Quote Originally Posted by Galena View Post
Hey a.clarke, it's not at all unusual for the first batch or so to not taste very mapley at all. Usually it tastes more like vanilla and marshmallow. For me I don't get the expected maple flavour and colour til about batch #4-#5. Then by batch #6 the flavours intensify and I get stuff that has notes of brown sugar, coffee, molasses even! There is a maple flavour wheel, google it and bookmark it :-0
Thanks for the tips Galena. I have noticed you and others mentioning this color/flavor progression before. I would definitely call this "marshmallowey" flavored syrup.

I am still not sure what "buddy" sap/syrup smells like though. Everyone says I'll know it when I smell it, so well see. Some of my sap definitely has more of a woody or earthy smell to it and has had it all season so I'm not too sure.