SPOTLIGHT : THE MAPLE RESERVE
Sweet Success
STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE MAPLE RESERVE
Austin Felis II and Lauren Felis , owners and founders of The Maple Reserve in Manchester , share delicious holiday drink recipes that use Dorset Maple Reserve syrup
A fter building Dorset Maple Reserve into a thriving artisan Vermont maple syrup business , Austin Felis II and his wife , Lauren Felis , have channeled their entrepreneurial passion into a beautiful new venture : The Maple Reserve . Located on Main Street in Downtown Manchester , this café is equally warm and inviting as a waffle drizzled with delicious Vermont maple syrup . Inside , the Vermont-modern décor is streamlined and appealing . Craft coffee beverages , boba tea , and street waffles with inventive flavors are complemented by an eclectic assortment of high-quality food and home décor products , many of which are made in the Green Mountain State .
By harnessing the same strong work ethic and dynamic ingenuity that propelled Dorset Maple Reserve to the forefront of Southern Vermont ’ s artisan foodmaking scene , Austin and Lauren have created a welcoming café and storefront that strongly appeals to both lifelong locals and visiting vacationers . In the weeks leading up to the Holiday season , they graciously agreed to share the story behind The Maple Reserve and Dorset Maple Reserve with Stratton Magazine – as well as Lauren ’ s maple-infused mixological masterpieces . Enjoy a taste of sweet and flavorful Vermont delight courtesy of The Maple Reserve , and don ’ t forget to stop in there for a maple creemee , street waffle , or maple latté on your next Manchester Holiday adventure !
The Story Behind the Syrup
Austin Felis II initiated the Dorset Maple Reserve venture on his family farm in Dorset in 2012 . Two years later , he and Lauren took a leap of faith , and moved to Vermont from Connecticut with their two children , Juniper and Sophia . They left the corporate world behind to pursue building their artisan maple syrup business full-time , and their bold move paid off marvelously . Today , Dorset Maple Reserve ’ s delicious syrups are distributed locally at Southern Vermont independent stores , throughout the United States , and in international markets . According to Austin , the secret to the syrup ’ s success doesn ’ t just lie in the state-of-the art , proprietary craft techniques he applies during the sugaring and syrup making process — it can also be attributed to the calcium-rich , limestone soils of Southern Vermont . “ They infuse the groundwater and maple sap with a unique terroir ,” says Austin .
In addition to Dorset Maple Reserve ’ s Rich Amber breakfast syrup , they offer several gourmet flavor varieties , which are perfect for both cooking and cocktails ! The Bourbon Barrel Aged syrup spends six months in premium bourbon wood barrels , infusing it with delightful notes of caramel , spice , and whiskey . The Smoked & Spicy syrup combines savory notes with the smoky sweetness of Serrano peppers , making it an ideal addition to any gourmet kitchen pantry .
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