It just won't quit!!!!!

[JKR]

Kurt
Ah yes! Beautiful isn’t it?
We’ve often had that kind of ratio on the first cooks of the season. Not sure why but I suspect the sugar content is the highest at that time. After the first couple cooks the ratio goes right around 40:1 which is the normal rule of thumb.
We use a hydrometer so I can’t tell you what the temp is.
There are four of us who get together every spring to make syrup. We cook 80 gallons of sap for a batch. We have a wood fired cooker and finish on a propane burner.
It’s a great thing to do after a long winter.
Jim