For the last 3 years, Buck’s Tales and Trails has visited Crown Maple Estates in Dutchess County, New York to taste and purchase organic maple syrup.

Our first visit to the Crown Maple Estate was completely by accident. We were on our way to Sharon CT and decided to escape from the main highway to see some of the country side. Not long after being off the main highway we saw a sign that was approximately 8×11 inches that said ” Crown Maple Syrup”. Curiosity got the better of us and we followed the arrows on the signs down a long narrow dirt road, passing a horse farm and a hand full of houses and what looked to be hundreds of trees that were connected by rubber tubing . The Buck’s Tales and Trails Team expected to find a small Mom and Pop Maple Syrup business, but we found much more.

At the end of the dirt road was a big gate with a long blacktop driveway that lead up to a large building. We had lucked out and arrived just in time for a tour of the facility. During the tour we learned about the owners, how syrup is made and that the tubes connected to each tree were taps. Taps collect the sap from each tree. One of the most important things we learned was that the harvesting of maple sap does not harm the forest or disturb wildlife.

Like the years before , Crown Maple syrup tasting did not disappoint. This year there were three new flavors Smoke, Vanilla and Cinnamon. Vanilla and Cinnamon are now available on the Crown Maple web site. All three flavors are fantastic. The Buck’s Tales and Trails Team could not wait to get the new syrup flavors back to the Sharon CT vacation house to try them out in our favorite recipes.

The smoke Maple has a mild smoke taste with a light after taste of maple. This syrup is perfect over wild caught King Salmon. It enhances the richness and full body favor of the salmon while adding a light smokey maple taste.

The Vanilla and Cinnamon syrups are perfect in any number of baked products or over you favorite stack of pancakes or mixed into a big bowl of oatmeal. Just like the smoke maple syrup, the Vanilla and Cinnamon favors are mild, and do not overpower the pure taste of the original maple syrup.

While at the Crown Maple we also picked up our favorite Crown Maple Syrup; Bourbon Syrup. The Bourbon Syrup is great on a cold winter night mixed into warm apple cider with a splash of Bourbon. Weather you are sitting at a camp fire or just in front of a warm fireplace, this drink will warm your soul. Bourbon syrup is also good with raisin and pecans overtop of a oatmeal or added to oatmeal cookies. But most of all the Buck’s Tales and Trails Team enjoys gilled New Jersey peaches wit a light coating of Bourbon Syrup and a large scope of vanilla ice cream.

Buck’s Tales and Trails Team recommends that you visit the Crown Maple Estate in Dutchess County, NY when you get a chance, to take the tour and taste real organic maple syrup. It is a trip you will not regret. If you are unable to get there your can always visit their web site to obtain the best quality maple syrup available anywhere.