National Hot Buttered Rum Day:

Celebrated annually on January 17th, the National Hot Buttered Rum Day is observed to recognize the spiced alcoholic beverage that can get you through the winter blues.

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Related: Other National Days Celebrated on January 17th:

National Bootlegger’s Day

Why National Hot Buttered Rum Day? 

The comfort drink has been modernized and modified from its colonial beginnings and has invaded many web pages for its unique flavor.

Alcohol has been a part and parcel of human history right from the Stone Age. It is the most widely used recreational drug that has become socially acceptable in most countries. Alcohol is said to reduce anxiety and perpetuates sociability.

Humans like to have several options to choose from and one type of alcohol was not enough to satisfy their hunger for variety. In the process, they discovered various alcoholic beverages, few accidental, and few were on plan. Rum is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages and its earliest references can be found in Sanskrit texts. It is made by the fermentation and distillation of sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice.

After its entry through the harbors of colonial America, rum became the drink of choice displacing the commonly consumed cider and beer mix. Colonial America and Rum were linked together by a grim history of a triangle trade, where rum was the currency and slaves and molasses were commodities.

The rum manufactured in New England or colonial America was shipped to Africa in exchange for slaves, the ships then took the slaves to the Caribbean and traded for molasses which became the backbone of the local economy. The molasses that were brought back to New England were then distilled to make rum.

The distillery boom in colonial America frantically manufactured rum for internal use and export concomitantly aided related industries such as shipbuilding, metalwork, lumbering, and so on. The molasses produced by the labor of the slaves in the Caribbean became a prized commodity that transformed the economy of colonial America that was previously dependent only on farming and the export of salted fish. The rum trade was so important that the 1764 Sugar Act mandated higher taxes on molasses and caused an uproar leading to protests and even being tagged as the herald of the American Revolution.

The colonists began experimenting by combining hot beverages such as toddy and eggnog with rum and Hot buttered rum was also one such product. Though most of the Mulled wine and toddy recipes have European origins, Hot buttered rum can be said to be an American recipe. During that period families used similar rum recipes as they believed that rum had nutritional benefits. Today a quick web search will show you that there is an overwhelming list of rum recipes and brands that you can choose from including international brands like Mc Dowell’s, Captain Morgan spiced, Tanduay, Bacardi, and so on.

In 1862 a bartender named Jerry Thomas mentions the Hot spiced rum and the Hot Rum recipe in his book ‘How To Mix Drinks: Or, The Bon-vivant’s Companion. The Hot spiced rum consists of Jamaica rum, butter, allspice, clove, and hot water. These ingredients are first mixed to form a batter and then mixed with rum. The hot rum recipe is almost the same except that the spices are replaced with a garnish of grated nutmeg. It is considered a comfort drink and is commonly associated with the holiday season and known as the holiday cocktail.

The Hot Buttered Rum is the perfect beverage to uplift your mood and cravings with the sweetish buttery flavor and a tinge of spice. The beverage can also be used to flavor various bread and cake recipes if you want a comfort munchie. When you hold a mug of hot buttered rum, you hold life in a mug. Your feelings may be as mixed as the flavor, reminiscent of a commodity that brought prosperity and perpetuated slavery at the same time. Despite the grim rum tales of the past, the Hot buttered Beverage reminds us to be hopeful of a better tomorrow, that justice shall prevail at the end.

How Can We Observe National Hot Buttered Rum Day:

• Get Creative Cooking

Use the beverage in creative ways and make a hot buttered rum cake or bread. You can add different spices and flavors to the drink and make your version. Check out the various recipes available online and make an awesome dish or drink to celebrate the day.

• Rum, Rummy, and Chums

Spend a cold evening with your chums with a glass of hot buttered rum. You can enjoy the time with a round of rummy or any indoor games of your choice.

• Drum the Rum

Use the social media platforms to drum your love for the hot buttered rum. Post recipes and photos of your celebration using #NationalHotButteredRumDay #HotButteredRumDay.

Interesting Facts On National Hot Buttered Rum Day:

Here are a few facts surrounding National Hot Buttered Rum Day:

• Hot buttered rum is considered one of the oldest mixed drinks in America.

• A popular variation of the drink is known as Jay’s Famous Hot buttered Rum. The beverage is creamed with vanilla ice cream and chilled to form a paste.

• In 1937 Hot buttered Rum was mentioned in the novel, ‘Northwest passage’.

• In the 1940s a variation of the Hot buttered rum known as the Tiki Rum or modified coffee grog was created.

• The severe regulations imposed by Britain started a war between the colonial merchants and the Royal navy.

• Washington supplied 28 gallons of rum and 50 gallons of rum punch to attract voters during his campaign.

• Rum rations were supplied to the soldiers to boost their morale.

History Of National Hot Buttered Rum Day:

The origin of the National Hot Buttered Rum Day remains unknown.