Conversation:

You don't always have to use brandy. I have made a whiskey version of this -- and sort of overdid by adding the spirit at short intervals over a couple of months .

I wonder what would be the result of adding other spirits -- rum , vodka even .....

I speculate only .

Hmmm, rum could be nice, a but fruity, but I'm not so sure about the vodka.

at xmas time i have tried adding armagnac,drambuie and Cointreau to the cake.
the best by far was armagnac,it gave an amazing aftertaste to the cake without tasting too overpowering.