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THC Cocktails: Ingredients That Further the Fun and What To Pass On
Reviewed by | Raven Ariola, Cannabis Science Educator and Professor of Cannabis Agriculture
We’re living in a magical age. In addition to all the amazing medical and technological advances we’ve gone through, we can also legally enjoy THC so much easier than ever before. THC cocktails are quickly becoming one of the most creative and enjoyable ways to sip your THC — no smoking, calories, or harsh hangovers required.
New THC-infused options are coming out all the time, giving both newbies and cannabis connoisseurs tons more ways to choose and customize their experience. Worried about extra calories and sugar? Watching your macros? Gigli’s THC cocktails are another great option.
Today, we’re getting into why they’re so great, what ingredients you can add to them to further the fun, and a few things you may want to avoid.
What To Know About THC
Over the last several decades, cannabis has gone from a dirty word to an entire bougie boutique experience. More and more states are legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana usage, which makes it even easier for people to use their creativity to design exciting new THC-based products… and we’re here for it.
With cannabis truly cementing its place in public conversation, there are a lot of terms getting thrown around — THC, cannabis, marijuana, etc. You’d think that they’re all basically the same thing, right? Wrong. Let’s take a minute to clear that up.
Cannabis and marijuana are often used interchangeably, but there is actually a difference between them. Cannabis refers to all products that come from the Cannabis sativa plant, while marijuana refers only to those products that contain higher amounts of THC (over 0.3%).
Cannabis can also be non-psychoactive (for example, you can use certain products, like CBD, and not feel high), while marijuana products will always make you feel at least slightly, well, “high.”
As you probably noticed, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the real key to the true, fun, psychoactive experience. The more THC (measured by the milligram in edibles and by percentage in smokables), the more altered you’ll feel.
What To Expect When Enjoying THC
The media often makes THC look super extra — making people hallucinate, fall out of chairs, laugh until they cry, act ridiculous, etc. While you can definitely get there if that’s your goal (and hey, we would never judge), that doesn’t have to be your experience.
Both the physical and mental effects that come from using cannabis will vary, depending on how much you eat, drink, or smoke. However, in terms of what you can expect, most people describe feelings of elation, giggliness, and potentially an increase in your creativity and sense of relaxation. It just depends on the dosage and your headspace.
What Are Some THC Cocktail Options?
As we said, with the increase in legality and popularity of THC came an explosion of different ways that you can enjoy it.
At Gigli, we decided to use our creativity to give people something delicious and fun to sip on without all of the issues that come with alcohol (especially with overconsumption).
Our THC cocktails are bold and full-flavored, each crafted for a unique and elevated experience. They’re also low in calories, sugar, and gluten, as well as animal byproducts, so you can enjoy them completely guilt-free!
Every cocktail is also made with no artificial flavors or colors and real fruit juices, plus the addition of ashwagandha and ginseng extract for a boost of extra relaxation and energy. And, as a bonus, they are completely non-alcoholic so you can have all the fun without any of the hangover the next day!
THC-Infused Blueberry Lemonade Cocktail
Who doesn’t love a good lemonade, especially when enjoyed on a patio with your best friends? When the weather gets warmer, our thoughts turn to spending as much time outside as possible. Why not enjoy it without spending an entire day in Hangover City?
THC-Infused Blood Orange Margarita Cocktail
We love a blood orange, the juicier, tangier cousin of the navel orange. Not only is the color deeper and, let’s be real, way cuter, but it also lends an unparalleled flavor to THC cocktails.
Raspberry Ginger Mule Cocktail
It’s hard to properly describe ginger. It’s definitely got a “bite,” and some people would describe it as a little bit “spicy.” It’s one of the primary ingredients in a Moscow Mule, not to mention all of the many different spinoffs that have descended from that one amazing cocktail.
Pineapple Mojito Cocktail
The mojito is another classic summertime cocktail. A traditional mojito is made with white rum, fresh mint, cane sugar, and lime juice. However, although you can’t really beat a classic, there are ways to make the mojito even more exciting.
What Are Some Ingredients To Look For in THC Cocktails?
We designed our THC cocktails to be delicious and enjoyable all on their own. Just crack one open and go! However, that doesn’t mean you can’t add a few things to amp up the fun even further (and we always love a little bit of a challenge). Plus, it makes them look even more picture-ready.
When adding liquid ingredients to your Gigli cocktails, think in small amounts (tablespoons, not cups). The goal is not to water down the taste of your cocktail (like you have to do with alcohol) but to enhance it further. Fresh juices give an already great cocktail that much more of a leg-up.
Another set of ingredients that can add to the fun is fresh fruit to your mocktails. You can muddle a few pieces in the bottom of your glass and also slices of them as a garnish on the rim — it automatically makes everything you do look just a little bit bougier. Limes, lemons, strawberries, and oranges are all excellent choices but feel free to get as wild and crazy as you want.
What Are Some Ingredients To Avoid in THC Cocktails?
Honestly, there are no hard and fast rules on what ingredients you should absolutely “pass” on adding to your THC cocktails. However, we have two suggestions of what to leave out of your cocktail so you can have the best time possible.
Alcohol
You don’t need to have alcohol added to your cocktails to have fun, and you’ll certainly be able to reduce the amount of less-than-exciting things you’ll feel the next morning. No hangovers seem like a much better time to us! Life is too short to spend an entire day out of commission.
Other Cannabis Products
There are a lot of things that are better when mixed and matched, but when enjoying THC cocktails, it’s often best to stay in one lane.
Adding extra edibles to the mix (or smoking/vaping cannabis on top of your cocktail) can easily lead to you ingesting a lot more THC than you intended to. It’s best to stick with one easily-measurable source of THC so you can track your input.
What Are Some THC Cocktail Dosing Suggestions?
Let’s start by saying there is nothing “standard” about cannabis dosing. Everyone’s best and “perfect” dose is going to be different because it depends on a lot of factors, like the effects you’re hoping to get, your personal tolerance, body weight, metabolism, and so on.
Plus, most smokable products (flower, vape cartridges, etc.) are unable to give you a specific amount of THC that they have in them. Instead, you can get an idea of how strong the product is by looking at the percentage of THC it includes.
Edibles, on the other hand, are measured in milligrams (mg). Since that’s what we do at Gigli, we’ll focus on talking about that dosing specifically. It’s a lot more straightforward, thankfully, so you have a better idea of what you’re gonna get.
With that in mind, here’s a good place to start.
If you really want to be on the safe side (especially if you are new to the wide and wonderful world of THC), we recommend that you start with a “microdose” of between 1 and 2.5 mg.
A dose this small means that you can ease yourself into the experience with a lighter, milder version of the usual effects of “full-strength” cannabis. “This allows individuals to gauge their sensitivity to THC and minimize the risk of experiencing anxiety or other adverse effects that can sometimes occur with higher initial doses,” notes Raven Ariola, Professor of Cannabis Agriculture and Cannabis Science Educator.
Once you feel comfortable, you can bump up the milligrams a few at a time until you find your personal sweet spot. Any dose up to 5 mg is still considered to be a “lower” dose, but you’ll still get plenty of enjoyment out of it. Plus, it allows you to experiment even more with how THC will impact you.
As a point of reference, each of our THC-infused cocktails includes both 5 mg and 10 mg options. However, each can is also two servings, so make sure that you’re mindful when planning your night. You don’t want to overdo it (if that’s not the type of vibe you’re looking for).
The higher you go, the more impacted you’ll be by the THC. Remember that, although our cocktails do not contain alcohol, it’s still not safe to drive while you’re under the influence.
In Summary
THC cocktails are just one more addition to the exciting world of edible THC products. If you want to enjoy a nice buzz with your friends without worrying about calories, sugar, or hangovers, Gigli THC cocktails are the way to go.
With a little experimentation, you’ll be able to find your perfect, tastiest high.
Sources:
Maps show states where weed is legal for recreational, medical use in 2024 | CBS News
Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know | NCCIH
Much Ado about Dosing: The Needs and Challenges of Defining a Standardized Cannabis Unit | PMC
