Traditional Kulich

Name: Traditional Kulich
Yield: 1 Large Loaf
Cuisine: Russia
Ingredients: ½ cup whole milk; ¼ cup sugar; 3½ cups (all-purpose) flour; ½ teaspoon saffron threads, crushed; 8 egg yolks; 1 vanilla bean, scraped*; Pinch of salt; ½ cup sugar; 1 tablespoon rum; ¼ cup candied orange rind; 1/3 cup currants; 1 package active dry yeast; 2 to 3 tablespoons hot water; ¼ cup lukewarm water; 2 egg whites; 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted; ¼ teaspoon almond extract; ¼ cup Sliced blanched almonds; 1 cup (all-purpose) flour; 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature