Let’s talk about THC drinks. They’re all over the place—head shops, grocery stores, gas stations. But they all seem to be missing the same thing. And we thought it was about time someone stepped in to fix that.
So today, we’re breaking down why we flipped the script with the GRAV Cannabis Spirit, what you can expect in terms of flavor and effect, and how you can incorporate it into your day-to-day (or night-to-night) rituals. Oh, and don’t miss some killer mocktail recipes to get you started. Let’s pour one up.
Why GRAV Got in the Drinks Game
We’re some curious folks over at GRAV. And we found ourselves wondering…where’s the weed in all the weed drinks on the market?
You’ll find colorful cans of THC-infused drinks with the zing of cucumber and peach. Ginger and pomegranate. Grapefruit. Rosemary. Chai. Mango. Just about every floral, fruity, and herbal note imaginable pops up in canna drinks and seltzers—except for one. The flavor of weed itself.
It seems like every THC drink is trying to isolate the effect of weed from the flavor of weed. Like that dankness is something to mask, instead of something to embrace.
But potheads like you (and us)? We like the taste of weed. So where’s our THC drink?
Well it’s right here. The GRAV Cannabis Spirit.
What’s In the Bottle?
If you’re going to make a drink that honors the cannabis plant, you don’t need a lot of stuff in your formulation. In fact, there are only four ingredients in each bottle of Cannabis Spirit:
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Water
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Hemp extract
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Hemp-derived terpenes
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Citric acid (for freshness)
There are no synthetic cannabinoids, no added flavors, no sugar, no alcohol. Cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted from fresh flower (never frozen) using plant-based solvents for an all-natural earthiness that tastes like the plant you love.
TL:DR: If you ever wondered what it would be like to drink weed instead of smoking it, this is how you find out.
Feeling & Flavor
A common complaint about consumables is that they take forever to kick in, since they have to go through that pesky digestion and metabolization process. But THC drinks are a different beast.
The extracts in Grav Cannabis Spirit are water soluble, so they absorb quickly into your bloodstream. You should start to feel the effects in 15 to 30 minutes, instead of waiting an hour or more for your classic edibles. Get the good times started faster, yeah?
The Feeling
Each serving of Cannabis Spirit contains 10 milligrams of THC, making it one of the more potent weed drinks you’ll find—enough to zonk even seasoned stoners. The THC is matched with equal amounts of CBD and terpenes, bringing you a full-spectrum entourage effect.
The way you feel may vary depending on your tolerance level, metabolism, and other physical factors. But we’ve found that most people experience a wave of calm followed by a euphoric body high—energetic but not jittery.
The Flavor
This blend contains multitudes, y’all, thanks to dominant terpenes β-Caryophyllene, α-Humulene, and trans-β-Farnesene.
You’re gonna get plenty of that earthy musk that you only find in weed. Then you’ll be hit with a dry woody spice, like black pepper or hops. And it finishes off with a hint of tart green apple.
Without the burn of smoke, you’ll really get the full flavor spectrum.
The Ritual: All Day, Every Day
You can mix GRAV Cannabis Spirit into just about anything you can put into a glass. That means it can become part of your daily rituals from AM to PM.
→ Add a splash to your coffee to enhance your morning boost, or stir it into fresh juice for a lift without the caffeine.
→ Pour it over ice and sip it on its own—savor its bold earthiness like a fine whiskey.
→ Add it to your favorite sparkling water for a refreshing quencher (and an afternoon pick-me-up).
→ Or use it to elevate a cocktail or mocktail. With its slightly spicy flavor, it brings herbal complexity to your bartending efforts.
We reached out to Austin bartender, consultant, and mocktail expert Robert Björn Taylor to come up with some recipes starring the GRAV Cannabis Spirit to get you started.
DANK-QUARI
This twist on the classic daiquiri uses Cannabis Spirit in place of rum and strawberry syrup instead of simple syrup for a little extra flavor.
Ingredients:
1 ounce GRAV Cannabis Spirit
.75 ounce strawberry simple syrup
.75 ounce lime juice
Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass
Garnish with lime
Make your own strawberry syrup—just simmer 8 ounces of strawberries, a cup of water, and a cup of sugar in a saucepan over low heat for about 20 minutes. Then strain the berries out and cool in the refrigerator.
THE PERCOLATOR
How about a White Russian-inspired coffee mocktail? Instead of Kahlua, you’ll use cold brew coffee and cinnamon syrup. We think The Dude would approve.
Ingredients:
1 ounce GRAV Cannabis Spirit
1.25 ounces cold brew
.75 ounce cinnamon syrup
1 ounce milk/cream of choice
dash vanilla extract
Combine in a rocks glass over ice
Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon
You can use store-bought cinnamon syrup, but the homemade stuff is a cinch to whip up. Simmer 3-4 cinnamon sticks (broken in half) with a cup of water and a cup of sugar for about five minutes. Then cut the heat and let it steep for two to six hours. Strain the cinnamon solids and chill.
TROPICAL HIGHBALL
A “highball” is a generic term for a tall cocktail made with a spirit and some kind of carbonated drink—whiskey and ginger ale being the classic choice.
This version adds a tropical touch with lychee juice and coconut water.
Ingredients:
1 ounce GRAV Cannabis Spirit
1 ounce lychee juice
1 ounce coconut water
.5 ounce simple syrup
.25 ounce lime juice
1.5 ounces sparkling water
Combine in a tiki glass over ice
Garnish with lychee and mint
POT TODDY
The coziest drink in the winter cocktail canon has to be the hot toddy, combining bourbon, honey, lemon juice, and hot water. Our version is just as comforting. But it’s better. Because it has weed in it.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz GRAV Cannabis Spirit
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons lemon juice
¾ to 1 cup hot water
1 cinnamon stick
Lemon wheel or peel
Preheat your mug, so it stays toasty longer. Just pour hot water into your favorite mug and let it sit for a few minutes before dumping it out.
Then, add GRAV Cannabis Spirit, honey, lemon juice, and hot water to your mug, and stir until honey is dissolved. Garnish with cinnamon stick and lemon wheel, and enjoy. Roaring fire optional but encouraged.
Alternate Option: Green Tea Toddy
Some people like to add tea to their toddy. Black tea is most common, but we’d suggest using green for this recipe. The mild floral notes complement the grassiness of GRAV Cannabis Spirit.
To make it: just brew a cup of green tea as you normally would, and add it to your mug in place of hot water.
CRANNABIS FOR CHRISTMAS
Cranberries don’t get enough love outside of the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce deluge. That’s probably because they’re bitter as hell—until you balance them out with some sugar. This festive red cannabis cocktail gets sweetness and punch from ginger simple syrup, which you can make at home. (It’s easier than you’d think.)
Ingredients:
1.5 oz GRAV Cannabis Spirit
4 oz 100% cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail plz)
¾ oz ginger simple syrup
Optional: fresh cranberries or lime wedge for garnish
Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add Cannabis Spirit, cranberry juice, and simple syrup and stir to combine. Garnish with a skewer of fresh cranberries or a lime wedge.
To make ginger simple syrup:
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Combine one cup of granulated sugar and ¾ cup water in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir continually until sugar is dissolved.
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Add one cup of fresh ginger (sliced and peeled) and bring syrup to a light boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
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Remove from heat and steep for about an hour. Strain out solids and enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two weeks or more…until it starts to look funky.
SPIRIT ROYALE
In the cocktail world, a “royale” is usually a cocktail topped with a float of champagne. So basically, royales make something awesome even awesome-r. This version uses crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, for sweetness and color. You can get it at any liquor store.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz GRAV Cannabis Spirit
½ oz crème de cassis
3 oz sparkling wine
Strip of lemon peel for garnish
Add GRAV Cannabis Spirit and crème de cassis to a cocktail shaker over ice, and stir gently to chill. Strain into a champagne flute, and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Fancy enough for New Year’s Eve, easy enough for a Tuesday.
Get the GRAV Cannabis Spirit
So there you have it. GRAV Cannabis Spirit isn’t just a drink. It’s the essence of weed, bottled up and ready to kick up your coffee, mocktails, or just your regular Tuesday night.
We’re here for the flavor. The feeling. The whole experience. Now, go forth, get creative with your glass, and let the good vibes roll.
The GRAV Cannabis Spirit is now shipping nationwide. Get it in a large 750-milliliter bottle, 50-milliliter mini bottle, or four-pack of mini bottles.
Contributed by Kate McDermott
