I'd like to see more recipes from people who are happy with the way their recipes turned out! My favourite comes from the website of Club Wort in Palatine. The recipe is about 2/3 down the page.
http://www.clubwort.net/resources.htm
Here's the recipe:
Phil's Krupnick Recipe
***3 pounds (4 cups) Honey
***2 teaspoons * Vanilla extract
***2 cups * Water
***1 teaspoons * ground cloves
***2 teaspoons * ground cinnamon
***1 teaspoons * ground nutmeg
***1 Large * lemon, sliced ¼" thick, then in half
***1½ cups * Grain Alcohol (190 proof, Everclear)
***1½ cups * Brandy
* * Cinnamon Sticks
Combine Water & Honey in sauce pan
Boil for 20 minutes (skim foam from top)
Add cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon, simmer for 20 minutes.
Add 3 cinnamon sticks
Remove from heat, allow to cool.
Add Vanilla
Add 1 cup grain alcohol
Add 1 cup brandy
Mix and place in 2 liter soda bottle (include all spices and lemon)
Add more grain alcohol & brandy to top the bottle off.
Let the mixture 'age' for 2 months, at room temperature.
Shake it to mix when you can.
Do not mix for the last 2 weeks to let the spices settle to bottom.
Decant mixture. Mix in additional brandy and grain alcohol and/or water to obtain desired 'kick', proof and thickness (Optionally, place back into bottle, and allow spices to settle again for 2 weeks)
(Also, the 'sludge' at the bottom of the original container can have some brandy added to it, mixed and then settled for one additional week. *Decant off the clear liquid and add to the originally decanted mixture.)
Taste and adjust mixture with additional brandy. Place in dispensing bottles and add 1 cinnamon stick.
Allow to 'age' an additional 2+ weeks before serving.
I mix and store in LARGE mason jars because I like the volume markings on the sides. I've had some for a couple years and it's still good. I also added quite a bit of brandy and vodka back to make it less sweet but lost track of the percent alcohol at the end. Letting it sit is hard work but it's well worth it. It's also a good use for any bottles of honey that have crystallized and are hard to use for anything.
It makes a great warmer after being out in the winter. Cheers!