As the list of participants in my Vetrepreneurs© column continues to grow, I wanted to focus attention on some proud Veterans who have chosen to serve after their tours by serving great food and drink.

Arch Watkins and Mark McLaughlin are former Navy pilots who ended up stationed in the same squadron in Baltimore. When it was time to put on their “civvies” again, the two soon realized that flying off aircraft carriers was far more engaging than being tied to a desk. They also realized that, as nearly any Veteran can tell you, there is no way to finish a tough day in the trenches than with a quality beverage.

After consulting some other veterans of the armed forces and the beverage world, Arch and Mark created Old Line Spirits!

Made from 100% malted barley Old Line’s American single malt whiskey offers essence of caramel, honey, and vanilla in a Whiskey that mixes well and is also great on its own! While the original edition is aged in charred casks made with white oak. Old Line also offers a straight-from-the-barrel cask strength as well as whiskeys aged in barrels that previously produced Armagnac, Cognac, Oloroso Sherry, and even Caribbean Rum! Speaking of rum Old Line recently released a trio of what they call Case 1 rums (“Case 1” being Naval lingo for ideal flying conditions) and have just devised their own six-times distilled gluten-free Case 1 vodka, all of can make any time of night or day ideal.

In addition to providing a great American whiskey and other drinks, Arch and Mark have also opened a great place to enjoy them, using an old hangar (naturally) just outside of Baltimore as their manufacturing facility and a tasting room that also hosts events of all sizes. Even if you cannot make it to Charm City, however, you can surely still enjoy Old Line, knowing that you are not only raising a great glass of Whiskey but also raising visibility and support for our brave Veterans.

www.oldlinespirits.com

I have discussed kombucha many times before, and yet I know many people who are still reticent to try it as it apparently has too much fizzy bit (often called “funkiness”) for them.

To them, I say, “Fieldstone”!

Fieldstone Kombucha is fermented just like any other brand, but somehow the founder has figured out a way to get all the fresh flavor and GI tract benefits for which kombucha has become famous without all the spiky starter stuff. It’s like the sourdough of kombuchas- All the homemade taste and body benefits without the afterburn.

With fresh flavors like spiced apple and spicy ginger, chai spice, turmeric, and even beet (with seasonal ones popping up all the time), Fieldstone not only delivers great taste and all the nutrition for which kombucha is known but also some of those “superfoods” we have all been hearing about.

Not only does it taste great on its own, but Fieldstone also works well as an ingredient in drinks such as those detailed on the website (www.fieldstonekombuchaco.com).

Best of all, it comes from a woman-run company right here in New England! 

Speaking of that woman, she started her SCOBY-started story as so many other great food-trepreneurs do by starting in her own kitchen and distributing to her friends before growing into what I hope becomes a sector-leading company.

In addition to being made here, Fieldstone kombucha also sources ingredients from local farms and even has a local artist design the label artwork! They also packages their products in recyclable materials so they have less impact on the environment and are good for everyone involved!

If you need more incentive to try Fieldstone, they can deliver (in 100% recyclable packaging!) and, if you enter “kombuchaships” or “localkombucha” you can get 10% off your first order!

www.fieldstonekombuchaco.com

When Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death,” it is unlikely he knew how prescient his words would remain hundreds of years later. But as people across the nation are being forced to choose between respecting their own bodies and making their own decisions or facing pain and potential death, the call to freedom and resistance is stronger than ever.

Fortunately, we have access to a drink that is as old as Henry himself and that can still refresh and sustain weary resister and revolutionaries.

In addition to such pun-ny and pleasant product personali-TEAs as Fred-TEA Mercury, Hippocra-TEAs, and Nikola TEAs-la, Tea Book now offers readings on those who have stood up for the rights of others to protect and preserve themselves in a new collection called My Bod-TEA, My Choice. This inspiringly sippable set includes teas named for the legendary likes of Fri-TÉ Khalo and TEA-eigo Rivera, Joe Bi-TEA-n, Ruth Bader Ginseng (a.k.a. “R.B.TEA”), and even Volod-TEA-myr Zelensky!

While the fun names and comic artwork bring some levi-TEA to a serious situation, The Tea Book is offering serious support to communi-TEAs in need by donating proceeds to Planned Parenthood so that more people can exercise their own choices while they soothe their own bodies and those of others they love. 

Through October 15, The Tea Book is also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a special savings and offerings, including a La-TEA-n varie-TEA, proceed from which will go to the Museum of Latin American Art in California.

As the Tea Book continues to add chapters, it can be difficult to pick which to brew first. No matter which Tea Book set you get, you can be sure that they are all made from the freshest ingredients, are organic, GMO- and gluten-free, and kosher, and come in recyclable and Eco Choice packaging, so you can feel good about your choice while sharing in the boun-TEA of liber-TEA that Henry demanded all those years ago. 

https://theteabook.com