Spiced Hot Buttered Rum Punch

Makes 5 1/2 cups

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/4 cups spiced rum
Garnish:  3" cinnamon sticks

Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring until smooth.
Cover and chill until ready to serve.

To serve, combine butter mixture, boiling water, and rum in a small
punch bowl, stirring until butter mixture melts.  Serve warm with
cinnamon stick stirrers, if desired.