Thread: Homebrew Bayrum Recipes

Originally Posted by Cangooner

How long did you age that for?

Three months.

Thought I would give this bay rum stuff a go so I got what remaining ingredients I didn't have laying around the house and set off for my adventure. I found this recipe on another forum through the old google sesrch, can't remember which one but the creator was hollyrollah, not sure if he's also apart of SRP. Really liked the lime and peppercorn route, used most of his recipe.

6oz of vodka
4oz dark rum
6oz witch hazel
Zest of 6 limes
10 allspice berries
Around 40 peppercorns
2 cinnamon sticks
30 drops bay EO

1 tsp glycerin after its stained
Lime EO if I need more lime
I believe that was all.

All shook up and ready for a rest in the recesses of my bathroom cabinet for a month or so. I was wanting to use the actual leaf but I happen to find the EO local and couldn't resist. The initial smell is actually pretty good even the wife gave it an ok. Can't wait for the final product.

So I'm wanting to make some bay rum without the clove smell,my wife hates bay rum just for that reason,I'm thinking 30 drp of Neem oil,1/2 oz of glycerin,30-40 drops of bay eo,8 oz of spiced rum,6 oz of Thayers rose witch hazel,1 cinnamon stick,2 vanilla beans and a tsp of Orange zest.Can you guys that have made it comment and adjust the recipe.I thought about the ginger and allspice found in some recipes and I think that would add to the clove effect ?

Thought I'd give this thread a bump to see if anyone has tried any other recipes lately.

I've been working on Bay Rum scents.

Below is some writing I did and posted elsewhere. One of the great things about Bay Rum is that you can make your own historically accurate pirate cologne.

Below is the recipe for aftershave strength. Double or triple for cologne.

1 oz Rum, not spiced.
20 drops West Indian Bay Leaf essential oil

Note that the 'Bay' in Bay Rum is different than the commonly available Bay leaves here in the US. You can order the leaves and soak them in rum, though you don't get many and they are expensive.

You can get the essential oil here:

https://www.amazon.com/Aura-Cacia-Ba.../dp/B001895GG0

While pirates didn't add glycerin, I add two drops as it helps the scent and rum mix.

While I do think Bay Rum can be improved with some other scents, this simple recipe is really good and you can tell everyone you are using genuine pirate cologne.

Here is that writing I mentioned:

All histories I’ve read say that sailors of old used the leaves from the West Indian Bay Tree, Pimenta racemosa as a cologne of sorts. I’m making the leap that if sailors did this then pirates did too.

Next, they started soaking the leaves in rum. At some point they started adding other things as well.

I assert that West Indian Bay leaves and rum make a historically accurate pirate cologne.

You can’t purchase historically accurate Bay Rum in the US and many other countries. They don’t allow the use of drinkable alcohol in perfume, cologne, etc….

So, I set out to make historically accurate Bay Rum with West Indian Bay leaves scent and Rum. I’m using West Indian Bay Leaf essential oil, though will probably try the actual leaves at some point.

The rum used does contribute to the scent. I’ve made two batches. One batch was with cheap white rum. The contribution from this was fairly minor. I also made a batch with Bacardi Gold. While I didn’t like the scent of the Bacardi by itself, I thought it improved the Bay Rum Scent.

I think I’ll try Gosling’s Dark Rum next. Gosling’s has been making Rum since the mid 1800s. I may try Mount Gay as well. Mount Gay has been making Rum since 1703. Based on what I’ve seen so far, the Goldens and dark’s will contribute more to the scent.