Alcohol soak – The soaker is absolutely your choice. Alcohol dictates the fruit cake flavors as well as act as a preservative. Good quality liquor/ liqueur result in good flavor. Usually brandy, dark rum or red wine is used. Brandy and red wine have similar undertones as they are made from grapes. Rum is made from sugar cane molasses and has a distinct aroma. You can also use a mix of these alcohols to make your own concoction. A balanced mix of liquors and liqueurs dictate the flavor profile of the fruit cake. I’ve also observed that, the basting liquor or liqueur is what pronounces the fruit cake flavors rather than the soaker. Use enough alcohol to cover the dried fruits. Keep shuffling the mix every other day for two weeks. Later, weekly shuffling works just fine. Excess alcohol must be drained and used for feeding the fruit cake. The whole ordeal is done at room temperature. Refrigeration not required.