Pop, pour and chill: CBD-infused sips to help us beat the heat and pandemic-induced stress
If you’re new to the world of cannabidiol, here’s a crash course: it comes from cannabis plants, but won’t make you feel intoxicated. CBD-infused products promote calm and reduce anxiety without causing a high. There are plenty of CBD-infused oils, lotions and tinctures on the market that promise a laundry list of health benefits, but our favorite way to enjoy this feel-good trend right now is in the form of fizzy drinks that can be incorporated into your favorite cocktail or even mocktail recipes. Here are our go-to CBD brand tonics — plus some drink recipes for stress-free sipping.
BIMBLE
Made with 25mg of THC-free, broad-spectrum hemp extract and a hint of sustainably sourced Vermont honey, Bimble is the perfect summer potion if you’re looking for something light and calming. It’s all natural, preservative-free, and comes in two tantalizing flavors — blueberry lemon ginger and grapefruit basil mint. It tastes great by itself but also pairs well with vodka, lime juice and fresh berries in a Bimble Mule. The recipe is super simple, too.
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces of vodka (try Tito’s or Absolut)
1 tablespoon of fresh-squeezed lime juice
6 ounces of blueberry lemon Bimble
Crushed ice
Lime or lemon wedge and blueberries for garnish
Stir it up:
Fill a copper mug or tall glass with ice.(You can also make this by the pitcher.) Add the vodka and lime juice. Fill the glass or pitcher to the top with Bimble. Give it a stir. Top with garnishes and serve cold. Drinkbimble.com.
SWEET REASON
You won’t find any sugar, sweeteners, carbs or sodium in Sweet Reason’s CBD-infused sparkling water, just simple ingredients and 10mg of CBD from organic hemp. “Think of us as your guide to present mornings, productive afternoons and restful evenings,” said Hilary McCain, the brand’s founder and CEO. Voted Best Premium Drink in the 2019 Beverage Digest Awards, it comes in four refreshing flavors, including grapefruit, cucumber mint, strawberry lavender and grapefruit rhubarb. Start your day with a bottle, or unwind in the afternoon with a gin- and CBD-spiked cocktail, like the Purple Haze, created by the team at The Ship in New York City.
INGREDIENTS
1⁄2 ounce of lemon juice
1⁄2 ounce of maraschino liqueur
1⁄2 ounce of creme de violette
2 ounces of gin (we like Malfy for this one)
Sweet Reason in strawberry lavender
A strawberry (to garnish)
Shake it up:
Combine the ice cubes, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, creme de violette and gin in a shaker. Shake until frosty, then strain into a lowball glass filled with ice. Top with Sweet Reason and garnish with a strawberry. Drinksweetreason.com.
WELLER
With no sugar and no calories, Weller’s CBD sparkling water is great-tasting and guilt-free, and it’s got 25mg of CBD per can. The broad-spectrum hemp extract Weller uses is locally sourced and organically grown, then extracted using a cutting-edge CO2 process to ensure its purity. Weller’s sparkling water comes in watermelon, tangerine and black cherry flavors. Want to spike yours with something a little stronger? Use it to make a lemon rosemary gin fizz.
INGREDIENTS
1 ounce of rosemary simple syrup
1 ounce of fresh lemon juice and lemon slices
2 ounces of gin
Weller black cherry sparkling water
A spring of rosemary for garnish
Shake it up:
Combine the simple syrup, lemon juice and gin in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a glass with ice. Top it off with Weller sparkling water and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and lemon slices. Welleryou.com.
RECESS
Crafted with 10mg of CBD that contains essential vitamins, minerals and other good-for-you benefits, each can of Recess aims to brighten your mood, dial back stress and boost focus, thanks to a little added American ginseng and L-theanine. You can choose from flavors like peach ginger, blackberry chai and pomegranate hibiscus. Sip it straight or use it to craft a One Weird Trick — here’s the recipe.
INGREDIENTS
1 1⁄2 ounces of vodka
3⁄4 ounce of pineapple juice
1⁄2 ounce of ginger syrup
1⁄2 ounce of lemon juice
3 ounces of Recess’s pomegranate hibiscus
Sparkling waterPineapple slice or lemon wedge for garnish.
Stir it up:
Build all the ingredients except for the sparkling water in a highball glass over ice. Top with Recess, stir and serve. Garnish with a pineapple slice or lemon wedge. Takearecess.com.
SPRIG
California-based company Sprig crafts its zero-sugar sparkling beverages with 20mg of purified CBD isolate blended with filtered spring water and natural flavors. Most fans rave about itsCitrus Original flavor, but its melon tea and lemon options are also perfect for hot summer days. Know what else is perfect for hot summer days? Aperol Spritzes — and Sprig is the ultimate way to elevate yours. Here’s how Monica Lo, founder of Sous Weed, does it.
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces of Aperol
3 ounces of prosecco Sprig Citrus Original
A grapefruit twist to garnish
Stir it up:
Combine the Aperol and Prosecco in a wine glass with ice. Top it off with Sprig Citrus Original and stir. Garnish with a grapefruit twist. Drinksprig.com.