I called Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks an oldie but goodie in CL's recommended roundup of gift-giving reads. But considering how good Maria del mar Sacasa's well-rounded compendium of cold-weather drinks sounds, Winter Cocktails is a must-have for all.

Whether you've got a knack for entertaining large groups in an elegant setting or like to keep it cas' while mixing cocktails with your closest friends, give the book's recipe for hot buttered rum a try. ’Tis the season, after all.

Excerpted from Winter Cocktails by Maria del mar Sacasa. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books.

Butter makes everything better. Especially rum.

Hot Buttered Rum

Serves 4

This drink requires little explanation: it’s hot rum served with a pat of butter. Sometimes spices, sweeteners, and water are added to the mix. The butter may sound like an odd addition, but it brings a silky quality to the drink. In this version, the butter is flavored with vanilla bean seeds and dark brown sugar for a well-rounded drink.

Drinks:

6 ounces dark rum 3 cups hot water

Vanilla Bean Butter:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped out, pods reserved for different use

1 1/2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

Pinch salt

Pinch ground cinnamon Pinch ground mace

For the drinks: Stir together rum and water. Place 1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Butter in each of 4 warmed cups. Pour rum into cups. Serve.

For the Vanilla Bean Butter: Vigorously mix ingredients together in a medium bowl. Set aside until ready to use. If making in advance, store in a small bowl wrapped in plastic, refrigerate, and then return to room temperature before using.

An even sweeter versionBurnt-Sugar Hot Buttered RumStir together 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until mixture turns dark amber and just begins to smoke, 6 to 8 minutes. Immediately add 3 cups water, stepping away from the pan until bubbling and sputtering subside. Reduce heat to medium and stir just until mixture is smooth. Stir in rum and proceed with recipe as above.

Vanilla Bean Butter is delicious in Hot Buttered Rum and just as good on toast. Double the recipe so there’s plenty extra for snacking.

This article appears in Dec 15-22, 2016.