Bay Rum Procedure

Bay Rum is, of course, *the* classic men's after shave.  It's one of very few that Ranger Daddy likes and now I know how to make it.  Yay!  I have never been so excited to go to a liqueur store and buy cheap spirit.  Here's how it works.

1)  Buy a big bag of bay leaves.  Hint:  Asian food stores sell big bags of these for small bucks.

2)  Break up the leaves and put them in a jar that has a tight lid.  Add any other aromatics you like.  Whole vanilla bean and citrus rind are excellent choices.

3)  Pour enough cheap dark rum into the jar to cover all the stuff.  Screw on the lid and put in a cool dark spot for thirty days.  Mark the date on the calendar and DO NOT TOUCH until the appointed day.

5)  Spend the next month looking for fancy pretty bottles (best are ones with narrow necks) to pour your finished product into.

6)  On the appointed day, pour the rum through a strainer and into a second jar (or through strainer, into a funnel, and into fancy bottles).  Discard the aromatics.  Seal the bottles tightly and place strategically where you'll remember (or your husband will) to use after shaving.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm