So what a year, right?!? It is impossible to believe that there have been no previous blog entries for 2020. Certainly there have been many moments where the desire to write has surfaced, only to then be washed under by the next wave of, "You've GOT to be kidding me!" Not the least of which was that we had to get the 2020 syrups profiled and yet we were not going to be able to recreate the lovely tasting parties we hosted in 2019. Fortunately, ZOOM to the rescue! We ordered up some adorable 1-ounce sample bottles, and shipped out our newly-conceived Tapatree Whole Maple Tasting Kits to a kick-ass team of Pandemic Tasters! Tasters from New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Michigan, Maryland and Washington D.C. rose to the occasion, and we had amazing results (and a boatload of fun)! Backgrounds of our tasters included foodies, chefs, sommeliers, food scientists, and maple aficionados. The mechanics of the process were basically three separate groups of tasters each received 5 batches of the 2020 season. We then convened by group on ZOOM and, utilizing the Tapatree proprietary Simplified Syrup Assessment, evaluated each batch for body, flavor, and aroma. The tasters then returned their results for tabulation. Those results were combed through, and compared once again to the batches themselves prior to establishing the final profiles.
Overall, the 2020 batches are as unique as the year itself, and we think you'll love them. Without further ado, please welcome the Zoar Tapatree Whole Maple Syrups of 2020, now available in our Online Syrup Shop:
1E: Bright oaky vanilla with hints of nut to butterscotch, finishes with roasted marshmallow. Amber/Rich.
2E: Vanilla butterscotch with smoky toasted whispers. Amber/Rich.
3E: Fruity buttery caramel with hints of golden raisin and nuts. Amber/Rich.
4E: Bright floral syrup with buttery golden raisin, apricot and vanilla notes. Amber/Rich.
5E: Summery orange-blossom, honey-toffee tones, with vanilla and bits of nutmeg. Amber/Rich.
6E: Buttery creme caramel with honey-vanilla layers and roasted finish. Amber/Rich.
7E: Sweet vanilla, buttery syrup with notes of apricot and nutmeg. Amber/Rich.
8E: Reminiscent of the sweet smell of dried wood and summer camp, this syrup tastes of butterscotch, baked apple, and a hint of oranges. Amber/Rich.
9E: Praline bourbon pecan, with notes of aged black cardamom, gentle taffy closing notes. Amber/Rich.
10E: Dark brown caramel sugar with plum, toffee/coffee late notes. Amber/Rich.
11E: Umami with notes of root beer, hazelnut, ginseng and coffee, laced with dried apple tang. Dark/Robust.
12E: Complex syrup with layers of soy, fig, nuts, molasses, dark chocolate and spiced rum. Dark/Robust.
13E: Bittersweet chocolate and coconut, hints of orange peel and linden flower. Dark/Robust.
14E: Balsamic fig notes, with intense plum, sour cherry and blackberry layers. Dark/Robust.