Modern bartenders have started to mix small amounts of CBD into alcoholic mixed drinks to create tasty CBD cocktails.
People are regularly coming up with new and innovative ways to incorporate cannabidiol (CBD) into everyday products – from food to beverages to body care products and much more.
Today, CBD is mainstream, especially CBD edibles. It seems like just about everyone is experimenting with CBD oil in their food, mixing it into coffees, smoothies, pasta sauces, and even guacamole. Here are some CBD recipes you can make at home.
Recently, CBD has even found itself added to perhaps the most unlikely of places – cocktails. Bars in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and more have added CBD cocktails to their menu.
Have you seen bars near you serving CBD cocktails and wondered what the fuss was all about? Here is more about CBD cocktails, including some ways to add CBD to your drinks at home.
What are CBD Cocktails?
CBD cocktails are mixed alcoholic beverages that have been infused with CBD oil, an all-natural botanical extract made from cannabis plants like hemp.
With a taste often described as “lightly grassy” or “earthy,” full spectrum CBD oil blends in well with bold flavored cocktails where the ingredients can blend with the flavor of CBD oil. Many expert bartenders use this full spectrum hemp extract and then add ingredients that complement hemp’s earthy notes to create their tasty cocktails.
Alternatively, CBD cocktails can be made with CBD isolate or CBD isolate liquids, which are flavorless and won’t affect the taste of any cocktail, meaning any mixed drink can become a CBD cocktail. Additionally, CBD isolate products contain no detectable THC.
Over recent years, CBD oil has become a popular wellness product because it contains high levels of CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that supports the regulatory system responsible for keeping the body balanced and running efficiently, despite outside influences. This is just part of the reason for the boom in popularity for trendy CBD cocktails.
You don’t have to go to a bar to get a drink with CBD though. It’s easy to add CBD to your mixed drinks at home using CBD products from the Medical Marijuana, Inc. store.
How are CBD Cocktails Made?
Bartenders and mixologists use natural CBD products like CBD oil, CBD tinctures, or CBD isolate to make CBD infused cocktails.
CBD oil concentrate is the thick and viscous pure botanical extract taken directly from the plant. CBD tinctures offer CBD oil in a more liquefied form and are often made by diluting pure CBD oil into an alcohol. While CBD oil is oil based, CBD tinctures are alcohol based, and the two integrate differently into cocktails.
Because oil is less dense than water, CBD oil will float to the top of a cocktail and add more to its smell and flavor as you take a sip. CBD oil works particularly well in cocktails that feature a healthy foam or head – such as a whiskey sour or blood orange martini – because it gets trapped in the drink’s foamy upper layer.
Most of the time, mixologists prefer to use CBD tinctures to make their CBD cocktails, because they integrate into cocktails and mix in thoroughly just like any other alcohol. CBD tinctures are also available in a variety of flavors, such as cinnamon, peppermint, orange, or vanilla, which can add an extra zest to any CBD cocktail.
More recently, bartenders have been using pure CBD isolate powder to infuse their cocktails with the power of CBD. This is because CBD isolate is flavorless and odorless, so it won’t affect the flavor of the drink, meaning any drink can be made into a CBD cocktail.
CBD products can be added to cocktails in the same way any mixer is added. Some may opt to mix the CBD oil, CBD tincture, or CBD isolate with the rest of the beverage’s ingredients using a cocktail shaker, which helps in even integration of the CBD. Others may prefer to stir in the CBD oil product. Commonly, bartenders will add drops of a CBD tincture or a squeeze of CBD oil to the top of a completed beverage as an accenting garnish.
Does the sound of a CBD beverage sound good, but you would like to skip the alcohol? CBD tinctures, liquids, and isolate can be added to a number of drinks like coffee, tea, lemonade, and more.
Is CBD a Remedy for Hangovers?
You may have seen some claims that CBD is beneficial for curing or preventing hangovers caused by consuming too much alcohol. In reality, as of now there is not any evidence showing CBD as being beneficial for addressing hangover related symptoms.
The best way to prevent hangovers, according to Medical News Today, is to drink alcoholic beverages in moderation or to avoid them altogether. The healthcare publication reports that the most effective cures include rest, rehydration, and sleep.
CBD products offer the greatest natural benefits when they’re incorporated into an everyday health routine. A CBD infused cocktail is not the best way to obtain the balancing properties of CBD. Adding CBD to your alcoholic drinks can, however, be a fun way to add a twist to your favorite cocktails.
Is Adding CBD to Alcoholic Beverages Safe?
CBD oil products themselves have been found in studies to be safe and well tolerated, even at high serving sizes. Unlike THC, the intoxicating cannabinoid associated with marijuana, CBD is non-intoxicating and doesn’t cause a euphoric high. Potential adverse effects of CBD oil have been found to be minimal and sometimes include dry mouth, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and drowsiness.
No matter whether CBD is added, alcoholic beverages themselves can be dangerous, particularly if consumed in high amounts. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, “alcohol slows your breathing rate, heart rate, and how well your brain functions” after only about 10 minutes. Alcohol use also slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination, which means drinking cocktails can increase the risk of falls and accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that alcohol consumption is also associated with various cancers.
More about CBD
You can learn even more about hemp-derived CBD (especially if you find yourself wondering, “what is cbd oil anyway?) by visiting our CBD Oil Education Page. Read about how CBD naturally encourages balance, and get guidance on selecting the right CBD product for you.
Visit the Medical Marijuana, Inc. online store today to get started with CBD products, or head over to our Cannabis 101 page to learn about cannabis and its uses.
