You’d be hard pressed to find an authority figure when it comes to cannabis cocktails. But Warren Bobrow, the author of Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics, doesn’t think that’s because the combination is a bad idea. He should know — he literally wrote the book on the subject. He’s a strong believer in a good cannabis cocktail. It’s just that everyone else (other than a few brave bar owners) is too scared to tackle the subject.
“I don’t think anyone has had the nerve to do it, nor have they found a publisher to take that type of risk,” Bobrow tells me over the phone, chuckling. “This is not a big lucrative project. I wish it was, but there’s so much preconceived stuff about it.”
It’s getting towards my favorite cocktailian time of the year. We’ve all been under a great deal of stress, me included. Isn’t it time to relax a little bit and take a break?
No one is saying you should drink alcohol to remove your problems. That’s really not the point with cannabis. For starters, I use it for a very specific set of reasons. Some medical and some recreational. It’s that balance in life that makes cannabis my favorite way to relax my mind and get to the art of writing about cannabis.
See? I’m feeling better already. Probably because my morning “wake-and-bake” with a puff or two from holistic, Oregon horticulturist named Green Bodhi has gotten me pretty lit. IG: @GreenBodhi
I want to share that creativity with others.
The fall weather evokes a certain sense of being in a wonderfully languid, pre-sleep mode for weeks on end. The days turn shorter and the night seems to drag into hours rather than mere minutes. The air is chillier too and I want to drink things that warm me up inside before I slip into a dream-state. Cannabis, when infused into things like hot tea and woven with a certain measure of artisan rum – like the ultra-authentic rum brand named Foursquare, then sweetened to taste with a touch of homemade simple syrup – (I’m using sugar cane juice, it’s just better for you, no white sugar allowed!)
Then you have something in your grasp that will set your mind to rest and warm your body deeply.
My cocktail – or mocktail should you want it alcohol free – just make an infused syrup instead of a spirit, is pretty easy to make. The hardest part is the cannabis infused dark rum, which – if you have a LEVO2, can do the job of infusion quite easily at no more than 130 degrees F for three hours. Otherwise use the old-fashioned method of using your trusty electric hot plate (never gas stove), double boiler and your spirit of choice. Do the infusion in a well-ventilated place and have a fan running on your worksite at all times. Alcohol fumes run along the floor and you don’t see them, don’t be that person who ignites them by using a gas stove.
It’s a pivotal week for the cannabis industry and we hope everyone plans on exercising their right to vote tomorrow. In addition to a tense presidential race, we have five states with ballot initiatives to legalize medical or adult-use cannabis in 2020. We’re looking at you New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota, Montana, and Mississippi.
Outside of the political chaos we’re undoubtedly about to witness, it’s also an exciting week because it marks the launch of Klaus, a new line of cannabis beverages from the mind of Warren Bobrow. Commonly referred to as “The Cocktail Whisperer,” Warren is a former Forbes columnist and author of more recipe books than you can count on one hand, including Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails & Tonics. Warren has always been a big supporter of BudsFeed, and we were excited to see Klaus take the #1 spot in this week’s Top 5 Seeds. Klaus might just be what the doctor ordered to help with the aforementioned political chaos.
1. Are you still located in the East Coast? How has your company changed in the year since we last spoke? What opportunities have you discovered?
I’m still out in Brooklyn and operating everything out of Los Angeles. There have been many changes this past year. For one, we’ve tripled the size of the team. One of the new hires is a buddy and former colleague of mine, Brandon Rea, whose focus is on developing and growing our business. From a product perspective, we’ve expanded our initial offering (i.e. portable container with a built-in vacuum pump lid) through adding different sizes, colors and designs, all of which is geared towards a direct-to-consumer approach. And on the B2B side, we’ve put a lot of effort into creating new solutions and processes to help manufacturers vacuum package their goods for sale, helping supply chains become more efficient and work around logistical issues through the extension of product shelf-life. Overall, the biggest opportunity that we’ve found is understanding that the ‘business’ is a byproduct of the community; not the other way around. Truth be told, the whole Canlock team (including myself) joined this community in high school, which is why our focus is on both the flower and end user. So whether it’s working tirelessly with brands to give their products a safe shelter, or offering customers an opportunity to have one of our jars through giveaways and discounts, we are making most of this chance of being a part of the industry during these unpredictable times.
stash jar 4-print Nancy Gallardo
2. What have you done differently from a design standpoint? Sizes? Colors? What are your six and twelve month goals going forward?
From a design standpoint, we always try to encompass 3 main features: preservation, reusability, and cost effectiveness. Keeping this in mind, the roadmap is set to bring larger vacuum containers to the market, not only for bulk storage but also as a curing solution for commercial and at-home growers. And of course, we’ll continue to develop our portable solutions, taking other formats (e.g. edibles, concentrates) into consideration. All that said, most of our resources will zero in on the innovation of our B2B products and processes. Our goal isn’t to work with every brand out there, but to focus on the nuances of the brands we do work with, ensuring brand consistency or packaging efficiency.
Cannabis soda lime jar Nancy Gallardo
3. Do you have a mentor in this business? How did you start the company? What obstacles are you facing currently?
I alluded to it earlier, but this is yet another example of why the community is so important. I’ve been fortunate to meet folks from all parts of the business, including manufacturers and dispensary owners, to other smoking related accessories and PR agencies, and I’ve been able to learn something from almost every conversation I’ve had. Compared to 2 years ago when we started the company because we wanted to make our own personal stash last longer, it has matured into a business that hopes to bring consistency to the market, in turn creating a safer environment for cannabis and eventually removing the stigmas associated with it. This stigma is actually one of the bigger obstacles we encounter on a daily basis. As if it weren’t hard enough to start a company from the ground up, we’ve had to be extremely creative in working with the roadblocks that every digital platform puts up when it comes to cannabis. It doesn’t matter if you sell the actual plant or even just provide a storage solution for cannabis, if you are starting a business in this industry be prepared to be fully acquainted with the policies associated with every “essential” social media platform.
Canlock Nancy Gallardo
4. Where is the best place to get a burger near you? What does your favorite meal look like these days?
I would only order a burger if adding a fried egg (over hard) is an option, and Moo Burger never disappoints. But these days, I’m just looking for a meal where my sons don’t bicker with each other – my wife can attest to this.
5. What is your passion?
Without a doubt, it has to be hip hop. In fact, I could argue that it is hip hop that brought cannabis into my life. There’s never a moment when music is not needed.
