As reported widely in the news, 2024 is breaking all sorts of heat records, and it was the same experience for your trees here in Northern New York. The season started early, the heat spiked...then dropped...then spiked again. Our season ended two weeks earlier than any prior year, closing with a crescendo on April 8th, when we experienced the amazing phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. (Yes, the final batch, 12-I, is a celestial batch!) There are only 12 batches this year--fewer even than in 2020 when we had only 14--and each one is a treasure. The sap was gently concentrated into syrup by batch without the use of
reverse osmosis and high-pressure filtration (we love you, Whole Maple!), and the results are absolutely delicious.
After profiling the settled and decanted 2024 syrups, this is what we discovered:
1-I: Light vanilla wafer w. buttery vanilla cream, hints of Frangelico. Golden/Delicate.
2-I: Buttery sweet macadamia & white chocolate chip cookies. Golden/Delicate.
3-I: Baked apple folded w. light caramel & toasty sweet oat, back notes of rum-raisin. Amber/Rich.
4-I: Locust honey butter w. notes of vanilla & graham. Amber/Rich.
5-I: Toffee-caramel praline w. light floral element, subtle hints of cinnamon. Amber/Rich.
6-I: Oaky dried apple w. vanilla extract, hints of nutmeg & bourbon, whisper of toffee-butterscotch at closing. Dark/Robust.
7-I: Minerally umami w. layer of plum, dark chocolate & bourbon. Dark/Robust.
8-I: An “Old-Fashion” syrup! Sour cherries, orange zest, hints of bourbon, coffee & dark chocolate. V.Dark/Strong.
9-I: Warm mocha w. notes of orange-chocolate & graham crust; finishes w. hint of nutmeg. Dark/Robust.
10-I: Tart brandy-soaked cherry, then papaya notes w. hints of cardamom & cinnamon, oaky finish. Dark/Robust.
11-I: Bold syrup. Opens w. peach brandy note, secondary notes of nutmeg & grapefruit. Hints of coffee & mineral. V.Dark/Strong
12-I: Opening berry-balsamic notes, yielding to rich fig newton tones. Smooth. Total Eclipse-Celestial Syrup! V.Dark/Strong.
Study up, Syrup Connoisseurs! These syrups will release on August 1st, and we want to make sure you secure your favorites. In the meantime, there remain just a few of the delicious 2023 batches, whispering their lovely good byes! We always have optimistic intentions to start our syrup cellar to collect our most treasured syrups, but for now that remains a dream. Like time, which is so shimmering and evanescent, so will pass these delicious elixirs.
All the best, guys. Despite some setbacks, it still seems like the best job in the world. Definitely the very best syrup.