Elevating the Bar

Featured Articles, Infused

Courtesy Pamos

Take your bar cart arsenal to new heights with the next wave of cannabis-infused selections for your sipping pleasure.

WORDS Lauren Buzzeo

It’san exciting time to be a drinks lover, with so many wonderful options available for palates and preferences of all kinds. And awesomely, we’ve all become somewhat accustomed to the idea of stocking our bar with a range of generally tried-and-true classics to share said variety at any given time.

But these days, to truly offer a delicious drop for anyone and everyone, it’s time to raise the bar beyond the exclusivity of proofed options with a broader range of social sips and newer-to-market alcoholic-beverage alternatives.

Enter infused spirits. Instead of relying on alcohol for social sipping pleasure, these selections turn to cannabis instead, offering a low-dose THC-based alternative to get your vibe on in a familiar look, feel and format. And thanks to production advancements, they now offer this consistently with rapid on- and off-set times that mimic the pacing of imbibing an alcoholic beverage.

Elevate your cocktail experience with these three versatile bottlings, all ready to be shipped to your door and mixed in your go-to drink tonight.

A white barcart with a bottle of Nowadays, cocktail glasses, a gold shaker, tongs and books

Courtesy Nowadays

NOWADAYS

Get ready to get your infused drink on—however you see fit.

Nowadays aims to be the go-to option for those looking for a refreshing THC fix in the format and flavor of their choosing. The clear, lightly flavored sip can be considered the vodka of the cannabis-infused spirit world: it’s subtle in taste, void of color and can be mixed into just about any other liquid.

On top of that, Nowadays is now available in a range of strengths, from the Micro Dose bottling with two milligrams of THC per serving to Low Dose at five milligrams and up to 10 milligrams with the High Dose option, allowing people to be comfortable and confident in their Goldilocks infusion of choice.

The possibilities are near endless, and people are here for it.

“Our products resonate well with individuals seeking both a controlled and enjoyable alternative to traditional alcohol, appealing to diverse demographics,” says cofounder and CEO Justin Tidwell. “Initially, we targeted a younger demographic—primarily Gen-Z and Millennial women who are 21-plus—expecting that they would be the primary consumers of Nowadays. However, what we saw was truly crazy—the customer base spanned a much broader age range and demographic than anticipated.”

The data supports the idea that as consumers’ needs are changing, so will the adult beverage landscape.

“The stigma surrounding cannabis is fading, and it’s exciting to see such wide-ranging interest within this new category and to help reshape how people approach wellness and leisure,” says Tidwell.

An orange tray set on a blue table and backdrop with a bottle of Reframe Cannabis Spirit and two cocktail glasses with drinks in them.

Courtesy Reframe

REFRAME CANNABIS SPIRIT

The new kid on the infused-spirit block, Reframe launched in October 2024 with the goal of “reframing” the way people approach drinking and socializing, promoting a refined alternative to traditional alcohol adult-beverages for modern consumers looking for a light buzz without the proof.

“The demand for infused options has been incredibly validating—people are genuinely excited about a mindful drinking experience that’s alcohol-free,” says Dylan Roukous, who cofounded the brand with Jake MacDowell and Justin Buchanan.

Beverage industry veterans with over a decade of experience, the trio of cofounders first launched Zest, a line of citrus vodkas that boast lower alcohol content than traditional bottlings, before venturing into the infused beverage space.

“With Zest, we intentionally opted for a lower alcohol content of 20 percent [alcohol-by-volume, or ABV], recognizing that people, especially younger generations, want to enjoy a drink or take a shot without the intensity of a full-proof spirit,” says Roukous. “It’s about allowing people to have fun and socialize in a more balanced way. As we saw this trend growing, moving into the infused beverage space with Reframe felt like a natural next step.”

With a delicate herbal-citrus impression on the nose and palate, Reframe offers a highly versatile solution to various mixology needs. It’s made with natural ingredients, including organic hemp-derived THC from California and organic fruit flavors, which the brand intends to continue utilizing for the foreseeable future.

Additionally, for complete transparency, certificates of authenticity (COAs) for all batches are shared online, a point of importance to the brand in an effort to further champion awareness and education of the infused category and its products.

“We believe it’s crucial for people to know exactly what they’re consuming—whether it’s an infused beverage or a traditional spirit, transparency builds trust,” says Roukous. “By sharing each batch’s COA, we’re inviting consumers to feel confident in our quality and commitment to safety. It’s about setting a standard in the infused drink space, giving people the peace of mind that they’re enjoying something that’s been rigorously tested and crafted with care.”

“We created our Spirit to measure by the 1.5-ounce shot, just like alcohol, and you can swap Pamos into any cocktail recipe you already know and love so it will be familiar, but with THC instead of alcohol.”

David Mukpo

Cofounder and CEO, Pamos Cannabis Cocktails & Spirits

PAMOS SPIRIT

As one of the early cannabis-infused “spirits” to market, Pamos is considered an OG in the elevated bar game.

“The Pamos Spirit was one of the first of its kind when we launched and for anything new, education is paramount,” says David Mukpo, cofounder and CEO of Pamos Cannabis Cocktails & Spirits. “We’ve been blown away by how quickly it’s been adopted by our new audiences and has been highly regarded in the various spaces we’ve entered, whether on- or off-premise.”

The non-alcoholic Pamos Spirit offers a flavor profile loaded with citrus and ripe stone-fruit characteristics that are balanced by aromatic herb and spice tones. Along with hemp-derived THC, making it available to a larger distribution network, the drink is also infused with CBD and plant terpenes for a nice entourage effect.

While enjoyable neat, Pamos is strongly positioned as a mixable agent that represents the convergence of cocktail culture and cannabis culture, with informational resources and recipes online and in bottle-necker tags for user reference.

“We created our Spirit to measure by the 1.5-ounce shot, just like alcohol, and you can swap Pamos into any cocktail recipe you already know and love so it will be familiar, but with THC instead of alcohol,” says Mukpo.

A cocktail table by a pool with glasses filled with a yellow cocktail and a bottle of Pamos Spirit on it

Courtesy Pamos

In a similar vein of comfort and accessibility, Pamos Spirit is available in varying doses, including two milligrams, five milligrams and 10 milligrams of THC per serving, and the brand also now offers four ready-to-drink canned infused cocktails in familiar adult-beverage flavors: Peach & Guava Bellini, Strawberry Margarita, Raspberry Long Island Iced Tea and Tropical Mai Tai.

“It’s been fantastic to see the initial success in bars and restaurants due to how easily cannabis beverages can fit into the existing framework,” says Mukpo. “We believe that the industry is just scratching the surface for on-premise consumption, but it is about timing and making sure the right industry infrastructure is in place to ensure consumers have a responsible and safe experience.”

Cover art from Winter 2024 Issue of Full Pour

This article was published in the Winter 2024 issue of Full Pour. Don’t own it? Pick one up today!