Meet Dru Sousan: Co-Owner of Honeytree Meadery in Nashville, TN

Honeytree Meadery opened in 2019 with a simple mission: Save Bees With Booze. Founders Dru and Ross began with a shared love of brewing and beekeeping, hoping to support local keepers around Nashville. The idea grew quickly. Today, Honeytree works with beekeepers across Tennessee, with a long term goal of expanding that impact worldwide.

Throughout every step, the foundation has stayed the same: community first.

"Honeytree has always been built on a strong foundation of community. We are so lucky and fortunate to be connected into the city and state that made us what we are today that it only makes sense to give back and support the community that supports us. We say it all the time, a rising tide raises all ships and we want to raise our community up with us!"

That commitment shows up in everything they do. From disaster relief and conservation fundraisers to Pride events and their current food donation initiative in response to SNAP cuts, Honeytree consistently uses its platform to support neighbors.

And Dru is clear about leading with values.

"This is a very delicate balance when it comes to being vocal on social media. The key is to not be a divider but rather a connector. Things like politics and religion are dividers but the desire to want good things for your neighbor is a connector. Do not try and stir the pot of misinformation and anger and instead focus on spreading the message of love, community and the desire to make things better for everyone."

For anyone unsure about speaking up, Dru’s guidance is simple: connect, don’t divide.

Refreshing an Ancient Drink

Honeytree has never tried to fit into an existing box. That includes how they ferment their mead.

Instead of wine yeast, Dru and Ross use beer yeast — a choice rooted in their brewing background that has become part of Honeytree’s identity.

"We were much more familiar with beer yeast as we were commercial brewers at the time. We find that beer yeast is a much better companion for honey as it leaves behind more of the honey flavor after fermentation, fermentation is faster and more stable, the yeast is made right down the street by our friends at Bootleg Biology along with many other reasons. We wanted to change the game with mead and make a totally different, much more accessible product and we think beer yeast is the key."

The result is a mead that’s flavorful, approachable, and deeply connected to Nashville’s brewing scene.

Just as important is their commitment to sourcing exclusively from Tennessee beekeepers.

"Tennessee is world renowned for honey and we want to showcase that in our product. Connecting people to products that are made from ingredients that came from their area helps connect them to the land and hopefully makes them think a bit more about protecting it and keeping it safe."

Honeytree keeps the process transparent, using real honey from real keepers they know. Mead is its own category — naturally gluten free, low to zero sugar, and one of the most bioavailable alcohols on the market — and Dru embraces the educational role that comes with that.

Built Through Hard Times

Honeytree’s beginning was anything but simple. They opened just in time for the 2020 tornado and then the pandemic.

What kept them going was the combination of necessity and Nashville’s overwhelming support.

"Well to be honest - we sank our entire life savings into Honeytree so we had no other choice but to keep moving forward lol. But aside from that, the incredible outpouring of support from the community. This community came together like nothing we had ever seen before and it was truly inspiring to see. We never had a thought of giving up, we doubled down and would do it again in a heartbeat."

That relationship with the city remains at the center of Honeytree’s identity.

When guests walk through the door, Dru hopes they leave with something deeper than a good drink.

"That they found a safe place with good people making the best products possible with the best ingredients possible and to experience the feeling of being welcomed home!"

What’s Next for Honeytree

Right now, Dru is most energized by growth and long-term plans finally coming to life.

"The fact that we are growing! We are working hard to bring new products to new markets all over the state and eventually the rest of the country! We have a few things in the works that have been in process for years and seeing it all come together is going to be so amazing :)"

And through it all, Nashville remains the heartbeat.

"It is a big city with little town vibes, everyone knows everyone and that is an amazing feeling. Helps you get through the hard times knowing that you have such an incredible city full of artists and entrepreneurs alongside you."

Dru’s list of local favorites includes Stoke Haus for barbecue, Shelby Park, and the Greenway Trail. And for fans of Bad Luck Burger Club, he’s loyal to the classic.

"After all these years it is still the classic Bad Luck Burger with a side of tots and Lucky Sauce, you just can’t beat it!"

Cheers to Dru and the Honeytree Hive

Honeytree Meadery is more than a place to grab a drink. It’s a home for community, a celebration of Tennessee beekeepers, and a modern approach to one of the world’s oldest beverages.

Support Honeytree’s Food Drive and Follow Their Work

Earlier this year, when SNAP cuts were threatened, Honeytree launched a food drive to support families across Nashville. They are collecting shelf stable items such as canned soups, beans, baby food, pasta, rice, peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal, protein bars, applesauce, jerky, and similar essentials. Donations can be dropped off at Honeytree Meadery at 918 Woodland Street, where the team delivers items to local organizations serving neighbors in need.

This effort reflects the same spirit Dru described throughout our conversation — community first, care always, and the belief that small actions can make a real difference. Honeytree has stepped up for tornado relief, hurricane relief, conservation fundraisers, and Pride events. Their food drive is another example of showing up when it matters.

If you want to follow Honeytree’s releases, events, and advocacy work, give them a follow  online.