Brittany LeJeune

Inside the Napa Valley of Sugarcane

The Wildcat Brothers have taken the age-old process of distilling rum and refined the craft to create a smooth-tasting liquor. Their distillery, based in Lafayette, Louisiana, uses local ingredients such as sugarcane cut in the fertile fields of Cajun country. These high-quality rums are made from pure sugarcane crystals and are aged in charred white oak barrels. The variations of rum created by the Wildcat Brothers are sippable and full of sweet, grassy flavors.

David Meaux, chief distiller, and Tait Martin, president and CEO, started Wildcat Brothers Distilling in an act of serendipity in 2011. Meaux, who started making rum as a hobby, collaborated with Martin, a long-time friend and fraternity brother, to start the distillery. With family ties to the oilfield industry in Lafayette, the distillery’s name originated from the term “wildcat” used to describe drilling a discovery well. In 2019, the founders purchased the property Gator Cove where they could create a craft cultural center. Gator Cove is a well-known local venue that hosts everything from tours to crawfish boils.

Where’s The Rum?

It is required that all types of rum be made from the one common ingredient—sugar. The Wildcat Brothers started the rum-making process with sugar sourced from local sugarcane. All the sugarcane used to make the rum at the Wildcat Brothers’ distillery is harvested within a 50-mile radius of Gator Cove. The distillery buys its sugar from M.A. Patout & Son Ltd., the oldest family-owned sugar mill in the United States, which is located only half of a mile down the road.

“I often tell people we are the Napa Valley of sugarcane; the best sugarcane in the world is right here,” Martin says.

The Wildcat Brothers distill a French-style rum made from pure sugar crystals. They bottle and sell their rum in various flavors and recipes. The Heritage line consists of Wildcat Brothers’ top three rums: Noire, Sweet Crude and Fifolet. Sweet Crude is used as the precursor to all the rums Wildcat Brothers makes. This rum is sippable and perfect for a cocktail such as a daiquiri. Wildcat Brothers’ Noire is a dark rum that is aged for five years and is considered “bourbon’s Cajun cousin.” Noire is the distillery’s top-selling rum. The third rum in the Heritage line, Fifolet, is a spiced rum flavored with vanilla beans, allspice, cinnamon, coffee and black peppercorns. Fifolet is great for apple flavors or ice cream combinations.

“I tell people, in 25 years, if you come back, those recipes are going to be the same,” Martin says. “You are going to be able to taste those and recognize them.”

Rum Distilling A to Z

The basic distillation process is an interesting journey. Sugarcane is cut down and then taken to the processing plant where it is squeezed producing sugarcane juice, which is extremely sweet and often compared to the taste of coconut water. Rum made from sugarcane juice is called Rhum Agricole, a French term, that has a natural, grassy flavor. It is boiled to create syrup and then spun in a turbine that separates the liquid. The process is repeated four times yielding pure sugar crystals and blackstrap molasses.

Rum-making begins with the fermentation process of placing sugar in a vat with water and yeast. The yeast begins to eat and metabolize the sugar to produce alcohol. After three days, the result is a frothy liquid close to the consistency of beer. During the distillation process, this solution is boiled, turned into a vapor, and then condensed into clear rum. A steel barrel creates the clear rum from the vapors. Rum is put into charred white oak barrels to be aged. The length of time rum is aged varies according to the desired flavor. The type of wood barrel the rum is aged in creates the color of dark rum.

On The Horizon

The Wildcat Brothers are constantly experimenting and creating new rums. In 2021, the distillery crafted 12 assorted varieties known as “Snake Oil” that ranged in flavors from honey to pumpkin, cinnamon and coffee. The distillery offers the opportunity for people in the local community to blend their own taste of rum. There are also seasonal and special rums available such as a rum made specifically for a Bloody Mary.

The Wildcat Brothers are currently working on a new project that ages rum in several types of wood barrels such as cherry wood, pear wood, persimmon wood, hickory wood and plumb wood. The Heritage line is sold at over 1,000 locations and in 37 states. Gator Cove is also offering bookings for events and rum tastings. The President’s Rum School is a special event limited to eight people for rum-making education and tasting that lasts three hours.

“We want people to come and experience Wildcat Brothers and Gator Cove here because we’re proud of the products we’re making but especially we’re proud that we use good Louisiana ingredients,” Martin says.
Honey Harvest

September 27, 2023

Brittany LeJeune

The arrival of fall brings the end of the honey season, when beekeepers begin to harvest the last of their delicious syrup from the hive. Honeybees had to work extra hard this year, as the dry weather left them searching for sweet nectar. The summer drought left the ground barren of flowers and clover patches, and few plants such as poison oak with dainty flowers remain available to the honeybees. Honey yields will suffer due to the short supply of nectar. Nevertheless, beehives are teeming with honeybees and still oozing with this rich commodity. Beekeepers—adorned in a hat, veil and gloves—will start to collect, bottle and sell this year’s honey crop across the region.

The first steps of beekeeping

Gerald “Peanut” Torres, owner of Peanut’s Place in Livonia, Louisiana, took up beekeeping as a hobby after finding an interest in the honey-making process. “It was a lot to learn, so I waited through the winter while I read and did a lot of research,” he says. First, techniques such as purchasing and transferring new honeybees into the beehive require skills and knowledge of the trade. Equally important, there are several types of beehives that need daily care, including necessities such as water and sunlight. Honeybees take nectar and pollen from the flowers in the surrounding area they use to make honey. The honeybees build the honeycomb where the bees deposit the honey and seal it with wax. Eventually, these beehives will produce savory, raw honey.

View of the inside of a beehive

The B Farm currently owns and operates over 30,000 beehives in five northeastern locations, including New York, Massachusetts and Vermont, and three southern locations in Louisiana and Alabama. Torres purchased a nucleus of honeybees that he used to start his beehives from The B Farm in Bunkie, Louisiana. A nucleus contains the honeybees’ queen, workers and brood bees with a supply of food and honey. The beekeeper must transfer the nucleus to a new beehive where they can thrive and produce honey, thus The B Farm can supply new and old beekeepers with a nucleus, new queens and honey.

Facts from a beekeeper

The life of a honeybee is an astonishing pattern of work from flight to hive. “During the summer, when they work, they could fly five miles a day, back and forth,” Torres says. The worker bees spend their time collecting nectar, feeding bees, making wax and producing honey. A honeybee’s tasks take so much energy that they work themselves to death. The constant work of the honeybees shortens their lifespan to about six weeks during the summer. The entire colony depends upon the queen bee for breeding and the birth of new bees known as brood bees. The honey will nurture the new bees and create a supply of food for the winter.

An average sized beehive is occupied by 50,000 to 70,000 honeybees at one time. Beekeepers typically use the Langstroth, top bar or flow beehives. Torres uses a Langstroth and flow hive to house his honeybees and collect their sweet honey. A Langstroth beehive has hives stacked one on top of the other in boxes. In one season, this type of hive can yield an astonishing 35 to 75 pounds of honey. A flow hive houses a plastic honeycomb. The design allows the beekeeper to turn a valve to collect the honey and can yield about 3.5 gallons of honey. Beekeepers collect these enormous amounts of honey during the harvest season from July to September.

Standard Langstroth beehive to the left with a flow hive to the right

Sweet and sticky

Savannah Bee Co. opened its flagship store in Savannah, Georgia in 2008 with a countless assortment of honey products. The company now has 14 different locations from Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A visit to one of these honey spots can satisfy anyone’s craving. Savannah Bee Co. offers honey tasting and a wide variety of flavors from Tupelo Honey to Orange Blossom Honey.

the natural flora in the area where the honeybees collect nectar and pollen influences the taste and color of the honey. Flavors can range from nutty, woody, sweet or bitter. Fresh strawberries or salty almonds are the perfect accompaniments for drizzling in honey. Savannah Bee Co. even has honey specifically made for tea and coffee. Their whipped honey with pumpkin spice, cinnamon, lemon and chocolate is a sumptuous treat.

All things honey

Savannah Bee Co. offers honey merchandise from A-Z including health and beauty products. The honeycomb is used to make a wide variety of byproducts. The honeybees secrete wax that they use to create the cells of the hive and construct the honeycomb. The honeycomb is melted to create a thick, clear wax. Beeswax is commonly used in cosmetics because it can moisturize and protect skin. The texture of beeswax is perfect for making soap and even adds an additional fragrance. Savannah Bee Co. brings consumers items such as hand cream, body lotion, lip balm and pedicure kits made from raw honey materials.

Beehive honeycomb with wax covering the cells containing honey

The practice of using honey as a remedy for a cold is as old as time. Honey can soothe a sore throat or suppress a cough. It can alleviate some symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. Warm water with a teaspoon of honey and a pinch of cinnamon can have anti-inflammatory properties. Mix lemon juice with honey for vitamins C, D, B6 and B12. Even though honey will not cure the illness, it can relieve some of the symptoms.

Protecting the pollinators

Due to factors such as parasites, droughts and pesticides, the honeybee population is in decline. A parasite known as the Varroa mite is slowly destroying entire colonies. The mite attaches to the honeybees as a host, and the honeybees carry the mite back to the beehive. The mite will infest the beehive and the entire colony will die. Beekeepers are attempting to control the mite population with early detection and treatments.

The recent droughts are yet another reason for the loss of the honeybees. When there is a lack of rain and extremely hot temperatures, the grass and flowers no longer grow. White clover is a vital nectar source for honeybees and is dying in the drought. When there are no flowers for honeybees to collect nectar and pollen from, they will produce a smaller honey yield.

As honeybee habitats start to disappear, they will need vital native flora to survive. Planting a bee garden can supply these pollinators with food sources. A “bee bath” such as a shallow bin with rocks inside can also provide the honeybees with a drink of water on a hot day.

Honey in the raw

A sweet jar of raw honey

It is hard to compare the taste of raw honey to anything else. Raw honey is collected directly from the beehive. Beekeepers strain the honey to remove wax, comb or pollen. There are no additives or modifications—raw honey is the natural product of hardworking honeybees. The beekeepers diligently fill jars with honey gathered directly from the beehive. To find raw honey, start with local beekeepers bottling their honey to sell. Local markets and small businesses scattered throughout the South are selling raw honey in conjunction with beekeepers. Now is the perfect time to stock up on honey until next year’s season.
Animal Companions Enhance Emotional Health
A wagging tail, soft pur, or wet nose are familiar attributes that we use to identify our animal friends. The relationship we have with animals is remarkable and distinct from all others. The bond that we form with our pets has proven to improve emotional and mental health. Animals can provide comfort and support to their owners. Interacting with an animal can invoke feelings of happiness, calmness, or safety which lead to positive attitudes and added encouragement. Individuals with mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness can benefit from owning an animal. A pet can help someone remain calm and trigger the relaxation response while they are experiencing anxiety. The simple act of stroking or touching a pet can ease anxiety as well. Depression can cause people to withdraw, whereas an animal can motivate them to get outside and socialize. Owners must find the energy to take care of their pets and this can increase opportunities to exercise.

Pets have also been shown to lift moods which can lead to a more positive outlook on life. It has been found that a loving relationship with an animal can improve self-doubt by building self-esteem and boosting confidence. Loneliness can bring on emotional distress such as worry and negative thoughts. An animal companion can offer someone much-needed company which can improve mental stability. Animals can also give people a sense of purpose. The emotional benefits associated with owning an animal are unmistakable and astounding.

There are many factors to consider when deciding if an animal is right for you. What is the size of the pet? What does the pet eat? How much exercise does this pet need? How long will the animal live? It is essential to understand what type of animal is the correct fit for you. The temperament of the animal should match the emotional and mental health needs of the owner. Studies have shown that watching a fish swim can create a calming feeling, relieve tension, and lower pulse rate. Birds provide a great deal of empathy and talking to them can keep you smart and entertained. Guinea pigs have unique personalities and are known for their friendly, playful running and jumping which is fun to interact with and enjoy. Golden retrievers, Maltese poodles, and Yorkshire terriers are good breeds to consider for anxiety support. Whether furry, scaly, or feathered, it is important to find the right animal to support you after research and preparation.

“It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives, and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” – Josh Grogan, the author of the #1 international bestseller Marley & Me.

Studies show mental and physical health benefits

According to the American Heart Association, people who own a dog have lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop heart disease. A physiological response can be triggered when interacting with an animal. Studies have also shown that playing with a dog can increase brain chemicals oxytocin and dopamine. Physical contact such as stroking or cuddling an animal can be soothing. Research has also found a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Pet owners can engage in activities such as walking their dogs for exercise. The daily act of taking care of a pet can also build routine and structure.

Recent research studies are providing new insight into the connection between people and animals. According to the National Library of Medicine, The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence, provides data to confirm the ability of animals to support individuals with mental health problems. The results determined that animals were able to provide comfort to their companions and also had the ability to know when the person was in need of support.

Emotional Support Animals

The impact that animals can have on physical and mental health is unmistakable. Pets can also be used in therapy to help people with anxiety, depression, or loneliness. An emotional support animal (ESA) is used to help a person manage a specific aspect of their disorder that can be debilitating. These animals can offer support and comfort by giving their owners reassurance, love, and protection. Animals can understand the emotional state of someone by noticing their tone of voice, body language, and gestures which they can respond to with affection. An ESA and owner benefit from a relationship where they each depend on one another and exchange love in return.

Here are some ways to determine if an ESA can help you:
1. Identify your emotional health needs. Understanding the signs and symptoms of mental health problems may require help from a mental heath professional.
2. Visit a mental health physician that can take your history and discuss the symptoms you are experiencing to determine the prognosis. There are often tests that are necessary to understand your condition.
3. Formulating a treatment plan based on the results of the tests may lead the physician to recommend an ESA which can become a part of your new goals and can help you progress in the future.
Pets can provide emotional enrichment to our lives

Animals demonstrate a remarkable potential to influence us and offer valuable support. Their simple presence can be calming and relaxing to someone who is anxious or stressed. The ability of an animal to understand their owner and show them compassion cannot compare to that of another person. The solitude that accompanies depression and loneliness can be shared with the comfort and company of an animal companion. A pet can easily bring a smile to your face or inspire you to get outside for a walk. These small acts can have a tremendous impact on days when we feel our problems adding up. Our pets can bring meaningful memories and encourage a more positive attitude to our often unpredictable lives time and time again.
Avoiding Life Because of Anxiety
In the bustling world we live in today, anxiety may be caused by the demanding expectations we work so hard to live up to or the numerous obligations we need to manage. It can be easier to find a way to bypass these tasks altogether. Studies have shown that avoidance is a direct response to anxiousness. Avoidance of uncomfortable situations can affect choices, activities, and relationships. This response to anxiety can cause someone to avert these commitments entirely. It can become hard to confront everyday tasks such as a problem at work or attending a special occasion. Avoidance is sought as a solution to anxiety but only offers temporary relief. The person will ultimately return to the original state of anxiety which traps them in a painful cycle.

A study conducted by the Department of Psychology at Georgetown University called Evidence for avoidance tendencies linked to anxiety about specific types of thinking examined the correlation between anxiety and careers, activities, and courses based on different types of thinking. This research shows that anxiety can ultimately affect our choices and interests. Individuals can experience anxiety related to subjects such as mathematics. The result of feeling anxious about this type of thinking led them to avoid careers in fields such as science, technology, and engineering that require using a large amount of mathematical and technological advances. This has been true for skills related to creative thinking and spatial reasoning as well. Anxiety can cause people to show little interest in these careers and activities.

Avoidance is used to withdraw from a situation where anxiety occurs. For example, when someone is anxious about getting dental work they will avoid going to the dentist. Other ways avoidance can present itself include procrastination, denial, and distractions. This can result in postponing or rescheduling events that are uncomfortable. When avoidance becomes a solution it can be hard to show up in life and reach your full potential.

Learning a healthy way to cope

Avoidance is a maladaptive coping skill developed in response to anxiety. When coping skills are considered positive they are considered adaptive and when negative they are known as maladaptive. Coping skills are used to face disagreeable settings successfully. It is necessary to learn how to react to anxiety in a healthy way. The sources of stress can be changed or combatted to find a solution to the root cause of anxiousness. Emotions associated with a stressor are also important and can be managed.

There are positive coping skills that can counter the recurrence of anxiety:
1. Evaluating the situation and reassuring yourself you are safe if there is no real danger or threat to you.
2. Take the time to look around and perform a reality check. Is there something that you are worrying about that is not likely to happen?
3. Try to understand what you can and cannot control and stop worrying about things that cannot be changed.
4. Try to challenge yourself by acting on the things that are concerning you and make a difference.
Approach strategies are the best way to learn and implement healthy coping skills. Positive coping skills for anxiety are focused on relaxation and self-care. It is important to learn how to accept and love our most authentic selves. Try to take a step back, take a deep breath, and realize that you cannot control everything. It can be hard to live up to your own or others’ expectations while forgetting your basic needs are important. Healthy coping skills can correct and bring about positive changes to meet the difficulties anxiety presents. It is possible to build a new relationship with ourselves that can lead to the discovery of our authentic self and freedom from the troubles anxiety causes.

Luana Marques is the author of Bold Move, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and president-elect of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Marques spoke about the power of overcoming anxiety in her TedTalk titled “How to make anxiety your best friend.” Marques explains how it is possible to face your fears just as one of her patients fought to change her relationship with small spaces. Exposure to activities such as riding in a taxi and flying helped her gain confidence and acceptance.

Many therapists use the word “trigger” to define memories, objects, or places that can initiate feelings such as dizziness, nervousness, rapid heart rate, shaking, or anger. Two common triggers associated with anxiety include the breakup of a relationship or certain sights, sounds, or smells connected to trauma. If you can learn to become aware of triggers you can better handle the following cognitive response and emotional reactions.

Seeking help for anxiety

There are nearly 40 million Americans dealing with clinical anxiety every year. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons that people seek out therapy. There are many different ways to make adjustments and learn new techniques you can learn in therapy that can relieve anxiety. A therapist can assist with understanding how to identify and manage anxiety. The root cause of the stressors and the triggers can be hard to pinpoint. Together with a therapist, it can be easier to identify the problems and find a solution. Trained professionals will be able to help you uncover these thoughts or emotions that create worry and nervousness. They can offer new techniques to bring comfort back to your life.
Defining Love
People often underestimate the power of love. Psychologists have found that love is essential to someone’s well-being and physical health. It has been proven that love is a fundamental human need. Strengthening relationships with others and nurturing a relationship with ourselves can help to bring happiness to our life.

Understanding Love

The experience of love has been discussed by philosophers such as Plato in works like Phaedrus. Love has been defined with figures of gods and goddesses such as Eros and Aphrodite. The literary works of Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare have sought to capture the trials and tribulations of falling in love in their stories.

Psychologists have been attempting to study and define love as well. In the article Love in the Fourth Dimension by Ellen Berscheid, a social psychologist at the University of Minnesota, Berscheid attempts to define love and understand the complex emotions that accompany it. Berscheid’s studies focus on romantic love, attraction theory, and interpersonal relationships.

“Some anthropologists and social psychologists maintain that love is a cultural universal,” Berscheid said. “They believe that at least one variety of love, romantic love, is likely to have appeared in all human groups at all times in human history.”

Robert J. Sternberg is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. Stenberg has developed a model that divides love using three different categories: intimacy, passion, and commitment.
1. Intimacy describes relationships that are affectionate, connected, and close that provide a deep understanding of someone else.
2. Passion is driven by an intense and overwhelming conviction or desire.
3. Commitment involves devotion to a person for a long period of time.
These three terms are arranged in a triangle which combines all of them together forming consummate love. Consummate love represents the ideal relationship with a complete commitment to love.

“For example, greater intimacy may lead to greater passion or commitment, just as greater commitment may lead to greater intimacy, or with lesser likelihood, greater passion. In general, then, the components are separable, but interactive with each other. Although all three components are important parts of loving relationships, their importance may differ from one relationship to another, or over time within a given relationship,” Sternberg said.

The Seven Different Types of Love

Love takes many different shapes and forms. It can develop and progress over time in various aspects of a person’s life. Understanding other types of love instead of primarily looking for romantic relationships can lead to more balance and fulfillment.

In psychology, there are seven fundamental types of love:
1. Eros is most similar to the romantic love people experience today. This love is driven by sexual desire and passion. Sigmund Freud used eros to describe an overwhelming attraction or longer for someone. Eros is also connected to libido which is a biological instinct.
2. Philia is associated with goodwill often found in friendships. The Greek translation of philia means brotherly love. Philia describes actions of care, respect, and compassion for fellow human beings. It is most commonly known as a term for close friendship.
3. Storge is the natural love felt with family. A good example of storge is the love felt by a parent for their child. It is a deep and caring bond that is felt between different members of a family. It is can be recognized as protective. It can also withstand hardships and trials.
4. Agape is known as self-sacrificing love. This is a nonjudgmental and unconditional love felt for someone. It is often connected to spiritual practices where people associate it with the love for all mankind and the suffering that is experienced for the benefit of others.
5. Ludus is often described with the term “playful love.” This form of love is experienced while having fun such as teasing, laughing, or dancing. People often experience this when they are flirting. Ludus does not always lead to romantic relationships and is closer to phlia.
6. Pragma is the form of love often experienced in long-term, committed relationships such as a marriage. Pragma is an endearing love that is felt through companionship. The example of two people “making it work” is often connected to pragma.
7. Philautia is the term used to describe self-love. The attitude and relationship that someone has with themself can be explained by philautia. This is connected to our confidence and self-esteem.
Finding Love in Our Lives

Understanding the three components and seven different forms of love can help you to improve and strengthen relationships. Evaluating our attitudes toward love may involve our backgrounds and beliefs. Learning to love someone or accept the love and affection of someone else is not easy. Sometimes this can mean trusting someone, putting a significant other’s needs before your own, or even letting go of the past.

Not receiving enough love and affection can have negative effects on an individual. It can change a person’s mood drastically which can cause them to have an adverse outlook on life. If someone does not receive affection and some type of love in their life, they may experience depression and feelings of worthlessness. It can also result in a lack of motivation which can lead to trouble completing responsibilities or poor self-care. Feelings of abandonment may stem from childhood causing isolation and loneliness.

Working with a Therapist

A therapist can help you to work on accepting and giving love. Utilizing skills like understanding, forgiveness, and respect can lead to breakthroughs with the people in your life. Learning to be honest and transparent can create a stronger bond between you and the person you love.

If you are not sure where to start or what method to use in order to fix these problems, you can reach out to the team at June Health. A skilled therapist can help you understand the cause of your feelings and help to bridge the gap between you and others in your life.