Frequently Asked Questions

can we buy larger amounts than available on the website?

Probably! Please give us a call or send us an email and we can help figure out how to meet your wholesale needs.

How long does it take to make a bottle of syrup?

Collecting enough sap could be a matter of hours (maybe 3-4) to start a batch of syrup, concentration is quick requiring up to a couple of hours (1-2), boiling and filtering could be done in 3-4 hours and bottling and labeling could be done in a couple of hours (1-2). So as few as 8 hours, but usually quite a few more as syrup batches are segmented into batch processing steps.

Does the vacuum hurt the trees?

Not at all. There is no statistical connection between the level of vacuum applied to the taphole and damage to the tree (VACUUM SAP collection: How high or low should you go?; Univ. of Vermont, Proctor maple research center). Provided your tapping and collection practices meet the standards of the generally accepted conservative tapping guidelines (we do), tapping trees for syrup is a long-term sustainable practice that does not negatively impact tree or forest health.

How long does pure maple syrup last?

Done right, maple syrup, much like honey, can last indefinitely. when syrup is hot-packed (brought up above 185F) and is at the right density (between 66% and 68% sugar to water ratio) no mold or other element should be present to grow in the syrup. for the best flavor and color though we have found syrup is best if consumed in one year if packed in plastic and up to two years or more in glass. Note: The less sunlight and oxygen that reaches the syrup, the lighter the color will stay. And once you open syrup, it should be refrigerated.

What is the shelf-life of maple cream?

Less than maple syrup significantly. because we have chosen not to include artificial ingredients such as potassium sorbate (a preservative), the shelf-life of maple cream is typically around a month at room temperature, 2-3 months in the refrigerator, and up to 6-8 months in a freezer.

do you do this all yourself?

not completely, we have some family and friends get it out to markets and sometimes we have some help in the woods.

Does the bourbon barrel maple syrup have alcohol in it?

when it is aging in the bourbon barrels, yes it does! But not once it’s in our bottles. We bottle above 185 degrees Fahrenheit after raising the temperature for hours to ensure the maple syrup does not share space with spores or microbes that could encourage mold growth, the evaporation point of alcohol is 173 degrees Fahrenheit. Any residual alcohol from the wet barrels evaporates out but leaves some of the characteristic bourbon flavor picked up from the original aging and distilling process.