We at Somerskogen wish all of you good health. We are all in uncharted waters, but trying to maintain one's routine is an effective way to cope with stress and the unknown.
We have, at times, been so busy in the sugarbush that our minds clear and our hearts lighten from the current events. In the last 24 hours, we have collected over 2500 gallons of sap from our 1200 taps. This is an Incredible amount! We are turning all the sap into delicious syrup as I write this. Our last 4 barrels have been a very light Golden Delicate grade which we haven't seen in 3 seasons. The crisp nights and only moderate temperatures of 35-40° during the day has preserved the crystal clarity of the sap.
At the end of a busy day, I sometimes reward myself with a delicious cocktail that I learned from our friends at Spoon and Stable restaurant, called the "Maple Leaf":
2 oz. Bourbon
0.5 oz. Somerskogen maple syrup
0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin, short shake hard, strain onto ice, garnish with 1 dash Angostura bitters and a lemon peel expressed.
Enjoy this delicious cocktail and stay healthy!