How to make CBD cocktails at home?

Cannabidiol (CBD) cocktails, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic, are carving out their share of the market on the other side of the Atlantic. But you don't necessarily need to fly from Paris to Los Angeles to find a good CBD cocktail recipe: you can make your own at home.

A few precautions

One of the first things to know is that CBD cocktails fall into the category of edibles, cannabis-infused foods. This mainly means that the body reacts differently than with inhaled CBD. The effect therefore takes longer to come through, and lasts longer.

American mixologists generally recommend no more than 1 cocktail per hour, or even 1 CBD-infused drink per evening for those who prefer to play it tight.

Tincture or oil?

There are several ways to combine CBD and cocktails, the two most popular methods being from CBD tincture or oil. The advantage of tinctures is that they already use alcohol to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis. They also capture the aromas of the varieties used, and can form the basis of your mixes.

The CBD oils are just as usable, with the drawback that they don't necessarily mix well with all cocktail ingredients. Olive or coconut oil can, however, be infused with CBD crystals in places where CBD flowers are embargoed.

Probably the best advice when choosing between tincture and oil is to try out what works best for you.

CBD cocktail recipes with alcohol

Here are two CBD cocktail recipes containing alcohol.

Lazy Day

• 30 mL Jim Beam bourbon, infused at 10%
• 30 mL vermouth
• 30 mL campari

To prepare, pour into a shaker with ice, then into a glass over ice cubes.

Pot Manhattan

• 60 mL Whiskey infused at 10%
• 30 mL vermouth

Add all ingredients to a shaker. Stir, then pour into a chilled glass.

Alcohol-free CBD cocktail recipes

For non-alcoholic CBD cocktails, you can prepare a CBD syrup, with :

• 0.5g CBD crystals
• 1kg sugar
• 75 cL water
• 30 grams vegetable glycerin

Mix water and sugar. Bring to the boil. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Leave on a low heat and add the vegetable glycerine, then leave to cool. Then add the CBD crystals and stir until completely dissolved.

Then, you're free to add this CBD syrup to all your fruit juices or mocktails. For a lemonade, for example:

• 25 cL CBD syrup
• 1 liter of water
• 6 lemons in juice
• 25 cL sparkling water

Mix together in a bowl and serve chilled. You can add a few basil or mint leaves to the bottom of the glass before serving.

The Weediner #2