DRINK HIT

You don’t need booze for a drink to pack a familiar flavor punch—these cannabis-infused beverages prove there’s plenty for wine, beer and spirit lovers to enjoy without the traditional proof.

WORDS Kathleen Willcox

Bar culture has been with us for a very long time. Researchers have recently discovered in modern-­day Iraq what could be the world’s oldest known tavern, dating to 2700 BCE; when it was open, it was located in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash.

But how bar culture presents itself­ varies considerably from place to place. Picture a natural wine bar in Brooklyn; now a classic pub in London; finally, a cocktail emporium in Barcelona. Very different atmospheres, music and décor likely spring to mind. Perhaps (but not necessarily) a different clientele.

But they all have several things in common. They serve alcohol made by producers crafting wines, beers and spirits that echo libations first created millennia ago; the drinks are poured and presented by bartenders; and they are consumed (ideally) with a sense of release, yes, but also with communion and conviviality in mind.

Cannabis culture, meanwhile, also has a rich history, though ways to enjoy the plant have mostly been centered around smoking it. Now, the scene has evolved and brought in new forms of consumables, including beverages.
An increasing number of cannabev producers are making­ libations that echo and honor classic drinks culture—­especially­ in the cocktail arena. And many industry pros are leading the charge in embracing the movement as a way to have their cake and eat it, too. (And even, perhaps, without paying for it the next day.)

“I’ve been exploring cannabis drinks for a little while now, and I enjoy the way they bridge drinks and cannabis culture,” says Melissa Smith, founder of Enotrias Elite Sommelier Services. “I like the sense of relaxation you get with a low-dose cannabis drink, while still having the experience of enjoying a cocktail in a social setting or with a meal.”

Smith says that cannabis drinks have become, in many cases, her Tuesday night drink of choice, and as with wines, her favorite producers align with her values and palate.

“Cann is the first one I really got into,” she confesses. “The little cans with two milligram dosage of THC and four milligrams of CBD total is perfect for me.”

Smith also loves the flavors, like Blood Orange Cardamom, with juicy-bright, lightly spiced flavors.

“My favorite for food pairing is Find Wunder,” says Smith. “They have a little viscosity and sweetness that delivers the body that you need to pair them with food.”

But her favorite to share with friends is Artet.

“It feels like the one that is most cocktail-like, because it was made like a fine gin or amaro, with botanicals,” she says. “It also comes with a shot glass so you can measure the dosage [2.5 milligrams of THC per 50 milliliter pour]. I like to drink it by itself as an aperitif, or in non-alcoholic cocktails. This is my favorite one to play with and serve to friends.”

MXXN, a cannabis-infused spirit, is another traditional beverage alcohol (bevalc) emulation sans the proof but with all the fun and flavor. The recipes were honed to perfection thanks to input from a cavalry of traditional spirit, bar and hospitality pros, made to be enjoyed neat, in a cocktail or anything else in between. Sipping on the brand’s Jalisco Agave, Kentucky Oak or London Dry selections, you’d be hard-pressed to realize it was anything but the “real” thing you’d always known those category offerings to be and express.

Plain Jane water may not call for a culture of ritual and gathering, but drinking anything uplifting—alcohol, but also coffee, tea and now cannabis—is ultimately more enjoyable and healthful when done in moderation, with food and friends. There are more options than ever for every type of drinks enthusiast, and an increasing number of bars and lounges are bringing cannabis cocktails to the fore.

Thirsty for more? Check out a few other wine, beer and cocktail-like cannabis alternatives. But a quick note: Dosages vary product to product and serving to serving, but generally come in between 2.5 milligrams and 10 milligrams of THC. Thanks to advances in technology, beverages are now faster absorbed into our systems, meaning onset can typically be felt in around 15 minutes and remain for up to an hour, much like an alcoholic drink. Also like alcohol, tolerance levels can be wildly different from person to person, so it’s best to start low and slow until you know what your own tolerance Goldilocks looks like. Yet for context, some might consider the buzz of 2.5 milligrams of THC equivalent to glass of wine.

Squier’s Specialty Elixirs

A cannabis-­infused drinks mixer made from 100-percent real fruit, organic blue agave, fresh citrus and live hash rosin for the elixirs. The hash rosin delivers fruity, piney terpenes that mimic the flavors in a funky craft cocktail. Founder Zach Squier wanted to provide a customizable mixer, so drinks lovers could sip it however they liked, with any sparkling or still beverage, hot, room temperature or iced.

House of Saka

Headquartered in the Napa Valley, House of Saka is made with local grapes and infused with cannabis. The brand’s “vinfusions” are alcohol-free and come in three varieties: White, Pink and Spark Mimosa. The experience of sipping Saka is akin to that of enjoying wine—they are fruit-forward and bright, with the white offering­ rich, creamy tropical flavors, the pink bursting with strawberry and honeysuckle, and the mimosa delivering orange blossom and tangerine.

Herbacée

This botanical-driven, cannabis-­infused non-­alcoholic wine line created by the author of multiple cannabis books and “The Herb Somm” herself, Jamie Evans, is inspired by Bordeaux, Champagne, Provence and other French wine regions. The Sparkling Rosier is made from Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault wine grapes and pours out sunset-pink, with notes of cherry, lime and grapefruit in a zesty, bright sip.

Pamos

This cannabis-infused cocktail-in-a-can offers alcohol-free, flavorful and fun takes on ready-to-drink spritzes—think Tropical Mai Tai, Raspberry Long Island Ice Tea and Bellini Spritzes. They are light and bright, ideal for long summer nights with friends when you want a laid-back (but not too mellow) scene.

Inde Local

This alcohol-free Good Wave West Coast Golden Ale is crisp, refreshing and potent, with 10 milligrams of hemp-derived THC per 12-ounce can. Brewed through fermentation without alcohol (not dealcoholized like some other NA beers), it’s crushable and perfect for late nights, concerts and kicking the party up a notch.