Lou’s Hot Buttered Rum — WildSnow Essential — Happy Thanksgiving!

Myself during cocktail hour after instructing at Outward Bound, 1980. There was definitely a taste of rum in that Broncos cup. The fleece jacket is home brew as well, and check out that ensolite pad. Click image to enlarge.

From days of yore, long ski traverses, flea infested cabins and pirate ships, comes the brew made from scratch.

Start with water. Boil it. Add brown sugar to the water on your stove till it’s quite sweet (about one cup sugar per 6 mugs of cocktail). In mug or cup, pour 1/2 to one shot of the darkest rum you can buy, the kind of stuff pirates might drink to celebrate a successful massacre or kidnapping and violating a Spanish princess. Add the syrup water to the mug slowly so as not to get a dangerous boilover. NEVER pour rum into pot on stove as the vaporizing alcohol can ignite into a fireball which will trim your pirate beard faster than any princess can do it at your local Super Cuts. Add a tablespoon or two of real butter, preferably fresh, not the stuff you kept in your pirate ship larder for four months (though that stuff will work if you are especially fond of fermentation). Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon to taste. Non pirates can use a cinnamon stick to stir. Real pirates would stir it with their dagger. Quaff, then propose to the princess: “Jump in that barrel me hearty, let’s do it hurricane style!”

You guys got any favorite hut cocktails? Comments on!

14 Responses to “Lou’s Hot Buttered Rum — WildSnow Essential — Happy Thanksgiving!”

1. Ben November 22nd, 2012 9:34 am

   The jeans are what really makes the picture awesome.

2. Lou Dawson November 22nd, 2012 9:38 am

   Um, they’re actually some sort of fleece, but yeah, they do look like jeans!

3. LeoDogg November 22nd, 2012 9:49 am

   Happy Thanksgiving fellow Americans!
   Happy Thursday to everyone else!

   It sounds like Colorado could use some snow storms, so here’s a drink from the islands we call the Dark and Stormy:

   Fill glass with ice (or snow if you are hut tripping)
   Fill 2/3 with ginger beer (you always take ginger beer on hut trips, right?)
   Float dark rum on the top
   Add a slice of lime and enjoy!

   Great hot buttered rum recipe Lou, thanks!

4. cjw November 22nd, 2012 10:07 am

   My current hot buttered rum:

   At the beginning of the season make this batter:

   1 lb butter
   1 lb brown sugar
   1 lb granulated sugar
   1 tblspn ground cinnamon
   1 tspn ground cloves
   1 tspn nutmeg

   add all the above to softened butter. Add 1 quart softened vanilla ice cream. Store in freezer.

   Adjust these 3 to personal taste:
   2 oz rum
   2 tblspn mixture above
   4 oz hot water.

   Rum Toddy:

   1.5 oz Jamaican rum
   1 tspn sugar
   2 cloves
   slice of lemon
   pinch of cinnamon
   boiling water

   For Jamaican rum I like the Appleton Estate V/X (widely available) and the Smith & Cross traditional pot stilled (navy strength / 57%).

   For real simple:

   Celestial Seasoning Bengal Spice Tea
   Russels 6 year Rye.
   Milk and/or honey to taste if desired.

5. cjw November 22nd, 2012 10:30 am

   …forgot the Brandy Alexander

   1 brandy
   1 dark creme do cocao
   1 part heavy cream
   shake (might have to improvise in a hut)

   sprinkle ground nutmeg on top.

   alternate version uses white creme de cocao and half and half.

6. John Young November 22nd, 2012 10:53 am

   We made hot buttered rum for a New Years Eve overnighter by mixing all the dry ingredients into a butter batter and then divvying it all up into balls. One cup/one ball. It worked great.

7. Dillon November 22nd, 2012 11:39 am

   Holy Cow! The resemblance to Louie Dawson is uncanny. Happy T-day everyone.

8. Michael Baker November 23rd, 2012 6:07 pm

   Mushers’ Tea
   – a healthy shot of Yukon Jack
   – mug full of Sleepytime Tea

   Avalanche Valley Mosquito Repellant
   – half a mug of 150 proof rum
   – half a mug of Gatorade

9. Lou Dawson November 23rd, 2012 6:11 pm

   LOL

10. Patrick November 24th, 2012 2:02 pm

    end-of-ski-day, as soon as you’re back at the cabin. One buddy skis in early to set up drinks. Your buddy puts a mug in your hand as you doff your boots.

    Valhalla Jack:
    –hot cup of bold coffee
    –big shot of Yukon Jack
    –pffft of whipped cream on top

    Listen to the cabin chatter to amp up over the next 15 minutes.
    Perhaps restrain anyone who suggests skiing off the cabin roof. Perhaps not.

11. Gregg Cronn November 26th, 2012 7:24 am

    Thanks Lou for sharing that with Louie! He did a fine job of mixing up your recipe and the results were well appreciated at the Asulkin.

12. Lisa November 26th, 2012 8:59 am

    Gregg, thanks for including Louie!

13. Jack November 26th, 2012 9:44 am

    Ok, this will give you energy for camp chores, whatever needs doing:
    One shot of good bourbon in one cup of black coffee. Who needs Red Bull?
    see how simple?

14. Ralph November 26th, 2012 10:44 am

    Mountain Margarita:

    Tequila
    Gatorade Mix, dissolved in water
    Icicle, from cabin roof

    Stir with icicle and serve