An evil drink!
Lithuanian in origin, this stuff will knock your socks off and it tastes great, something like pumpkin pie apparently. I have heard various names for this sweet nectar. We know it as Evil but Krupnikas seems to be it’s most common name.
- 2 teaspoons caraway seed
- 10 whole cloves
- 10 whole allspice
- 4 sticks cinnamon
- 2 sticks vanilla
- 2 pieces yellow ginger
- 2 pieces white ginger
- 10 cardamom seeds
- 1/2 nutmeg
- 3 strips orange rind
- 3 strips lemon rind
- 1 pinch saffron
- 4 cups water
- 2 lbs honey
- 1 quart grain alcohol
Crack the cardamom seeds and nutmeg. Boil the spices, rind and water in a covered pot until liquid is reduced to about 2 cups. Strain.
In a pot large enough to hold the spiced liquid, alcohol and honey, bring honey to a boil. Skim off the foam.
Pour spiced liquid into honey and stir.
Remove from heat. Place far away from heat to prevent flare-up or explosion of alcohol. Slowly, and very carefully, pour in alcohol.
Replace pot on LOW heat. Heat, being careful not to simmer or boil, for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool in the same covered pot overnight. Following day, pour into bottles and allow to settle for a week. Pour off the clear liquid into a separate bottle, being careful not to disturb the sediment. Filter the sedimented portion (through a coffee filter) into a separate bottle. Do this several times over the next month. You will end up with a clear liqueur that is akin to the nectar of the gods.
The longer it sits, the clearer it becomes and the better it tastes.
Good Luck and Enjoy!