BAY RUM - MAKE YOUR OWN

Bay Rum has been a standard at barber shops since the 1800's. Scented primarily of West Indian Bay (not the same as Bay Laurel used in cooking), it likely originated in the Caribbean Island of St. Thomas. Below is a recipe for making your own Bay Rum with ingredients available online (it is hard to get your hands on West Indian Bay leaves outside of tropical latitudes).

BAY RUM AFTERSHAVE/COLOGNE
• 7oz Dark Rum
• 7oz Rubbing Alcohol
• 2.5tsp West Indian Bay Oil (Pimenta racemosa)
• 1/2tsp Grapefruit Oil
• 1/4tsp Sandalwood Oil
• 1/4tsp Atlas Cedar Oil
• 1/8tsp Clove Oil
• 10 Allspice Berries
• 1 Stick Cinnamon

- Combine all ingredients, allow ingredients to set for 20-30 days in a capped bottle, in a cool, dark place.
- Strain out the allspice berries and cinnamon.
- Bottle in small minibar-sized liquor bottles.
- Make epic label. Give Bay Rum to everyone you know.
* NOTE: the name may be deceptive - Bay Rum is not drinkable. West Indian Bay is reportedly toxic when ingested.