Single-Source
The label on our bottles clearly
describe the contents as being
Single-Source Unblended Maple Syrup. That sounds good, but what
does it really mean and how does it affect you as the consumer?
Single
Source
differentiates Mount Cabot Maple from nearly every other sugaring
operation of reasonable size. Very small operations are always
single source: they can produce maple syrup with amazing flavor, but
usually only in very small quantities. However, if these
operations decide to get larger, purchasing maple
syrup from other producers is the easiest way. This can be
a
significant step down a very slippery slope, for two reasons.
While a sugarmaker knows his own operation inside-out, he does not
have nearly the same amount of knowledge about this new operation from
which he is buying syrup. Additionally, while the flavor of this
new
maple syrup may be better or worse than that of the home
sugarbush, it is at the very least a different flavor.
Blending is
the practice of mixing syrup grades together. This may be done to
create a new grade (Light Amber + Dark Amber = Medium Amber) or as a
way to dilute a barrel of syrup whose flavor is less than
perfect. Again, this is a practice (normal within the
industry) which Mount Cabot Maple will not be following.