National Hot Buttered Rum Day 2027 falls on Sunday, January 17. It celebrates a rich, spiced winter drink made with rum, butter, a sweetener, spices and hot water or cider. This guide covers the drink’s history, its ingredients, a classic recipe, cozy variations, a nonalcoholic version and responsible serving tips. The observance is informal, and its exact founding is unclear, so we keep the drink’s history separate from the holiday’s origin.
It is an unofficial food-and-drink observance, not a federal public holiday. If you are still enjoying the start of the year, see our New Year’s Day 2027 guide.
Quick answer: National Hot Buttered Rum Day is observed every January 17. In 2027, it falls on Sunday, January 17. Hot buttered rum is a warm cocktail made with rum, butter, brown sugar, spices and hot water.
When Is National Hot Buttered Rum Day 2027?
National Hot Buttered Rum Day 2027 is on Sunday, January 17, 2027.
- Date: Sunday, January 17, 2027
- Frequency: Listed annually on January 17
- Celebrates: A traditional cold-weather drink
- Type: Unofficial observance, not a federal holiday
Because it falls on a Sunday, it is a relaxed day for a cozy gathering. Anyone who prefers not to drink alcohol can enjoy the nonalcoholic version below.
What Is Hot Buttered Rum?
Hot buttered rum is a warm cocktail commonly made with rum, butter, brown sugar or another sweetener, spices and hot water. Some versions use apple cider, honey or a creamy topping.
What Does Hot Buttered Rum Taste Like?
It is buttery, sweet and warming, with spice from cinnamon and nutmeg and molasses-like notes from dark rum.
What Makes It Different From a Hot Toddy?
Rum and butter define hot buttered rum. Hot toddies have many variations and often use whiskey or another spirit with hot water, citrus and sweetener. Recipes vary, so no single version is universal.
History of Hot Buttered Rum
Rum and Molasses in Colonial America
The drink is linked to colonial-era America and the trade between Caribbean sugar producers and New England distilleries, which turned molasses into rum. This history is also tied to colonial exploitation and slavery, so it should not be romanticized.
Early Hot Rum Drinks and Historical Recipes
Hot alcoholic drinks have a long tradition. An influential 1862 American bartending guide printed recipes for hot rum preparations, which makes it an early written source. It did not necessarily invent the drink.
How Hot Buttered Rum Became a Winter Favorite
It has stayed popular in cold-weather gatherings, holiday menus and cozy seasonal drinks.
Who Created National Hot Buttered Rum Day?
The observance is listed on January 17, but no definitive founder or founding date has been established. It is best described as a popular, informal food-and-drink day.
What Is Hot Buttered Rum Made Of?
Typical ingredients include:
- Dark or spiced rum
- Butter, usually softened
- Brown sugar or another sweetener
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves or allspice, optionally
- Hot water or apple cider
- A cinnamon stick for garnish, optionally
Proportions and ingredients differ between recipes, so treat the list as a starting point.
Classic Hot Buttered Rum Recipe
This version contains alcohol and is for adults of legal drinking age only.
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) butter
- 1 to 2 teaspoons brown sugar, to taste
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
- A small pinch of nutmeg
- Optional pinch of ground cloves or allspice
- 1.5 fl oz (about 45 ml) dark rum
- 4 to 6 fl oz (120 to 180 ml) hot water
- Optional cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a heat-safe mug, combine the butter, brown sugar and spices.
- Add a little hot water and stir until the butter mixture is blended.
- Add the measured rum and the remaining hot water.
- Stir thoroughly and garnish if you like. Check the temperature before sipping.
Tips for the Best Flavor
Adjust the spices and sweetness to taste. Stir well, and add the hot liquid gradually so the butter blends in smoothly.
Hot Buttered Rum Variations
Hot Buttered Rum With Apple Cider
Use warm apple cider in place of some or all of the water for a fruitier flavor.
Spiced Hot Buttered Rum
Play with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice in different proportions.
Creamy Hot Buttered Rum
Add a small amount of cream or an optional topping for a richer drink.
Nonalcoholic Hot Buttered Rum
Replace the rum with warm apple cider or water. Combine one cup of warm apple cider with a teaspoon of butter, brown sugar to taste and a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until blended and serve warm. It is a spiced drink inspired by the original, not a rum cocktail.
How to Celebrate National Hot Buttered Rum Day 2027
- Explore the drink’s history and traditional ingredients.
- Make a nonalcoholic spiced cider version.
- Serve warm apple cider with cinnamon at a winter gathering.
- Share a recipe card or a photo of your seasonal drink.
- Host a cozy, alcohol-free winter drinks tasting.
- If you serve alcohol, offer food, water, nonalcoholic options and safe rides home.
Alcohol is never required to take part. If you enjoy swapping drink ideas, communities such as r/cocktails on Reddit are a friendly place to start.
Responsible Consumption and Safety
Hot buttered rum is still an alcoholic drink, even when it is served warm or diluted with water. Warmth, sweetness and butter do not reduce the effects of alcohol.
- Measure servings instead of pouring freely.
- Remember that alcohol content depends on the rum’s strength and the amount used.
- Do not drive after drinking.
- Avoid alcohol during pregnancy and whenever a healthcare professional advises against it.
- Check for medication interactions where relevant.
- Offer nonalcoholic choices and never pressure anyone to drink.
A standard U.S. drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol, but a cocktail’s actual content depends on the amount and strength of the spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions About National Hot Buttered Rum Day 2027
When Is Hot Buttered Rum Day?
It is observed on January 17 each year. In 2027, it falls on Sunday, January 17.
What Is Hot Buttered Rum Made Of?
Typically rum, butter, brown sugar or another sweetener, spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, and hot water. Some recipes use apple cider, honey, cloves or allspice.
How Do You Make Hot Buttered Rum?
Mix softened butter with brown sugar and spices in a heat-safe mug, stir in hot water and a measured serving of rum, and blend until smooth. Adjust sweetness and spices to taste.
Who Invented Hot Buttered Rum?
Its exact inventor is not established. It is associated with colonial-era America and the availability of rum and molasses, and early bartending guides document related hot rum drinks.
Who Created National Hot Buttered Rum Day?
No definitive founder or founding date is clearly documented. The day is commonly listed on January 17.
Can You Make Hot Buttered Rum Without Alcohol?
Yes. Omit the rum and use warm apple cider or water with butter, brown sugar and spices. The result is a warm, spiced drink, but not an alcoholic rum cocktail.
Is Hot Buttered Rum Served Hot or Cold?
Traditionally warm. Hot water or warm cider dissolves the sweetener and blends the butter and spices.
What Is the Difference Between Hot Buttered Rum and a Hot Toddy?
Hot buttered rum is defined by rum and butter, usually with sweetener and spices. Hot toddies have many recipes and often include a spirit, hot water, citrus and sweetener, but butter is not usually a defining ingredient.
Countdown to National Hot Buttered Rum Day 2027
Sunday, January 17, 2027
84 days to go (calculated from October 25, 2026).
Browse more seasonal guides on our homepage. For another warm drink with a brunch twist, see our National Bloody Mary Day 2027 guide, which includes a virgin version. To read more about the cocktail’s main spirit, the rum article on Wikipedia is a helpful starting point.