Editor’s Note: This feature on cannabis-infused cocktails first appeared in the digital edition of Playboy in June 2019.
Spring means less clothes, more cold drinks and, now, even more cannabis. Whether it be by the pool or in the comfort of your (hopefully) air-conditioned abode, Playboy would like to help you celebrate the rising temperatures with Stillhouse-curated cocktails mixed with a little more delight. The whiskey brand’s resident mixologist, Ryan Fleming, combined his love of Stillhouse’s new Black Bourbon with our ever-growing affection for high times.
Yes, we’re teaching you how to infuse THC with alcohol all by yourself, but please, don’t indulge until after the flammable process is complete. And remember, consuming cannabis can take up to an hour to kick in, so consume sensibly.
The Infusion Process
Ingredients
- 750 Ml Stillhouse Black Bourbon
- 7 grams of Cannabis Flower
- A grinder
- A hot plate or electric stove NEVER a gas stove or open flame
- Microwave or oven
- Cheesecloth Thermometer
- Double boiler
- Mason Jar
What is Decarbing or Decarboxylation?
It’s complicated. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), also known as THC, is found in raw buds for smoking and generally one of the highest cannabinoids (compounds) present in our market cannabis. THCA has a load of benefits including anti-flammation, but it’s not what gives you that high-flying feeling, so it has to be converted in to (Tetrahydrocannabinol) THC—the compound that does get you high—before it will give the psychoactive effects we want in our Stillhouse cocktails. To properly decarb your flower, evenly heat, but avoid burning, the flower. This can be done in an oven or a microwave.
Decarb by way of microwave or oven:
• In the microwave: Be sure to place the cannabis in the microwave with a lid. Microwave on high for 90 seconds. Rotate the cannabis. Repeat three times.
• In the oven: Preheat the oven to 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the cannabis in a single layer on either a pyrex tray or sheet of foil. Cover the cannabis tightly. Bake for 20 minutes.
Grind up your decarbed herbs into a mason jar and add bourbon (the ratio between cannabis and whiskey is dependent on what potency level you want to achieve. Fleming suggests 7 grams per 750 ML of Stillhouse Black bourbon).
Place the mason jar on top of the double boiler. Fill the bottom and top pans with water to cover the mason jar approximately half way (Do not allow direct heat and do not cover the mason jar to avoid hazardous pressure). Remember, no open flames and make sure the room is well-ventilated.
Simmer lightly at around 160 degrees F for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how concentrated you would like your infusion. Make sure your alcohol does not reach 170 degrees F (because then it will flame).
Let the mixture cool and strain it through a fine mesh strainer lined with a cheesecloth. Then return it back to the 750 ML bottle along with the remaining alcohol.
If you’d prefer to not use the boiler, there is another method that requires way less concentration, but way more patience. Simply choose your ratio (again, Fleming suggests 7 grams per 750 ML alcohol) and mix it in a mason jar, lid on. Put the mason jar in front of a sunny window and let the jar sit for, at least, 30 days. When time is up, strain your mixture through a cheesecloth-lined fine mesh strainer.
Cannabis-Infused Cocktail 1: Green Derby
Ingredients
- 1 oz Stillhouse infused Black Bourbon
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and water)
Prepare
Shake with ice. Pour over fresh ice in a Collins or 12 oz glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit.
Cannabis-Infused Cocktail 2: Lazy Day
Ingredients
- 1 oz Stillhouse infused Black Bourbon
- 1 oz Carpano Antica (or similar Sweet Vermouth)
- 1 oz Campari 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Prepare
Stir in a mixing glass with ice and then strain over fresh ice or up depending on your preference. If served without ice, a coupe or similar glass is preferable. If served on the rocks a classic old fashioned glass is ideal. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
Cannabis-Infused Cocktail 3: Fresh Start
Ingredients
- 1 oz Stillhouse infused Black Bourbon
- Fresh mint
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar)
Prepare
In a Collins or other 12 oz glass, combine fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup and the infused bourbon. Muddle the ingredients. Add fresh ice. Top off with soda water. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
Cannabis-Infused Cocktail 4: CB-Tea
Why this drink is different:
This is for the reader who isn’t so into getting high. Abandoning the infusion, CBD oil is the non-psychoactive part of marijuana and a good CBD oil can be purchased online or at a health food store. It is made from hemp and contains no THC or psychoactive properties. According to Fleming, CBD is a great alternative to modern medicine to help with everything from body and headaches to helping with sleep and anxiety.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Stillhouse Peach Tea Whiskey
- Fresh Mint 10-15
- Drops of high grade CBD oil
- Fresh Lemonade
Prepare
In a Collins or other 12 oz glass, combine mint with Stillhouse Peach Tea and muddle. Add the cbd oil (a substance legal throughout the country), fresh ice and top off with lemonade. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.