Hot buttered rums rank high enough on the deliciousness scale that somewhere, someone gave it its own special day: January 17 is National Hot Buttered Rum Day.

Did you know?

In the United States, hot buttered rum’s history dates back to the colonial days. It was in the 1650s when Jamaica began importing molasses to Colonial America. New England started opening distilleries where the colonists then began adding distilled rum to hot beverages such as toddies and nogs, creating hot buttered rum, eggnog and others.

Of all the hot drinks with liquor, hot buttered rum is my favorite. My parents always made it for the holidays. When I think of hot buttered rums, I think of my parents enjoying them at Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations. Foods associated with special times often summon memories from somewhere deep in my brain otherwise unreachable. Suddenly, I’m a kid back at home and dad is whisking the mix with a spoon into a frothy beverage for quests. I’m certain I can hear the clink! clink! clink! of the spoon against the mug.

While not exactly a health drink, the recipe I use is far healthier than any ‘ol grocery store mix. Ice cream, butter and sugar make up the base recipe—all real ingredients. Stored in the freezer, it makes the perfect go-to cocktail for cold winter nights and holiday celebrations. I sprinkle mine with copious amounts of nutmeg.

What food or drink bubbles up special memories for you?

Cheers!