, the addition of brown sugar transforms this boozy concoction from an ordinary drink to a true treat.

Mmmm, what a fabulous combination of tremendously smooth and tasty flavors!

In fact, this combination has been deemed so appealing, it’s now commonly incorporated into coffee as well - typically referred to as Highlander Grogg.

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Hot Buttered Rum History

Today, some folks confuse hot buttered rum with hot toddies when in reality the two drinks have little more in common than the fact that they’re served warm (hot).

However, if you understand the history of these beverages, it’s easy to see how the two could potentially be confused.

Hot buttered rum is a warm and cozy winter cocktail made with dark rum, butter, brown sugar, and warming spices.

On the other hand, a hot toddy is a naturally medicinal beverage made with whiskey, lemon, honey, and spices such as ginger.

As you can see, when examining the ingredient list and intention surrounding each drink, the two seem to have little in common, but history provides a few tales linking each of these popular concoctions.

The hot toddy seems to have disputed origins, with some claiming the beverage was used for medicinal purposes in India, whereas others believe the cocktail originated in Ireland or Scotland.

Either way, this type of drink was consumed as a remedy for sore throats and other respiratory illnesses, which of course prompted the notion to consume warm liquor and ale for similar purposes.

Then, in the 1500’s it is said that Henry VIII heeded a recommendation for adding butter to hot ale to soothe and coat painful, raspy throats during the winter months, and this practice, some say, inspired the hot buttered rum cocktail we know and love today.

All it took was the English practice of adding butter to hot ale and a booming rum trade in the early New England American colonies, and this tasty treat soon transformed from a sore throat remedy to a recreational, cozy, wintertime staple.

Within this recipe transformation, additional ingredients were incorporated to enhance the pleasure of consuming the drink such as brown sugar and a few warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom.

And today, some folks even opt for making a batter of sugars, butter, and spices to ensure these additions incorporate a bit more than the original hot buttered rum recipe enjoyed during the colonial period here in the states. (Be sure to check out the recipes at the end of the article which include both ways to make hot buttered rum.)

Ah, but what’s the difference between hot buttered rum and Highlander Grogg coffee?

Hot Buttered Rum And Highlander Grogg

Highlander Grogg coffee gets its name from the Scottish Highlands, a region known for its organically stunning views, history, and so much more.

What better name to then describe a coffee infused with the velvety smooth and rich flavors typical of hot buttered rum.

Highlander Grogg coffee components vary by region, but here at Lifeboost we wanted to stay true to this flavor’s nod to hot buttered rum, therefore including notes of buttered rum, vanilla, and caramel.

Wait, we didn’t detail flavors of caramel and vanilla in our hot buttered rum description above, or did we?

The sweetest, creamiest ingredients in hot buttered rum are essentially deconstructed caramel, as this decadent treat is made by combining butter and sugar, or in some cases butter and brown sugar, cooking these at varying times and temperatures which yields a variety of results (like caramel, butterscotch, or toffee).

This is why you may find Highlander Grogg coffees to include a range of flavors like toffee, butterscotch, and caramel - each of which, again, are made with butter and sugar.

In the case of Lifeboost Highlander Grogg, this brew first piques your palate’s interest with our rich, bold, and smooth medium roast coffee, pure and clean single origin Arabica beans grown on small farms in the shaded mountain rainforests of Nicaragua.

Then, using only essential oils and baking extracts, we infuse these pristinely grown, hand selected coffee beans with notes of dark buttered rum, sugar and pure vanilla for a velvety texture that brings you a touch of natural sweetness (without the added calories).

This combination not only showcases a rich caramel flavor but it gives a true nod to the sips enjoyed by colonial Americans and Europeans alike on cold winter nights cozied up by a warm fire.

Even better, you can enjoy this brew anytime as it only contains flavors of buttered rum as opposed to actual rum, this selection’s true liquor-forward inspiration.

And now that our mouths are watering, let’s get down to business and make some delicious drinks…

3 Sinfully Delicious Recipes To Enjoy!

1- Hot Buttered Rum

As we mentioned in our discussion of the history of this drink, hot buttered rum was originally made with dark rum, hot water, sugar (typically brown sugar), spices, and a pad of butter.

However, eventually some found the consistency of the drink to be unappealing as the butter didn’t fully incorporate into the cocktail, so many opted to make a batter combining the butter, sugar, and spices into a single mixture to add to the hot water and rum.

Here, we’re giving you the option to go old school or try the modern version by including recipes for both.

So, below you’ll first find a recipe similar to how history depicts the making of hot buttered rum in colonial times.

Then, we’ve included a more modern version, utilizing a batter of sugar, butter, and spices.

No matter how you choose to make this tasty treat, we’re confident you’ll be coming back for more!

Original Hot Buttered Rum

*Note: for a pinch, just use a very small amount of each listed spice, pinching only a tiny amount between your thumb and pointer finger.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces dark rum
• 4 ounces hot water
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pinch of cinnamon
• 1 pinch of nutmeg
• 1 pinch of allspice
• Cinnamon stick, optional for garnish

Instructions

• Add butter, sugar, vanilla, and spices to the bottom of a mug and stir or mash together with a spoon.
• Add rum to the mixture, then top with hot water, stirring to combine.
• Garnish with a cinnamon stick, if desired, and enjoy!

Modern Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons hot buttered rum batter (see recipe below)
• 2 ounces dark rum
• 4 ounces heavy whipping cream
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

Instructions

• Add heavy cream, vanilla, and brown sugar to a chilled bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until medium peaks (between soft and stiff) form. Set aside.
• Add hot water and batter to a mug, and whisk vigorously to combine.
• Add rum to the mixture in your mug and stir to combine.
• Top with sweetened whipped cream and enjoy!

Hot Buttered Rum Batter

• ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients except vanilla, stirring frequently until the butter is melted, and sugar is dissolved.
After roughly 5 minutes (do not boil or cook the mixture, simply allow it to bring together all of the ingredients), remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

You can add the mixture immediately to your cocktail, or save for later, storing the mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to add to the hot water to make a delicious hot buttered rum.

2- Highlander Grogg (hot and iced)

This creamy, foam-topped brew is one of my spouse’s personal favorites…mine too, but he’s a bit obsessed…and for good reason!

Lifeboost Highlander Grogg is already infused with flavors of buttered rum, vanilla, and caramel, so I’ve found that these notes are best brought to the forefront with only a small nudge of sweetness and then a silky, smooth creaminess from the fabulous foam topper.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as my family does!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Highlander Grogg Coffee
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 4 ounces heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla powder
• Caramel sauce, for topping

Instructions

• Add freshly brewed coffee to your favorite mug, then add sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Add heavy cream and vanilla powder to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting.
• Top coffee with foam, and drizzle caramel sauce on top. Enjoy!

*This one is great iced too!! To make a chilly version of this drink, simply start with cold brew instead of freshly brewed coffee. Then, I like to use caramel sauce in place of the sugar (in equal amounts) in the cold brew as this dissolves easier and remains consistent with the brew’s infused flavors.

After you stir in the caramel sauce, then add the heavy cream and vanilla powder to an electric frother, this time frothing on the cold setting.

Once frothed, top your cold brew then drizzle a little more caramel sauce on top, if desired, and enjoy!

3- When Hot Buttered Rum And Highlander Grogg Collide

As we all know now, Highlander Grogg Coffee is infused with the confectionery, decadent tastes associated with hot buttered rum…minus one element…the actual liquor (rum).

So, before we close things out today, we wanted to include a true mash up of these two favorites, incorporating the actual components of hot buttered rum and Lifeboost Highlander Grogg Coffee. Yum!!

Hint - If you made the batter from the hot buttered rum recipe above (#1), you’re already a step ahead!

**Also, you’ll notice we’ve used heavy whipping cream to top each drink today. Here’s why - Using heavy cream in these recipes amplifies the buttery taste and creamy/silky mouthfeel of each beverage, mimicking the intentional texture of hot buttered rum. So, you can definitely omit this if you’re cutting back on calories, but I also highly recommend savoring this ingredient here as it enhances the entire sipping experience.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Highlander Grogg Coffee
• 2 ounces dark rum
• 2 tablespoons hot buttered rum batter (see recipe in # 1 above)
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ tablespoon dark rum
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• caramel sauce, for optional drizzle/topping

Instructions

• Add heavy cream, ½ tablespoon dark rum, and brown sugar to a chilled bowl and mix with an electric mixer until medium-stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• Add freshly brewed coffee to a large mug, then vigorously stir in hot buttered rum batter until well combined.
• Add rum and stir to combine.
• Top with sweetened, rum infused whipped cream, then drizzle with a small amount of caramel sauce, if desired. Enjoy!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Highlander Grogg.

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.