Hot Buttered Apple Cider

Hot Buttered Apple Cider

6 cups apple cider
½ cup brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 ½ t. whole allspice
1 t. whole cloves
1 lemon peel, in strips
2 cups rum
butter
1 apple, thinly sliced

In a large pot, combine apple cider and brown sugar and heat.

Tie the cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves and lemon peel in a small cheesecloth bag and add it to the cider mixture. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove spice bag from liquid. Pour rum into cider and stir. Serve in large mugs, with a half-pat of butter floating on the surface of the cider in each mug. Top with a slice of apple and serve while cider is hot.