Juniper Foraging

All of our unique Texas junipers are collected by hand by family and friends on adventure-filled camping trips to the Davis Mountains in West Texas.

Juniper Foraging Gallery 6
Juniper Foraging Gallery 6

Foraging in the News

UT professor says her self-made gin may be protecting her from cedar fever

UT professor says her self-made gin may be protecting her from cedar fever

Molly Cummings is a UT professor by day, and a gin distiller by night. She says she hasn’t had cedar fever in years, and her gin may be the reason.

AUSTIN, Texas – Allergy season is in full swing in Central Texas, and for many of us, cedar fever can be a nightmare. Could a martini or two help relieve it? A University of Texas biology professor—who happens to moonlight as a gin distiller—thinks there might be a connection.

When Molly Cummings first moved to Austin from Wisconsin, her cedar fever was pretty bad.

“I would be horribly congested, it would drip back into my throat, it would be like that for a couple weeks,” said Cummings.

Years later the UT professor followed her siblings into the distilling business, but was especially intrigued by gin—for which juniper is a key ingredient.

UT professor creates possible cedar fever cure in a martini glass

UT professor creates possible cedar fever cure in a martini glass

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you suffer from “cedar fever” each winter, you may want to reconsider your drink order the next time you head to the bar.

A classic drink is actually made from the plant that causes that dreaded allergic response in Central Texas — gin.

“Gin essentially, is a process where you take a vodka and you make it more interesting,” said University of Texas Biology Professor Molly Cummings. She has an interesting side hustle. “I’m a gin entrepreneur and founder and forger for WildGins Co.,” she said.

Biology Professor Brings Field Expertise to Craft of Botanical Foraging

Biology Professor Brings Field Expertise to Craft of Botanical Foraging

“What a beauty!” Molly Cummings says with a sparkle in her eye.

She could just as easily be referring to the expansive, cloud-mottled West Texas sky or the undulating purple Davis mountains surrounding us. But she’s gazing directly up at a juniper tree – one she’s named Eve because it was the very first one to give her berries – and she is about to scale the roof of the house right below it to forage some more.

Centre Stage

Centre Stage

Juniper is crucial to gin - but would you know what it tastes like? Check out the article here.  

The Alcalde

The Alcalde

How a UT Professor Found the Perfect Juniper Berries for Gin in West Texas Check out the full article here.

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Abilene: Abby's Bottles & Brew, Filo Liquors, H and H Liquor Beer & Wine, Waterhole #2 - 2604 Barrow St.

Allen: Total Wine & More

Alpine: Pinkies: Twin Peaks Liquors

Amarillo: Lone Star Liquor Amarillo, M & R Package Store - 5901 Bell St., M & R Package Store - 800 N Western, M & R Package Store - 2200 SE 34th, Party Stop - 2314 S Georgia St., Pinkies - 7232 Hillside, Pinkies - 707 E Amarillo Blvd

Arlington: Total Wine & More, 

Austin: 34 Wine & Spirits, AB Liquor, Avery Ranch Wine & Spirits, Beverage World Liquor, Cedar Valley Spirits - Fine Wine - Beer - Cigars, Everest Liquor #2, Gunter's Liquor, Hillside Liquor, J & J Drug, King Liquor Burnet Road, Lando's Liquors & Libations, Old School Liquor and Market, Passionate Spirits, South Lamar Wine & Spirits, Spec's - Arbor Walk, Spec's - Brodie Lane, Spec's - Hymeadow, Spec's - Highland Park, Spec's - SouthPark Meadows, and Spec's - Four Points, The Austin Shaker - 1199 Airport Blvd., The Austin Shaker - 420 N Pleasant Valley, and The Austin Shaker - 7626 W State Hwy 71, The Austin Wine Merchant, Total Wine & More - Arboretum, Total Wine & More - Mueller, and Total Wine & More - Sunset Valley, Travis Heights Wine & Spirits, Urban Wine & Liquors, Wiggy's North Lamar, Zeke's Liquors

Baytown: U. F. O. Liquor Store

Bedford: Spec's Airport Fwy.

Bee Cave: Spec's - Bee Cave, Total Wine & More - Bee Cave

Buda: Proof Liquor and Deli

Cedar Park: Spec's - Cedar Park, Total Wine & More - Lakeline

College Station: Spec's - College Station, Twin Liquors

Cypress: Oasis Liquor

Dallas / Fort Worth: Pogo's Wine and Spirits - Dallas, Put a Cork In It - Fort Worth, Sigels Liquor Warehouse, Spec's - Irving, Hurst, Total Wine & More - Alliance - Fort Worth, Total Wine & More - Fort Worth (Hulen)

Denton: Total Wine & More

Dripping Springs: Spec's

Euless: Total Wine & More

Fredericksburg: AJ's Liquor, Judy's Liquor

Friendswood: Potter's Liquor, Total Wine & More - Baybrook

Fort Davis: Celebr8 Wine & Spirits

Garrett: Spec's - Garrett

Georgetown: Spec's - Georgetown

Graham: Graham Wines

Greenville: Hunt's Liquor, Spec's

Helotes: Dino & Gino's Liquor

Highlands: Dillon Liquor

Houston: Express Liquor, Houston Wine Merchant, Ly's Liquor, Nasa Liquor, Pascale's, Space City Liquors, Spec’s (Downtown Smith Street), Total Wine & More - Heights, Total Wine & More - Memorial, Total Wine & More - West University, Total Wine & More - Galleria, Total Wine & More - Willowbrook, Total Wine & More - Copperfield, Total Wine & More - Baybrook

Humble: Pascale's of Kingwood, Total Wine & More

Hurst: Spec's

Irving: Spec's

Kerrville: Spec's

Lakeway: Monarch Liquor II, Twin Liquors

Lewisville: Total Wine

Lubbock: Ollie's Liquor, Overton Hotel & Conference Center, Doc's - (Spec's 180), Spec's (216 - 5510 4th St.), Woody's Liquors

Marfa: Cactus Liquors, Celebration Liquors

Manchaca: Geek Liquor

McKinney: JMG Liquor, McKinney Wine Merchant

Midland: Cowboy Spirits, Lone Star Liquor Company, Moore Beverages, Pinkies - 2701 N Big Spring

Odessa: Lone Star Liquors & More, Pinkies - 814 Maple Ave, XOXO Liquor

Plano: Total Wine & More - Collin Creek, Total Wine & More - Preston Village, Total Wine & More - Plano North, 

Richmond: Total Wine & More - Cinco Ranch

Round Rock: Spec's - Round Rock

San Angelo: Pinkies - 1415 S Bryant Blvd

San Antonio: Alamo City Liquor (downtown location), Joe Saglimbeni's Fine Wines & Spirits, Total Wine & More - Del Norte, Total Wine & More - The Rim

San Marcos: Spec's - San Marcos

Selma: Total Wine & More - The Forum

Sugar Land: Total Wine & More

Sunset Valley: Total Wine & More - Brodie Lane

Terrell: Spec's 

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Weatherford: Twisted Snifter

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