Recipe

• 50ml spiced rum

• 5g butter (1 individual pack)

• 7g sugar (½ tbsp)

• ½ small cinnamon stick

Put the butter, sugar and cinnamon stick in a saucepan on a low heat, stirring often, for a few minutes. After it's nice and hot and bubbly-looking, stir in the rum. When everything's dissolved and it's bubbling again, pour into small glasses (possibly via a jug for easy pouring) and serve. If you're using a bigger glass, add one of the cinnamon sticks as a garnish. Drink with loved ones while listening to Christmas carols.

A wonderful discovery from BBC Good Food, I've had my eye on this for a while. I love spiced rum, and having it hot really brings out the warm spices and vanilla. Sugar smooths out the alcoholic edges, and butter brings a cosy, nostalgic feeling to the whole affair, as well as seasoning the drink – unsalted butter is not welcome here.

If, like me, you don't keep real butter in the house, keep an eye out at hotels, conferences and so on for those little individual packets they hand out. One packet is a perfect amount for one person.