White Pine Elder Bubbly

Elderberry trees pepper the roadsides and forest edges in early summer with fairy-like flower plumes. Those delicate white flowers transform into berries, ripening in late summer with the promise of sweet and ancient medicine. Harvested responsibly and cooked down, these berries offer us a way to prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms as well as overall support for wellness.

Turning a deeper gaze into the forest, we find mushrooms that, like the elder, have been in a relationship with humans for centuries. Reishi, chaga and turkey tail—found wild throughout North America and beyond—can be used to deeply fortify the body, especially the immune system. Each has its own relationship to specific trees, bringing the medicine and strength of those beloved giants into their fibers. Using all three mushrooms in one beverage provides a deeper connection with healing.

Lastly, tiptoe through the garden gate to find a friend in the mint family. Tulsi is revered as the Queen of the Herbs, offering story and myth that goes back thousands of years in the Ayurvedic culture of India. Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is honored for her ability to soothe the nervous system and support the adrenals when we are fatigued, exhausted and stressed.

These three beverages help us build wellness, honor the body and usher in much-needed nutrients while using Mother Earth’s ingredients: elderberries, mushrooms and herbs. By taking these herbs in regularly, we experience more vitality and better health. Understanding how to use what Mother Earth provides gifts us with much richness. n

This beverage is light and refreshing. The white pine and elderberry provide vibrant vitamin C, supporting the immune system as we head into fall.

Makes 1 drink

White pine tea (see below) 2 tablespoons elderberry syrup Carbonated mineral water, as needed Sliced cucumber and pine needle sprig for garnish

Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice and add half a glass of pine tea. Add elderberry syrup, then top off with carbonated mineral water. Garnish with slices of cucumber and a pine needle sprig for fun.

WHITE PINE TEA

Place 5 cups of water in a pot. Add a handful of freshly foraged white pine needles and bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and then strain. Pour some into an ice cube tray to freeze and refrigerate the rest. Your white pine tea will last up to a week refrigerated

Based in Fortville, Indiana, Moon Drops Distillery has a true grain-to-glass process that begins and ends with local business sustainability. They believe in crafting superior spirits with locally sourced ingredients that pay homage to their Indiana roots. Grain from a neighboring county is milled then distilled onsite in their 14-foot copper still, lovingly named Big Momma. Even the stillage is repurposed, reduced to dehydrated feed and donated back to a local cattle farm. Their classic spirits are tried-and-true recipes that brought life to Moon Drops Bonfire Blends and are the essence of their existence. These unique recipes utilize a blend of high-quality craft spirits and only the freshest ingredients. Fresh squeezed lemons embody the Lemon Shake-Up, a throwback to a State Fair classic. Crushed peppermint candies melted down create the Peppermint flavor profile, ideal for sipping or blended with your favorite hot cocoa. For the Apple Pie, a crisp taste of fresh apples mixed with hints of caramel and baking spices is reminiscent of the fresh baked taste and smell you know and love. Their goldaward-winning premium vodka is fully distilled from non-GMO grain and passed through a custom-built charcoal filtration process to produce a crisp, clean spirit that tastes as pure as its origins. Moon Drops Bonfire Blends seasonal flavors are quick to leave the shelves of any establishment featuring their spirits. At Moon Drops, they believe you can’t hurry the process. That American-made and locally sourced quality spirits are worth the time to age to perfection. Moon Drops Distillery—inspired by the magic of shared experiences over a good drink— will soon open their highly anticipated tasting room and live music venue, slated for fall of 2022.

Moon Drops Distillery

738 W. Broadway Fortville, Indiana 46040 317.482.9392 contact@moondropsdistillery.com MoonDropsDistillery.com Moondropsdistillery Moondrops_distillery