I've embarked on an exciting journey to create my own infusions and liqueurs. This adventure is fueled by my desire for unique beverages that extend beyond West Virginia's limited liquor offerings.

My first endeavor is the delightful Krupnikas, a powerfully spiced honey spirit perfect for holiday celebrations. Composed of twelve spices, generous amounts of honey, and an Everclear base, this drink is both intricate and potent.

The inspiration for Krupnikas originated from a search for a honey liqueur, leading me to the Global Table Adventure Blog. I've adapted the recipe to match a 1.75L bottle of Everclear, for who wouldn't prefer more of this delicious brew?

This recipe should produce around a gallon of Krupnikas. Note that it will initially appear cloudy, and the hue of the honey will influence the final color. I used unfiltered Arizona desert wildflower honey, which resulted in a dark coloration. Allow some time for it to settle, and it should clear up. I intend to filter it again during bottling in December, as I'm planning to distribute much of it as holiday presents.

Securing some of the ingredients may be challenging at your local supermarket. For hard-to-find items like turmeric root, cardamom pods, and whole nutmeg, I turned to Amazon.

Stay tuned for an update in December when I complete the bottling process.

Ingredients

• 16 whole cloves, crushed
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 20 cardamom pods, crushed
• 1 whole nutmeg, crushed
• 10 whole allspice, crushed
• 1 tbsp black peppercorns, crushed
• 2 tsp fennel seed
• 6 inch ginger, finely chopped
• 4 inches turmeric root, finely chopped
• zest of 2 whole oranges
• zest of 1 whole lemon
• 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
• 3 lbs honey
• 1/2 gallon water
• 1.75L Everclear, 190 proof grain alcohol

Directions

1. In a large pot bring the honey and water to a simmer.
2. Skim off any foam that surfaces, then add in all the spices (everything except Everclear).
3. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes and let cool.
4. Strain the honey spice mixture through a wire strainer or coffee filter.
5. Add the Everclear to the honey spice mixture, combine, and distribute among bottles.
6. Age for at least two weeks, but this high proof spirit only gets better with time and will likely never go bad.