I’ll never forget the first spring in my first home in Middlebury, Vermont. It was a little ranch on three acres, complete with a creek and my own maple grove. One early spring morning, a neighbor from across the street showed up with shiny metal buckets and asked if he could tap my maple trees. What the heck, I figured. My sap would become his prized liquid gold, and I’d get to experience one of Vermont’s most beloved traditions firsthand. A pretty fair trade!
Over the years, I actually came to look forward to mud season. As the sap started running, I’d make my way up the muddy path to my neighbor John’s sugar shack with a four-pack of Vermont craft beer in hand. We’d shoot the shit while I pummeled him with questions about sugaring. Some nights he’d cook hot dogs using the heat and steam from the evaporator. Other times he’d tell me to stand in front of the boil for the best facial I’d ever have.
John made some of the earthiest, most robust maple syrup I’ve tasted to this day, and being part of the process gave me an entirely new appreciation for Vermont’s sugaring traditions.
I’ve since moved away from my little maple grove, which means I now have to source my syrup elsewhere. And I’ve made it something of a personal mission to try as much locally produced Vermont maple syrup as possible.
My appreciation for barrel-aged maple syrup started with Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, and I’ve been hooked ever since. As I’ve branched out into more interesting maple products, one Vermont company has consistently caught my attention: Runamok Maple, a Fairfax-based producer that’s taken traditional Vermont maple syrup in some wonderfully unexpected directions
Meet Runamok Maple: A Vermont-Made Brand
Founded in 2016 by Eric and Laura Sorkin, Runamok Maple was created with an ambitious idea: take one of Vermont’s most iconic agricultural products and introduce it to a broader culinary audience.
Before launching Runamok, the Sorkins were already deeply involved in Vermont agriculture and maple production through Thunder Basin Maple Works. Their experience inspired them to approach maple syrup differently, emphasizing flavor profiles, culinary applications and beautiful packaging.
Based in Fairfax, Vermont, with sugarbushes in northern Vermont and along the western slopes of Mount Mansfield, Runamok produces certified organic maple syrup while emphasizing responsible forest management. Its maple operations have also participated in Audubon Vermont’s Bird-Friendly Maple Project, supporting healthy forest habitats alongside maple production.
What I appreciate about Runamok is how they’ve taken a traditional Vermont product and made it feel exciting again without losing sight of the work that goes into producing it.
What Makes Runamok Maple Different?
If you’ve only ever thought of maple syrup as something to pour over pancakes, Runamok might change your perspective.
The company specializes in pure maple syrup, barrel-aged varieties, infused syrups and smoked maple syrup, each with its own distinct flavor profile and culinary possibilities.
Much like tasting craft beers or wines side by side, sampling different maple syrups reveals surprisingly distinct characteristics. Some are buttery and delicate, while others have deeper caramel, vanilla, earthy or smoky notes.
Runamok also puts considerable thought into its packaging. The glass bottles are beautiful enough to leave on your kitchen counter, making them particularly appealing as gifts. It’s one of those Vermont-made products that feels equally appropriate in your own pantry or wrapped up for someone who appreciates good food.
Runamok Maple Syrups Worth Trying
Sugarmaker’s Cut: Pure Vermont Maple Syrup
Runamok’s signature Sugarmaker’s Cut is selected from batches that the sugarmakers consider particularly exceptional. Throughout the sugaring season, the team tastes the syrup as it’s produced, setting aside batches when the flavor reaches its peak.
The result is a pure, unblended Vermont maple syrup that showcases the natural characteristics of the season. It’s delicious on pancakes and waffles, but I particularly love good maple syrup drizzled over yogurt with fresh seasonal berries.
Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup: My Personal Favorite
My introduction to barrel-aged maple syrup completely changed how I thought about using it, and Runamok has some particularly interesting offerings.
Runamok’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup develops subtle notes of vanilla, oak and caramel from time spent in barrels previously used for spirits. The company has also experimented with rum and whiskey barrels.
I love barrel-aged maple syrup over vanilla ice cream, incorporated into cocktails or added to coffee. It’s also delicious in marinades and glazes, especially when paired with savory ingredients.
Infused Maple Syrups: Beyond Breakfast
This is where Runamok really starts having fun. The company has experimented with everything from familiar baking spices to floral, botanical and savory ingredients.
Some of my favorite flavors and creative combinations they’ve offered over the years include:
- Cinnamon + Vanilla: One of my personal favorites, especially over ice cream.
- Ginger Root: Delicious in dressings, marinades and cocktails.
- Cardamom: An interesting addition to coffee and baked goods.
- Hibiscus Flower: Floral and unexpected in drinks.
- Makrut Lime Leaf: Wonderful in citrusy homemade salad dressings.
- Merquén: A smoky, spicy infusion that’s particularly good in cocktails.
Flavors and availability change, but that’s part of the fun of discovering what Runamok comes up with next.
Smoked Maple Syrup: Sweet Meets Savory
Yes, smoked maple syrup is a thing! Runamok has produced maple syrup smoked with pecan wood, creating a combination of sweetness and smoky flavor that’s particularly good in savory recipes.
Think roasted vegetables, homemade barbecue sauce, chili, marinades and glazes. It’s also delicious paired with Vermont cheeses on a charcuterie board, where the sweetness balances sharp and salty flavors.
A Vermont-Made Gift Worth Giving
I’m always looking for locally made products that make thoughtful gifts, and Runamok checks quite a few boxes. The packaging is beautiful, the flavors are interesting and maple syrup is something almost everyone can find a use for.
A bottle of barrel-aged maple syrup makes a great hostess gift, while a collection of infused syrups is perfect for someone who enjoys cooking or experimenting with cocktails. For friends and family outside Vermont, it’s an easy way to share a taste of the Green Mountain State.
Runamok products are available through the company’s online store and at specialty food shops and retailers throughout Vermont and beyond.
Why Runamok Maple Is One of My Favorite Vermont-Made Products
My appreciation for maple syrup started long before I discovered Runamok, back when I was climbing a muddy path to my neighbor John’s sugar shack in Middlebury with a few beers in hand. Those afternoons taught me just how much time, knowledge and work go into producing something many of us take for granted.
And while I still have a particular fondness for the robust, earthy syrup John made, I love seeing Vermont producers find new ways to celebrate an agricultural tradition that’s so deeply connected to our state.
Runamok has managed to take a familiar Vermont product and make it feel exciting again, combining traditional sugaring with culinary creativity and thoughtful packaging.
Whether you’re a lifelong Vermonter, a visitor looking for something locally made or simply someone who appreciates really good maple syrup, Runamok is a Vermont brand worth getting to know.
And if you haven’t tried barrel-aged maple syrup yet, consider this your encouragement to pick up a bottle. You might find yourself using it on just about everything.
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