Tried and true krupnikas / krupnik recipes?

[Meriadoc]

Hey, all! Finally getting done with what will hopefully be my last academic degree ever, and starting to play around with mead-making again...

Just bottled another 3-gallon batch of Joe's Grape (I went heavy with the buckwheat in backsweetening, but that's a story for another day...).

Some friends gave me a taste of their own home-made krupnikas, but weren't willing to part with the recipe. I know the general procedure, but not the particular spices or quantities.

(I know that they boiled the honey and skimmed it -- which sounds like sacrilege to me... unless they're trying to get rid of solids, I guess).

Anybody got a krupnikas recipe that they've tried and liked, and are willing to share?

Thanks!

Merry

 

[Midnight Sun]

You have piqued my interest. I am curious to see tried and true recipes too, if someone is willing to share. In the meantime, here is a recipe that looks interesting: click.

 

[Midnight Sun]

Here is an old thread with a recipe.

 

[skunkboy]

Wow that looks cool, and dangerous...

 

[Jas53]

Make this at Christmas:

Krupnik
1 bottle of vodka (750ml)
2/3 cup of water
1 and 1/2 cups honey
1/4 vanilla bean
1/4 nutmeg
3 cinnamon sticks
1 (about 3”) strip of orange or lemon peel
2 whole cloves
Combine honey with water, spices in a large saucepan. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 5 mins. Remove from heat, add vodka, cool then strain.

 

[Midnight Sun]

Thanks Jas53, going to have to try this now!

 

[loveofrose]

Here is my tried and true recipe:

Spice mix
To 1 cup of water add the following:
0.5 stick of cinnamon
1 whole nutmeg, crushed
1 china ginger, 1 inch piece
1 vanilla bean, split
3 cloves
2 pieces of mace
5 allspice berries
4 black peppercorns
1 star anise, whole
Zest of one lemon
- Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes
- Set aside and allow to cool

Honey Mix
Add 1.5 cups of honey to 1.5 cup water
Heat and skim the scum until you are satisfied

Add spice mix to cooled honey mix for a total 4 cups
At this point, you have choices:
You can add 4 cups of good vodka for a smooth 20-25% ABV drink
OR
You can filter Everclear through a Brita pitcher 3 times and add 4 cups of that for a high octane, 45% ABV sleep-aid. I've done both and both are good.

At this point, put it in a closet for a month and let the particulates settle out.
Then, pour the clear liquid off the top into "display" bottles.
I generally stick it in the freezer.

 

[TheAlchemist]

How is putting the Everclear through the Brita helpful?

 

[fatbloke]

How is putting the Everclear through the Brita helpful?

connected with the activated charcoal and it's ability at filtering out elements that can cause flavour problems, just "cleaning" up the taste/flavour some as I understand it.......

 

[loveofrose]

Right on with fatbloke. Activated carbon filtering is how "smooth" vodka/pure ethanol is made. While Everclear is advertised as 95% alcohol (highest possible by physical properties), I will call bullshit on that.

Trust me. Leave some in the bottle and run the rest through a Brita 3 times. Then dilute 5x with the same water (so you don't kill yourself) and sip.
You will taste a positive difference in the filtered version.

 

[Meriadoc]

Here is my tried and true recipe

Thank you!!!

 

[fatbloke]

Thank you!!!

Yes, I'm gonna try that one too.......