You’ve heard of CBD coffee, right? Well, now it’s time for CBD cocktails! Impress your guests with some flavorsome cocktails spiked with wonderful CBD!

Cannabis cocktails!? Learn why some of the US’ trendiest bars infuse CBD into new alcoholic drink mixes – and why customers love them!

Cannabis use has increased and is more socially acceptable across the United States. As a result, you can buy ready-made CBD cocktails in some bars!

Cocktails are a great way to let yourself relax and unwind, and the same can be said for CBD. Surely, this is a match made in heaven! You might have a lot of questions about CBD cocktails right now. Don’t worry; we’ll explain absolutely everything you need to know about them right here. We have also included some handy CBD cocktail recipes for your next party.

What Are CBD Infused Cocktails?

First, let’s talk a little about cannabidiol before we jump right into the benefits of CBD cocktails. Called CBD for short, cannabidiol is one of the active compounds in the Cannabis sativa plant. You might know a bit about CBD already, but here are the basics if you don’t.

cbd-cocktail-recipes

When you consume CBD, no matter what form it comes in, it interacts with a system in your body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is full of cannabinoid receptors, which can react to the effects of any cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are the active compounds in cannabis.

All cannabinoids behave differently, but CBD is unique in that it doesn’t bond directly with the cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it encourages the body to create internal cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids), which naturally bind with receptors.

CBD encourages the production of naturally-occurring endocannabinoids in the body. These crucial compounds maintain all aspects of balance and homeostasis.

The Importance of the ECS

Ultimately, it is believed that the ECS is responsible for maintaining homeostasis and keeping our body in balance. By taking CBD, you can ensure that the ECS works in top form, creating sufficient endocannabinoids to keep us healthy.

The ECS can influence things like sleep, mood, and pain. Therefore, taking CBD can help regulate all these different functions. This is why many people manage the symptoms of various conditions.

As for CBD cocktails, they’re exactly what they sound like: cocktails that have CBD in them! If you’ve ever taken a sublingual CBD oil, you’ll know that the taste isn’t all that pleasant. However, the unusual, earthy notes in CBD can be complementary to certain types of alcohol.

We know what you’re thinking, though – should you combine a cannabinoid with alcohol? Let’s take a look.

CBD and Alcohol: What You Need to Know

Since CBD is taken to reduce the symptoms of certain conditions, it can act like a medication. If you are taking certain pharmaceutical meds, CBD could negatively interact with them due to its inhibition of certain enzymes. Many medications require you to avoid alcohol.

As a result, it’s reasonable to wonder whether you can drink while taking CBD – or even mix the two in a CBD cocktail. You’ve probably heard it’s a bad idea to mix cannabis and alcohol. Therefore, wouldn’t CBD-infused cocktails be a no-go?

You’ve probably heard it’s a bad idea to mix cannabis and alcohol. Therefore, wouldn’t CBD-infused cocktails be a no-go?

Some studies have suggested that CBD can reduce dependency and addiction to other substances, including alcohol. For example, a study conducted by Liput et al. in 2013 administered CBD to rodents that were addicted to alcohol. The researchers found that cannabidiol reduced the dependency and alcoholism of the rodents. Furthermore, it prevented alcohol-induced neurodegeneration.

But this study only explains what happens if you take CBD as an alcoholic or after you have been drinking. What about if you take both at the same time?

Studies on CBD and Alcohol

In 1979, a study was published in Psychopharmacology that investigated the interaction between CBD and alcohol, this time on humans. It was a double-blind study involving placebos and ten healthy volunteers.

The results found that motor impairment and other alcohol intoxication effects occurred when alcohol was administered alone and when alcohol was administered with CBD. However, when administered with CBD, the individuals experienced significantly lower blood alcohol levels.

What this all means is that, yes, it’s perfectly safe to drink alcohol with CBD. It seems the two go rather well together – as it means you probably won’t get too intoxicated and embarrass yourself!

Where Can I Get CBD Infused Cocktails?

In states where cannabis is widely accepted, you’ll likely see a high prevalence of CBD cocktails. Unfortunately, in 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that banned CBD cocktails in the state. You can still make them at home, but public establishments are technically prohibited from selling them. Many still do, but that’s a discussion for another time and place.

DID YOU KNOW? CBD cocktails are already popping up in popular bars throughout the U.S.!

In other states, CBD-laden alcoholic beverages are already well-established. New York’s Bar Belly, for example, allows you to add CBD to any cocktails on the menu for an extra $2. And at Narcbar, there is a specially designed CBD cocktail called Matcha Haze, a cocktail infused with 5 mg of CBD froth on top. There are also plenty of other places to try out in NYC and beyond.

Of course, if you’re not up for searching for the perfect CBD cocktail bar, then you can make cocktails at home!

Tips for Making CBD-Infused Cocktails

Before we get into some recipes for CBD drinks, here are some general tips to keep in mind:

TIPS FOR MAKING THE PERFECT CBD DRINK (OR FANCY CBD COCKTAIL!)

TIP	DESCRIPTION
Start small!	Remember that CBD and alcohol both affect everyone differently. It’s best to go slow at first just to ensure that you can handle it.
Use a suspended tincture	If you can get your hands on a tincture – where the CBD is suspended in alcohol instead of oil – it will blend seamlessly into your cocktail! CBD oil does still work, though, especially if the drink is foamy.
Dose low!	Keep the CBD dose fairly low. Although it is safe to mix CBD with alcohol, it’s still not a good idea to go overboard. Stick to around 15 mg or less per session (don’t put 15 mg in every cocktail and drink 8 cocktails!)
Add ingredients wisely	With the unique flavor of CBD, ingredients with similar qualities pair with it best. Try hops, basil, mint, and matcha. The stronger the better.
What liquor should you use?	Alcohols like gin and amaro-based spirits are delicious with CBD. Gin actually includes natural terpenes, just like cannabis!

The Best CBD Infused Cocktail Recipes

Now that you know a little about making CBD-infused cocktails, you can try out some of your own! Here are three world-class recipes to get started. Each recipe makes one drink.