Getting your drink on for Labor Day is as American as unfriending people on Facebook for not having the same opinions and punching out stand-up comics for, well, the same thing.
As we head to the official end-of-summer blowout, we wanted to share some great cannabis cocktail recipes as well as great drinks that stand out as something to check out.
As you know edibles are “so 2021,” 2022 is the year of the drinkable, as science and the mainstream liquor and beverage industry start to blur the line in their differences.
MXXN Non-Alcoholic Spirits
There’s no better example than MXXN (pronounced Moon, because, why not). MXXNs’ tagline is “The Galaxies First Cannabis-Infused Non-Alcoholic Spirits.”
Until Jeff Bezos can get us to Mars, we will have to call that a fact. What’s even more important is the amazing leap that MXXN has taken the cannabis industry forward with its “spirits, “ evolving cocktail culture to the next level.
What is MXXN? Tequila, Bourbon and Gin, that taste like Tequila, Bourbon and Gin. That’s the magic ticket, in the past drinkables have tasted “weedy.” MXXN tastes like its alcoholic-based brethren, but with not a drop of booze in it.
Now, you need a “hook up” in California to get a bottle, because it’s only available there, for the moment, but if you do, MXXN won’t let you down. They also have a selection of recipes you can make here. Here are a few of our favorites.
MXXN Margarita
- 1 oz MXXN Jalisco Agave
- 2 oz lime
- .5 oz simple syrup
Lychee MXXN Martini
- 1 oz MXXN London Dry
- 2oz Lychee Puree
- 1 tbsp Simple Syrup
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- Top with soda water
Ginger MXXN
- 1 oz MXXN Kentucky Oak
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ½ cup ginger beer
This one is our own recipe:
The Dirty Chuck
- shot of MXXN Bourbon,
- top with CANN Cannabis Infused Lemon Lavender Tonic
- Squeeze in a lime
- Top with a mint
- Serve over ice.
Speaking of CANN, or CANN Cannabis Infused Tonic, which is supposedly a favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow, CANN has 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD in each can. It offers fun, light flavors like Lemon Lavender, Blood Orange, and Grapefruit Rosemary.
Don’t take our word for it, here’s what Rebel Wilson has to say about CANN, “CANN is perfect when you’re having a dinner party and you want to serve an adult drink that is healthy and has natural ingredients.” So there you go.
A 6-pack is $24 they have a large selection of flavors. Plus, their powered Roadies are easy to travel with and mix up at your favorite spot.
Proof Syrup
Born of the idea that cocktails should be easy and tasty, Proof Syrup is an all-natural cocktail syrup that goes great with traditional alcohol and pairs perfectly with MXXN, CANN, and Select Squeeze.
There is no THC in Proof, but what they do have is years of experience, all-natural ingredients, and an amazing selection of flavors to choose from: Margarita, Mojito, Maple Bacon Old Fashioned, and many more.
This isn’t some goopy, sugary, syrup you buy by the jug full and slap a Kirkland sticker on the side. Born down in Georgia in 2014, Proof uses only use the best ingredients available, like the world’s best aromatic bitters, top-quality citrus oils, and organic cane sugar. They source the finest, freshest all-natural ingredients and you can taste the difference.
It makes cocktailing easy. Check out the long list of cocktail options here.
Klaus
Author of the book Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics, Warren Bobrow has launched a great-tasting, new, cannabis-infused beverage: Klaus.
A large amount of the focus has been on innovations in technology or branding. Instead, Bobrow is looking to score one for the mixologists.
We tested out Mezzrole, a refreshing beverage that features a terpene-forward 10 mg THC infusion per can, only 16 calories, and less than 1g of sugar per serving.
Bobrow, aka the Cocktail Whisperer says, “I think it’s important that if you are going to have a well-balanced drink, you have to involve people who do this for a living. ”You need to use people who know about balance and flavor and taste and speed and efficiency, and not making it a garbage pail with 1,800 ingredients that don’t jive.”
Part of Klaus’ premium positioning is its use of an emulsion derived from live resin and a form of concentrate made from fresh-frozen cannabis flower, maintaining the integrity of the plant species’ unique terpene profile. The use of the Hippie Crasher strain in each drink, Bobrow says, gives bright citrus notes.
All that is to say, Klaus is unique, tasty, and at $14 it’s worth a try.
Select Squeeze
A user-friendly alternative to most other drinkables, Select Squeeze is a 5mg THC beverage enhancer. Squeeze a serving into a glass of your favorite beverage, anything from water to one of these tasty recipes.
The Dude Squeezetini
- 5 mg Squeeze Hint of Sweet
- 1.5 oz light cream
- 2 oz cream soda
- 1 oz coffee syrup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- Garnish with brown sugar
Dip the rim of your martini glass in water and coat it with brown sugar. Add light cream to the glass. Add your Squeeze and syrup. Slowly top off with cream soda. The Dude abides.
Blood Orange Fizz
- 5 mg Squeeze Watermelon
- 2 oz blood orange nectar
- 1.5 oz seltzer or ginger ale
- .5 oz simple syrup
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves
Maraschino Cherry for garnish
Mix blood orange nectar and basil-infused simple syrup. Pour over ice. Add seltzer and your Squeeze. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
Cucumber Cooler
- 5 mg of Squeeze Lemon and Lime
- 1.5 oz club soda
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- .5 oz simple syrup
- 4-5 slices of muddled cucumber
Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the cucumber and syrup in a glass. Add into shaker with club soda and lime juice. Pour over ice and add Squeeze.
Cranberry Squeezeade
- 5 mg Squeeze Strawberry and Lemon
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1.5 oz seltzer
- 1-2 splashes of lemonade
- Sliced strawberry (optional)
- Fresh cranberries
Pour cranberry juice over ice. Add lemonade, Squeeze, and slowly top off with seltzer. Garnish with fruit.
NOTE– No writers were harmed in the research and writing of this story, but we sure tried. Cheers.
