Hot Buttered Rum

Me (back) and my brother (front) circa 1967/8

I don't know what it's like where you are but we have had a bit of a thaw here this morning and there is noticeably less global warming laying on the ground. Nevertheless it's still pretty cold and it looks like we may be set for an old fashioned British winter.

During cold spells like this it is important to keep up an adequate alcohol intake to maintain optimum health. Hearty soups and warming casseroles may warm you up but you risk long term physical and psychological damage if your alcohol intake is neglected.

The ice filled concoctions I have mentioned previously on this blog are fine for warmer days but are not perhaps what is needed at present. So in the interests of greater public health I present some ideas for drinks which will keep you warm while also maintaining a health promoting alcohol intake.

Hot Buttered Rum

2 measures Dark Rum
2 1/2 measures water
1 tsp Brown Sugar or Honey
1 tsp Butter
1 small pinch of grated Nutmeg
4 drops Vanilla extract
1 small Cinnamon Stick

Heat rum, water and sugar/honey in saucepan until almost boiling (don't get it too hot we don't want to boil off the precious alcohol). Pour into glass with remaining ingredients and serve when butter melts.

I like to a a good slug of coconut syrup, don't be too heavy handed though we aren't trying to make hot buttered Malibu. You can use some ground cinnamon if not sticks are available.


Grog

2 measures Dark Rum
2 measures Water
2/3 measure Lime Juice
1 tsp Brown Sugar
2 Cloves
1 small Cinnamon Stick

Heat gently in a saucepan to dissolve sugar, then strain into a glass, arrrrrrrr.


Canadian Cocoa

3/4 measure Canadian Whiskey (or Scotch or Bourbon)
3/4 measure Dark Rum
1/2 measure Creme de Cacao
5 measures Milk
2/3 measure Maple Syrup

Heat milk in a small pan until simmering. Add remaining ingredients and serve when syrup is dissolved.


Caribbean Milk

1 measure Dark Rum
1 measure Kahlua
4 measures Milk
1/2 measure Double Cream
1 Cinnamon Stick
1/2 slice Lemon

Heat ingredients in a small pan. Strain into glass. Again you can use ground cinnamon if cinnamon sticks are not available.


Cafe Henry the Third

1/3 measure Galliano
1/3 measure Kahlua
1/3 measure Grand Marnier
1/3 measure Brandy
5 measures Black Coffee
3 measures Whipped Cream
Sugar

Add ingredients to glass. Sweeten to taste. Float the whipped cream on top.

Pomegranate Polecat

This evening I have mainly been drinking :-

Pomegranate Polecats (Deniersaurus mix)*

Ingredients
1.5 measures White Rum
1 measures Tequilla
0.5 measures Amaretto
1.5 measures Pomegranate Juice
1 teaspoon Caster Sugar

Method
Shake and strain into glass three quarters filed with broken ice.

Nutritional Information
I've already drunk it and I don't really care.

* For original mix replace 1 measure Tequilla with 0.5 measures of sweet sherry. I suspect this cocktail may have been invented by someone from the WI

Die Cocktailstunde

This evening I have mostly been drinking Pina Coladas

Pina Colada
2 measures White Rum
1 1/2 measures Coconut Cream
2 1/2 measures Pineapple Juice
1 teaspoon Whipping Cream
1/2 measure Caster Sugar

Add ingredients to shaker and swirl until sugar is dissolved. Test for sweetness. Shake briefly with half a glass of crushed ice.
Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cheery, or not. Add straws.

Nutritional Information.
A healthy drink providing vitamins in the pineapple juice and coconut cream. Bone building calcium in the whipping cream also combines to make this a tasty drink with enough rum to help maintain a health promoting alcohol level within your body.

The Cocktail Hour

As part of my personal drive to promote responsible drinking I will from time to time let you know of interesting drinks which I have tried. Hopefully you will find this useful and perhaps try some of these drinks.

Remember is important that you consume sufficient alcohol to keep you body and mind in tip-top condition and promote good health.

So :-

This evening I have mostly been drinking Zulus

ZULU
1 measure Dark Rum
1 measure dark Creme de Cacoa
1/2 measure Creme de Banane
1 measure Lime Juice
1 teaspoon Grenadine
1 teaspoon Pernod
4 measures Cola

Shake all ingredients except cola, strain into an ice filled glass add the cola.
Garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry, or not.

Nutritional Information
The Zulu is a very healthy cocktail. It contains vitamin c in the lime juice, grenadine is made from pomegranate which is a superfood, probably and banana. It's practily as healthy as a fruit salad.

This Zulu should not be confused with the Zulu Warrior cocktail which is a drink for girls and possibly friends of William.

Updated coz I forgot the nutritional information.