Christmas pudding rum
Infused with cinnamon, cloves and orange, this spiced rum tastes like Christmas pudding in a glass – what's not to love?
Equipment and preparation: You will need a 1 litre/1¾ pints glass jar (such as a Kilner jar) or bottle.
Ingredients
- 700ml/1¼ pint dark rum
- 50g/1¾oz light brown muscovado sugar
- 1 vanilla pod, split lengthways with a knife
- 1 star anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole cloves
- peel of 1 orange, cut into thin strips
Method
Put 100ml/3½fl oz of the rum into a small saucepan over a low heat and add the sugar, vanilla pod, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and orange to the pan. Heat gently, stirring slowly, until the sugar dissolves. Don’t allow it to boil or you will lose the alcohol.
Pour everything into a clean jar and add the rest of the rum. Give it a good shake, then shake again every day for at least a week, or a little longer if possible.
Decant into a clean bottle or several smaller ones if giving as presents. To serve, pour over Christmas pudding, sip neat or make a spiced rum and ginger beer with lots of ice and a half slice of orange to garnish.