CHICAGO – Indiana-made Burton’s Maplewood Syrup helped sweeten the morning for Oprah Winfrey and 250 celebrities at a recent private brunch that was part of the festivities surrounding Winfrey’s final TV shows.
Oprah’s former personal chef Art Smith hosted the brunch at his restaurant, Table Fifty-Two, as a farewell to the TV host. He ordered 250 maple-shaped bottles of the new rum-infused maple syrup to give to each guest. Each bottle was sketched with “Thank you Ms. Winfrey. XO Julie and Art.” Julie Latsko is Smith’s business partner.
“We’ve supplied syrup to Table Fifty-Two for a couple years, but when Art told us he wanted to use it for Oprah’s going-away brunch, it was an honor,” said owner Tim Burton. “Many entrepreneurs only dream about getting their product in front of Oprah.”
Burton’s Maplewood Farm, a family-owned farm in Medora, Ind., produces more than 500 gallons of syrup a year and sells it at farmers’ markets in Indiana and Chicago and through an online store. Tim Burton was named an Indiana Artisan in 2009.
The new rum-infused syrup is made by aging syrup in 14-year-old Tennessee rum kegs from Prichard’s Distillery. The kegs were hand-picked, hot packed and bottled by owner Burton to ensure the highest, most consistent infused flavor. It has a light buttery rum taste that greets the palette with a nice maple finish. The unique elixir adds a great finished flavor to savory and pastry dishes.
For more information, visit www.BurtonsMaplewoodFarm.com.
