As proud supporters of local Vermont businesses, we are participating in Maple Open House Weekend this March 22nd and 23rd at our Burlington Tasting Room. As part of this statewide celebration, we’re offering in-store Runamok samples of their Salted Caramel Syrup, Sugarmaker’s Cut Syrup, and Sparkle Syrup. We’ll also be offering a featured craft cocktail just for the weekend made with the Salted Caramel Maple Syrup. 

If you’ve ever perused or purchased from the retail section of our Burlington Tasting Room, you’ve likely seen Runamok on our shelves. It’s not only maple syrup that Runamok offers (which serves as a delicious substitute for simple syrup in cocktails). They also offer bitters, an Old Fashioned cocktail mixer, and Grenadine, which we’ve utilized in cocktail recipes featured at our bar and in recipes online.

If you aren’t able to stop into our Tasting Room during Maple Open House Weekend, we invite you to make the featured craft cocktail—or one of our other Runamok recipes below—from home. 

SALTED CARAMEL MAPLE MANHATTAN
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye 
-3/4 oz. of Sweet Vermouth
-1/2 oz. of Runamok Salted Caramel Maple Syrup
-3-4 dashes of Runamok Maple Aromatic Bitters

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. To fully incorporate the maple syrup, shake hard a couple times, then stir well until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, then garnish with 3 Luxardo cherries.

STRAWBERRY SMASH
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-5 rinsed strawberries, leafy ends removed, chopped
-4 fresh basil leaves
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1/4 oz. or a barspoon of Runamok Maple Grenadine
-Club soda

Instructions:
In a shaker, combine all ingredients except for the club soda. Muddle the ingredients together. Add fresh ice to a shaker, and shake well. Double strain into a stemless glass over fresh ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with a fresh strawberry and basil.

RYE CIDER SPRITZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
- 1 oz. of Revolution Rye
- 1/2 oz. of Linchpin Apertivo (or Aperol)
- 3 oz. of Apple Cider
- 1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
- 2 drops of Runamok Orange Bitters
- Hard Cider to top

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except for the hard cider, in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into a Collins or highball glass. Top with hard cider. Garnish with 2-3 apple slices.

MAPLE BOURBON SOUR
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Runamok Sugarmakers Cut maple syrup
-1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into a Double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with Angostura Bitters.

MAGIC MAPLE MOJITO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-3/4 oz. of mint simple syrup
-1/4 oz. of Runamok Sparkle Maple Syrup
-2 dashes of Fee Brothers Mint Bitters
-Club soda or seltzer to top

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Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except for the club soda (or seltzer) in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir to incorporate ingredients, then top with the club soda or seltzer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

To make Mint Simple Syrup:
Combine 3 cups of simple syrup (a 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in hot water) with 1 cup of pressed mint leaves. Blanch the mint in boiling water for 15 seconds, then immediately remove the mint leaves and immerse them in ice water for 1 minute. Strain the leaves from the ice water. Blend the cooled simple syrup with the mint leaves for 1 minute, then strain well. Store the cooled mint simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks.

One important bartending tip when it comes to making cocktails with maple syrup. Maple syrup is naturally thicker than simple syrup, so you may find that stirring doesn’t fully incorporate the syrup in with the other cocktail ingredients. Ordinarily, shaking cocktails containing Vermouth is not recommended, as it can make the flavor slightly bitter. When combining a maple syrup with Vermouth in a cocktail, we recommend just a couple hard shakes before the typical stirring, to help the thicker syrup fully incorporate. 

Are you ready to make some craft cocktails combining two great Vermont products? You can find our spirits as well as Runamok products right at our Burlington Tasting Room. We almost always have Runamok Bitters (including their Aromatic, Orange and Floral Bitters), the Maple Grenadine, Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer and Salted Caramel Maple Syrup in stock. Plus, you can find the always delicious Luxardo Cherries, and other cocktail and barware supplies, as well. See you soon!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on March 17, 2025.