Got some extra tincture lying around and not too sure what to do with it? Try a cannabis cocktail! While the current cannabis market primary focus on smokables, vapables, and edibles, the idea of “drinkables” has not permeated the market in the same way.
The benefits are clear; drinkables have a quicker delivery time and don’t require the stomach space that are endemic to edibles while saving our our lungs and esophagous from the dangers of inhaling smoke or vapor.
Why have “drinkables” not had the same success? It’s due to a combination of lack of shelf space, lack of shelf life, the need for refridgeration, and history of skeptism about “marijuana tea”. Got some tincture? Got some glasses and some booze? Get ready for a unique experience; cannabis cocktails!
1) The James Bong
Here’s a trick question: “what makes the classic James Bond cocktail?”. If you gave a long list of obscure, out of production ingredients than congradulations; you either read the novels, had a trip to the Schlithorn, or saw 2006’s “Casino Royale”. For the rest of us, the classic James Bond drink is simple: “Vodka martini; shaken, not stirred”. So, what’s our update for this simple recipe? Appropriately simple; add some tincture!
James Bong
Ingredients:
- Ice
- Vodka
- Tincture
Recipe:
- Fill shaker with ice
- Pour Vodka to fill 3/4 of shaker
- Add tincture
- Shake and pour
The James Bong is a potent cocktail appreciated best after a long, stressful day of espionage. For the rest of us, it’s a great way to relax and feel a little bit of sophistication. Vodka doesn’t have much of a flavor of it’s own and the ice will give it a smooth delivery; if you have a flavorful tincture than this is the drink to make! Enjoy this cocktail any time of the year when you want just one, powerful drinkl.
Bonus: add a little sake, soju, vermouth, or any other martini add-on to add a little variation!
2) The Mendocino Mule
The classic “Moscow Mule” simple; pour a “Cock ’n Bull” ginger ale and add a shot of vodka! Wanna give it a southern flair? Substitute vodka for some Jack Daniel’s and you’ve got yourself a “Tenessee Mule”! Wanna give your ginger ale a cannabis twist? Try our “Mendocino Mule”; equally perfect for a hot summer day, a cold winter night, or anything in between!
Mendocino Mule
Ingredients:
- Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer
- Ice
- Tincture
Recipe:
- Fill glass or mug with ice.
- Fill glass/mug with ginger ale/beer
- Add tincture.
Cock ’n Bull is a classic ginger beer that trademarked the “Moscow Mule”; it’s bitter taste and relatively low sugar levels make it a great beverage for adults as it is and also makes it a great mixer for alcohol or cannabis. Try substituting other high end ginger ales or ginger beers to find your favorite combination; try the Detroit favorite, Vernor’s, if you are on a budget but can’t stand the sweetness of your standard ginger ales and feel free to add a little vodka or Tennessee Whiskey for an extra kick.
Bonus: Ginger ale is easy to make at home; all you need is ginger, sugar, yeast, water, and a few glass jars!
3) The NorCal Indica IPA
Cannabis is closely related to hops, California style Indian pale ales (IPA’s) are famous for being very hoppy, both are closely identified with Northern Californian culture; if there is an official beverage of NorCal, this is it!
Ingredients:
- A Northern Californian Indian Pale Ale (the higher the hops, the better)
- Tincture
Recipe:
- Pour IPA into a chilled mug
- Add tincture
Sierra Nevada’s “Torpedo” or Bear Republic’s “Racer 5” are two readily available, hoppy IPA’s and either one would work as a great introduction to this NorCal combination.
4) The Sonoma Coma Chardonnay
Sonoma Coma is a strain of cannabis that originated in Sonoma County, home of numerous wineries and some of the best chardonnays in the country; the two make a natural pairing for relaxing on a nice summer afternoon.
Ingredients:
- an inexpensive chardonnay
- tincture
Recipe:
- Pour a glass of chardonnay
- Add tincture
Sonoma Coma has become a hard-to-find strain so feel free to use any strain you have available. Chardonnay is a “daytime” wine so it is natural to pair it with a sativa but any hybrid or indica will work well. Oak barrel chardonnay will have a buttery, creamy feel while the modern steel barrel chardonnay will highlight its more fruity aspects; pick whatever suits your palette!
5) The Sativa Peach Soju
Soju is a Korean rice wine (similar to Japanese sake) that is becoming vey popular in cities throughout the US and is commonly used as a substitute for vodka in restaurants that don’t have a hard-liquor license. Chum-Churum makes a peach flavored soju that blends very well with tincture and, like chardonnay, makes a great afternoon beverage on hot summer day and goes great with an uplifting sativa.
Ingredients:
- Chum-Churum Peach Soju (chilled)
- Tincture
Recipe:
- Pour a glass of peach soju
- Add Tincture
If needed, Chum-Churum Peach Soju can be purchased online but there will be a mark-up; check your local Asian markets (even better, a Korean market if you have one) to see if they carry it and you’ll save quite a bit of money while having an adventure in your own hometown!
6) Bonus: Tea and Tincture
While not really a cocktail due the lack of alcohol, the combination of tea and tincture is another cannabis beverage worth including in this list. What’s great about tea and tincture is that you can adapt it for any time of the day; green or black tea with sativa in the morning, a fruity tisane paired with a hybrid strain for a relaxing afternoon, or a cbn tincture paired with chamomile for a good night’s sleep. Tea and tincture is versatile!
Ingredients:
- Tea or tisane (herbal tea)
- Tincture
- Honey or Sugar to taste
Recipe:
- Boil Water
- Steep Tea
- Add Tincture
Like wine, the flavor of tea will be affected by the tincture so it’s generally best to use an inexpensive brand. Pay attention to your steeping times; it’s easy to over-steep a green or white tea and the results can give you a stomach ache! A little sugar or honey can sweeten up the flavor but beware of adding mild or cream as the alcohol-based tincture can make the dairy curdle. Pair your cannabis-tea with your favorite record or book and enjoy some time to yourself.
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