7 Simple Cocktails with CBD Or THC

Cocktails plus CBD? Sign me up! Who’s ready for another blog with fun drink recipes that include CBD (or THC, if you’re feeling frisky)! In this blog you’ll find recipes for 7 easy to make cocktails that you can either add an oil to or even use your homemade simple syrup with CBD or THC - we’ll show you how to make it below.

If you’d like to read more on mixing CBD and alcohol, check out our blog here, plus recipes for a Dirty Martini, Gin & Tonic, and Moscow Mule.  

Oils vs Tinctures

The difference between oils and tinctures is strictly what the base component is. Usually CBD/THC oils are made with a carrier oil, such as MCT. Whereas CBD/THC tinctures are alcohol-based. There are really no big differences in how they make you feel and when creating your simple syrup, they should react the same and mix well, due to the vegetable glycerin (you’ll see later). 

When it comes to oil and tincture products, some may be labeled as the other (ya, it’s confusing for us, too!). So if you’re looking at a CBD oil but there’s no carrier oil in it and you see “alcohol” in it, then it’s probably technically a tincture, just labeled differently. If you’re sensitive to alcohol, just look through the ingredients or lab results in your product. 

Whichever type you choose is up to you, but when it comes down to it, there’s not a huge difference that you’d be able to tell. Just choose the product you like. There are tons of flavors and strengths in both oils and tinctures. It just depends on your personal preference.

How To Make CBD/THC Simple Syrup

If you’d like to make your own CBD/THC-infused simple syrup at home, you’ve come to the right place. Listed below are two recipes, one is using dried flower and the other using oil or tinctures. You can also add different ingredients to create flavored simple syrups. Just don’t forget to strain them very carefully! Here are some flavor ideas for your simple syrup; 

• Mint
• Lemon
• Orange
• Vanilla
• Ginger
• Strawberry
• Jalapeno
• Coconut
• Blueberry 
• Blackberry

Feel free to experiment on your own with different ingredients and even try mixing some of your favorites! 

Simple Syrup Recipe Using Dried Flower

*This recipe makes approximately 24 doses. Depending on your personal preference.

Ingredients 

• 3 cups water
• 4 grams dried flower, chopped fine
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp vegetable glycerin

Make It

1. Bring the water to a low boil. 
2. Slowly add the dried flower, stirring frequently.
3. Next, add the sugar, stirring to dissolve.
4. Now you can add any other flavors or ingredients you’d like.
5. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes, covered.
6. Stir in the vegetable glycerin. Reduce heat to low and let cook for about 10 minutes.
7. Remove from heat.
8. Strain mixture through a strainer (or cheesecloth). 
9. Allow to fully cool. 
10. Store the syrup in a tightly sealed glass container in the refrigerator. 

Simple Syrup Recipe Using Oil/Tinctures

*This recipe makes approximately 24 doses. Depending on your personal preference.

Ingredients 

• 3 cups water
• 3 mg of CBD/THC oil/tincture
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp vegetable glycerin

Make It

1. Bring the water to a low boil. 
2. Next, add the sugar, stirring to dissolve.
3. Now you can add any other flavors or ingredients you’d like.
4. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes, covered.
5. Stir in the vegetable glycerin. Reduce heat to low and let cook for about 8-10 minutes.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Strain mixture through a strainer (or cheesecloth). 
8. Stir in the CBD/THC oil/tincture, mixing until fully integrated.
9. Allow to fully cool. 
10. Store the syrup in a tightly sealed glass container in the refrigerator. 

Some Tips

• The reason for the vegetable glycerin is because it has fat properties and the cannabinoids will bind to the fats, it will help thicken your syrup and help emulsify your simple syrup. 
• If you’d like to maximize the effects of your flower, you can decarb it first, which just means you break apart the flower and low roast it like you would other herbs and spices. This technique isn’t necessary if you are using an oil or tincture.
• With proper storage (tightly sealed glass container, in the refrigerator) your simple syrup can last up to 3 months. 
• You can use these simple syrups in any cocktail recipe that calls for simple syrup. Or, heck, try them in any drink you’d like. You can even add these syrups into coffee, onto your pancakes and waffles, pour over cake, add to non-alcoholic drinks, and more!
• When using oils or tinctures, try playing with the different flavors you can find in these oils and tinctures.

Proper Dosing

Dosing your simple syrup or even your oil dosage to add into your cocktails can be quite tricky. In the previous simple syrup recipes, the dried flower and oil dose is what a “normal” dose is. Though, everyone is different, so what works for the “norm” might not work for you. The best way to figure out your own dose is to start low and work your way up. Experimentation is your best bet to figuring out how much CBD or THC you want in your drinks or simple syrup. 

With your simple syrup, try different batches of different doses of oil and dried flower. If you want to make smaller batches, just cut the other ingredients evenly and keep the oil or flower the same or add more or add less. If you’re just adding oil right into your drink, try different doses every time you make a drink, just remember if you’re using THC, the effects will take a little while to hit you, so wait 45 minutes to 1 hour before trying another. Also note that you are drinking alcohol! Only drink what you’re comfortable with.

If you’re looking to start microdosing, adding your oil or flower into drinks might help you on your way! Check out our blog on how to start microdosing here. 

Read our full guide on CBD oil dosing here. 

7 Simple CBD [or THC] Cocktails

While there are plenty of fun cocktails out there, I’ve gathered 7 of my favorite cocktails that you can make using your newly-made CBD or THC simple syrup or you can add CBD/THC oil straight into the drink. 

1. Whiskey Sour 

*Something easy and strong to start, but delicious and cuts the strong alcohol taste. Be warned, there are egg whites in this drink.

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 1 ½ parts whiskey/bourbon
• 1 part lemon juice
• ¾ part CBD/THC simple syrup
• ⅓ part egg white
• 1 whole cherry (or however many you want, add more, you know you want to)
• 1 lemon slice

Make It

1. Fill a shaker with ice cubes. 
2. Add all of the ingredients (told you it was easy!).
3. Shake and strain into a rocks glass (or whatever glass you want).
4. Serve on the rocks (ice) or straight up (no ice).
5. Toss your cherries and lemon slice on top. 
6. Drink!

2. Watermelon Fizzy Punch

*This is a more involved recipe, but I promise, the end result is worth it.

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 1 ½ parts vodka (flavored, if you’d like)
• 3 chunks watermelon (or store bought watermelon juice)
• 1 ½ parts lemon juice
• ½ part CBD/THC simple syrup
• Mint Leaf (as many as you’d like)
• Soda Water (to top it off)

Make It

1. Add the watermelon chunks to a blender and strain into a pitcher. *If you want to use store bought-watermelon juice, skip this part and add your watermelon juice to a pitcher.
2. Pour the vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice to the pitcher. 
3. Top it with soda water. 
4. Serve with mint leaves as garnish (or watermelon, if you want!), in whatever glass you’d like.
5. Drink!

3. Amaretto Sour

*I drank the CRAP out of these when I freshly turned 21. They are too easy to drink. Again, this drink has egg whites.

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 1 part lemon juice
• ⅔ part CBD/THC simple syrup
• ⅓ part egg white
• 1 whole cherry (or like, 3)
• 1 slice of orange

Make It

1. Fill a shaker with the ice cubes.
2. Add all of the ingredients. 
3. Shake and strain into a rocks glass (or whatever glass you’d like). 
4. Garnish with a cherry (or two or three) and an orange slice. 
5. Drink!

4. Aperol Spritz

*This drink is SO TASTY. I strictly drank Aperol Spritzes when I was in Europe. It is a little bitter, but if you want it sweeter, use less Aperol. 

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 1 ½ parts Aperol
• ½ part lemon juice
• Prosecco (to top it off)
• Soda water (also to top off)
• 1 part CBD/THC simple syrup
• 1 lemon slice
• Mint leaves

Make It

1. Fill a glass half way with ice. 
2. Add Aperol, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Give it a stir.
3. Fill the glass almost full with prosecco.
4. Top off with a splash of soda water. 
5. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon slice.
6. Enjoy!

5. French 75

*If you want to impress a guest, this is the classic cocktail to do it! Make it even more impressive by adding a fun lemon twist garnish. Read how to do that here. Which you can do for any cocktail with any citrus; lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and limes.

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 1 part gin
• ½ part lemon juice
• ½ part CBD/THC simple syrup
• Champagne (to top off)
• 1 Lemon twist, for garnish

Make It

1. Fill a shaker with ice cubes. 
2. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake and strain into a champagne flute.
4. Top with champagne.
5. Garnish with lemon twist. 
6. Enjoy!

6. Mojito

*The perfect drink if you hate the taste of alcohol! I could literally drink 33 of these. But I don’t suggest doing that. 

Ingredients

• 8 mint leaves
• ⅔ part CBD/THC simple syrup
• 1 ½ parts ice cubes, crushed (tip: put big ice cubes in a clean kitchen towel, fold towel over, and hit with the back of a knife or meat cleaver - or just go to Sonic drive-thru for their delicious crushed ice)
• 1 part lime juice
• 1 ½ parts light rum
• Soda water (to top off)
• Extra mint leaves, for garnish

Make It

1. Muddle the mint leaves (sans the extras) and the simple syrup in a glass. 
2. Fill with the crushed ice, all the way to the top. 
3. Add lime juice and light rum.
4. Top with soda water.
5. Garnish with the extra mint leaves (or a sprig, if you’re trying to be fancy).
6. Drink!

7. Sazerac

*A perfectly classic and strong drink. Another drink to impress guests, especially if you enjoy the taste of alcohol.

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 2 parts cognac
• ⅓ part CBD/THC simple syrup
• 3 dashes absinthe
• 2-5 dashes bitters, this is based on your personal preference
• 1 lemon twist, for garnish

Make It

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. 
2. Add all ingredients.
3. Stir and strain into a rocks glass (again, whatever glass you want to use is fine).
4. Garnish with lemon twist.
5. Drink!

Pre-Made Mixers

If you’d rather use something that’s already pre-made, you can (probably) find either CBD/THC-infused mixers or you can find CBD/THC-infused alcohol. Check out these lists of CBD & THC drinks and mixers here and here. 

Ready to Mix? 

If you’re ready to try either making a CBD or THC-infused simple syrup or just want to add CBD or THC oils straight into your drinks, check out our website to shop all oils. If you have questions on dosing or what oils to try, contact our team here. If you try any of these recipes, let us know how you like them in the comments! 

Just make sure you don't get a tattoo after trying all these tasty cocktails!

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