THC Cocktails Are Taking Over So We Checked a Few Out

THC-infused drinks have been exploding in popularity lately. I have to imagine this is primarily due to nearly half of all states in the United States making recreational marijuana legal. And bless them for that change. We’re still just dipping our toes into the water of exploration over here at Sporked, but I’m excited to help taste test two new brands for us: High Rise Beverage Co. and Canndigenous.

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High Rise

High Rise is made in South Carolina. They’re outshining us over here in California by serving them up in bars and restaurants in SC. High Rise makes canned hemp THC seltzers that utilize nice, mild fruit flavors and recently ventured into making THC infusions―a stronger, more concentrated version of a THC drink. Sort of like what liquor is to alcohol. They sent over a variety pack of their seltzers and a THC infusion for me to try so here are my thoughts.

Raspberry THC Infusion

Pros: This tasted like a freaking ICEE. And I mean that as a compliment. Though High Rise definitely means for this infusion to be only one component to a mixed drink, it’s borderline sippable. I could still taste some THC which is the only thing that would hold me back. Diluting it into other ingredients would definitely help that out. If for some reason you did want to shoot your THC directly back (I’ve been there) then this would definitely do the job.

Cons: There is one thing I don’t take lightly when it comes to THC and that’s dosage. While the packaging on this makes it clear what the serving size and accompanying dose of THC is (50ml of liquid for 10mg of THC) the problem comes from execution. Can you tell me how to get 50ml of a liquid from my kitchen quickly? Yeah, neither could I. According to the conversions I could find, that’s about 10 teaspoons or 3 and ⅓ tablespoons. Not something that’s easily measured out.

Mango THC Seltzer

Pros: High Rise’s mango seltzer has a delightful hit of mango flavor. It really sticks with you, in the best way possible. All I could think about while I slowly sipped on this is drinking it on the beach. Or perhaps on a cruise? Are there any cruises that let you bring THC drinks on them? I doubt it, but I need someone to make it happen. Nonetheless, this seltzer is giving major tropical vibes.

Cons: While there’s nothing specific to the mango seltzer that I didn’t enjoy, there was one overall critique I had for High Rise’s entire line of seltzers. The bubbles are a little too crisp for me. I think a more mellow vibe would pair well with a THC drink. These bubbles are giving “I’m in the club” more than “I’m on the couch.”

Blood Orange THC Seltzer

Pros: High Rise nailed the citrus taste on this one as well. It’s one of the more flavorful of the bunch overall and it really pops in your mouth. This is definitely an easy second placer for me. It really paired nicely with the mango as well, so I took down two 5mg cans in one evening to get my desired dose.

Cons: Unfortunately the citrus taste I really loved didn’t linger much with me. I suppose that’s not a major problem considering the munchies you’re bound to get into won’t get tainted by any lingering flavors.

Pineapple THC Seltzer

Pros: I have really good news for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, “wow, I really love pineapple juice and I wish it could get me high.” High Rise has made just the thing to fulfill your dreams! Their pineapple THC seltzer tastes like you’re sipping straight from the can of pineapple chunks. The big, bright flavor softly walks you into an enjoyable time. If anything, this is the one I would grab if I wanted to make a full night out of the occasion.

Cons: I unfortunately have not desired for pineapple juice to get me high. It wasn’t a deterrent for me, but I think they could have toned down the pineapple flavor just a smidge.

Blueberry THC Seltzer

Pros: Overall High Rise has done a great job at crafting seltzers that hide the THC they’re delivering. As someone who doesn’t love the taste of THC, I appreciate that. This can, in particular, showed that off because the flavor of the bud hardly came through. Which is extra impressive considering the con we have to get into.

Cons: I was fighting for my life to get any flavor from this can. Blueberry is a delicate flavor to work with. If you have too much it can certainly get into cartoonish levels of character for a food. That said, if High Rise was worried about overdoing it they should have just left this in the test kitchen. You lose any flavor you were able to find the second you stop swallowing. 

Canndigenous

Founded in 2018 as Wisconsin’s first independent, Indigenous-owned hemp company, Canndigenous delivers exceptional hemp-derived products including CBD flower, gummies, oils, beverages, and more. They sent over a pack of their THC seltzers that come in three flavors: tropical with ginger, green tea with honey, and mixed berry.

One note before we get into things. Canndigenous labels their seltzers as “downtempo, uptempo, and midtempo” in the order that we’ll talk about them. I understand the science and idea behind sativa vs indica in THC leading to an exciting head high vs a relaxing body high respectively. I’m assuming that’s what they’re talking about here.

I’ve personally just never noticed it having a direct impact on my high and I had to combine different tempos for the evening to get to my desired 10mg of THC. It still felt worth mentioning if you are one to subscribe to that theory and want to guide your high as best you can.

Mixed Berry Sparkling THC Seltzer

Pros: This is the THC seltzer for anyone who misses sucking on a saliva inducing, sticky mess of a grape lollipop. Not the best picture I could have painted for that one but I wanted to convey exactly where my mind went as soon as this touched my tongue. It’s an experience that both delivers a childlike wonder and gives you a hell of a high.

Cons: I hazard to call this the perfect drink for everyone but it was perfect to me. I make a meal out of a THC filled evening. I don’t make plans, I don’t leave my house, heck, I hardly leave my couch. The taste of Canndigenous’ mixed berry seltzer is teetering on being too much because of how much it was a 1:1 comparison to just a straight up grape lollipop, but I like a little fanfare with my high.

Tropical Sparkling With Ginger THC Seltzer

Pros: One thing that Canndigenous has done with their seltzers that clearly sets them apart from High Rise is that they bring the flavor. This one was quite fruity! And I’m not talking about the West Hollywood kind of fruity. Though I’m sure this would be the favorite of the bunch in the neighborhood. This invites a night of high vibes better than any of the others. Fittingly, it’s the uptempo seltzer, according to Canndigenous.

Cons: Which tropical fruit exactly is it? I could not tell you. Neither could Canndigenous from all the research I could do around their website and on the packaging. I think it might be grapefruit, but I will admit my blind taste test knowledge of citrusy fruits is a little lacking.

Sparkling Green Tea With Honey THC Seltzer

Pros: Honey lovers, come to the front of the room! This is the drink for you. I don’t even care for green tea all that much and I had no problem getting this down because of how honey-focused it was. It’s borderline too sweet, but I think because it’s an indulgent experience by nature it wasn’t offputting.

Cons: The idea of mixing THC (a thing I like to partake in at night) and caffeine (through the green tea) is a little chaotic to me. I do have an affinity for caffeine that most people have, but if I were to have finished this drink at my usual drinky time I would have been up all night. Canndigenous markets their THC/CBD blended drink as improving sleep so I hope they took precautions on the caffeine front but I’m still a little weary.