Thread: Homebrew Bayrum Recipes

Originally Posted by Moonshae

Rum shouldn't be sticky unless it is cheap and has additives. It's distilled, so any minimal sugar remaining in the wash prior to distillation won't carry through. Cheap rums can be colored and flavored, which may include sugar. Properly aged rums get their color from the barrel in which they are aged.

Thanks for clarifying Moonshae. I'll try rum again...Now to find a high proof clear rum...

Originally Posted by razorguy

In my opinion, Bay Rum aftershave should smell like rum and bay. As for the type of alcohol generally used in cosmetics, they usually use the so called "denatured alcohol", usually abbreviated as "Alcohol Denat.".
It basically is ethyl alcohol to which it is added a denaturant in order to make it taste bad.

I don't necessarily disagree, but I love Dominica and I don't smell any rum at all in that particular bay rum. My goal was to try and replicate Dominica as close as I could. I think I came very close. I'll give rum another shot.

Today I started the making of my next Bay Rum batch. This is going to be very special to me as, for the first time, I will use real bay leaves instead of the essential oil. The smell of the crushed ingredients is absolutely divine and I am very confident the seven years old rum I used for the maceration will bring the aromas out from leaves and the rest.
Here it is how the freshly started maceration looks like. I will let it macerate for at least three weeks.

Originally Posted by murf

I don't necessarily disagree, but I love Dominica and I don't smell any rum at all in that particular bay rum. My goal was to try and replicate Dominica as close as I could. I think I came very close. I'll give rum another shot.

A HUGE thanks to Moonshae and razorguy for educating me on rum and inspiring me to concoct a better bay rum. I have a new favorite aftershave and it was very simple to make.

7 oz Wray & Nephew overproof white Jamaican Rum (126 proof)
110 drops Bay essential oil (Pimenta Racemosa)

That's it! The Wray & Nephew is not only the best smelling rum I've ever smelled, but it's also about the perfect proof to give a bit of that sting I love without melting my face. No need to add distilled water to this mixture. It's also completely free of the stickiness I experienced with cheaper rum (as Moonshae correctly stated).

My bay rum now smells like bay and rum...nothing more, nothing less. And I love it!

I'm going to try my hand at a Bay rum recipe, so got these delivered today.

Originally Posted by Thug

I'm going to try my hand at a Bay rum recipe, so got these delivered today.

Can't wait to read about your results. With photos too!

So after collecting all the ingredients and having some time on my hand, I eventually got around to "brewing" my own BayRum AS.

Essentially, I used this recipe found on the Web... DIY Bay Rum Aftershave & Cologne

So after stewing in a dark cupboard for 6 days..


Then strained through some coffee filters and adding the essential oils & glycerin..


Finally bottled..


So after tomorrow mornings shave I'll see how it performs.
My daughter who was out shopping whilst I finalised the AS walked into the kitchen when she got home and said she liked the smell.
So that's promising at least.

I have a trial run brewing myself, may strain it tonight...

I just started some today, I was able to find the proper bay oil as well. I started with Captin Morgan's spiced rum and went with cinnimon, clove and peppercorns as well. I will add glycerin when I rebottle and my cut it with witch hazel depending on the burn level.

Originally Posted by maliboy67

I just started some today, I was able to find the proper bay oil as well. I started with Captin Morgan's spiced rum and went with cinnimon, clove and peppercorns as well. I will add glycerin when I rebottle and my cut it with witch hazel depending on the burn level.

Mine for some reason has Zero burn level.