Cocktail Whisperer
The holiday season is often a time of reflection where we look back on the year and contemplate our accomplishments. The cannabis industry is no different. As 2019 comes to a close, the cannabis award season is in full bloom, with multiple events and organizations taking the time to honor excellence in the industry.
Warren Bobrow=WB: Where are you from originally? How did you decide on Humboldt? I grew up on a Biodynamic farm, what are your thoughts about this methodology in outdoor grown cannabis?
Nathaniel Pennington=NP: I’m originally from Upstate New York and Philadelphia, but I hightailed it out to Humboldt County when I turned 18 after a brief hiatus at an art school studying ceramics and glass blowing. I’d honestly say that fate brought me to Humboldt, I fell back into a relationship with a high school sweetheart when she convinced me to drop out of college after only two months to travel across the country. After a month or so of taking our time traveling across the country car camping, we landed at the very liberal hippy school, Prescott University in Arizona where she promptly left me for a relatively famous female folk singer. I then wandered the West like a vagabond heartbroken puppy until a month later, I found myself nursing my emotional wounds with the world’s best cannabis in my new home, Humboldt County.
2019’s Top 8 Cannabis Podcasts You Need in Your Life
I wish that I had more time in the day to listen to podcasts because there are so many out there that have such a powerful influence! How many hours are there in a day? Not enough. I’m still working through Brian Eno Music For Films as my go-to for work-time listening. Fat chance for me to find time to listen to anything new during my usual work day, but when I travel, which is much these days, I find myself listening to podcasts. Among the best are this list of eight cannabis podcasts you need in your life. When I can turn off the phone for six or so hours, I’ll dive into a few good podcasts. Well friends, I hope you start here with this brilliant list of talented weed people.
I bought the first incarnation of the DaVinci last year and found it to be much different from the competition. First of all, the heating time was much shorter with my original DaVinci and the all important clean-up is even simpler than I could imagine. Although I don’t use the first incarnation of the DaVinci any longer (I now use the newest version, the IQ2). The IQ2 makes the job of vaporizing my medicinal herbs a true pleasure. The flavor from the newer IQ2 is full and robust and it is never harsh, nor is it ever hot on my tongue.
Her Highness
I love Her Highness. Why should men have all the fun in gourmet-read:luxury cannabis? Her Highness celebrates her love of her plant! Our plant, if you are overly sensitive, that is true but know that I deeply appreciate the female aspect to this interview for my column at Forbes Vices. It means something. I love that these two brilliant native New York women are both destigmatizing cannabis with their own unique brand of cannabis products, both THC and CBD based, where legal of course. Not the man’s brand or a his/her identity, but their own. Big distinction here. It’s Her Highness, not His Highness, see what I’m saying? It’s theirs! Get it? Good. Be nice, mind your manners and you might share in her pleasure.
WB: Please tell me about your company? What do you do? What is your role?
Sam Collins=SC: I’m the Chief Marketing Officer of Bhang, Inc. Bhang started 10 years ago as one of the first medical cannabis chocolate companies and we were the first to have product liability insurance, verified potency, and a nutritional fact panel. Now, we are expanding into new states and working on our hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) business, creating edible and topical products that fit a variety of consumer wants and needs. I wasn’t always focused on cannabis — most of my career has been in the wine and spirits industry. My friends joke that I cover the “vices”. Before Bhang I worked for companies like Diageo and Treasury Wine Estates doing brand marketing, trade marketing and sales. I have a real passion for wine and spirits, the process of fermentation, distillation and aging are all fascinating to me. I love the concept of terroir and I think it applies to sun-grown cannabis as well. When I got the call from a recruiter about the Bhang opportunity I thought, “Wow, that is really an iconic brand in the edibles space.” I was excited to work with a brand with its’ legacy.
I first discovered Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap as a film student at Emerson College in 1981. I was probably under the influence of some kind of controlled dangerous substance at the time, something from the recombinant DNA students at MIT, if I can remember back that long. There was a fresh bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap in my shower in my apartment up on Beacon Hill. I had just purchased it at Erewhon on Newbury Street (Erewhon spelled backwards is nowhere?) As I turned on the plentiful hot water the distinctive peppermint aroma filled my brain. The fragrance and pure-gentle cleaning power swirled on me, over me and through my very chi. The familiar blue bottle with learned teachings printed all over the label helped me to know nothing as the words flew off the bottle and over my head. These teaching words were written by David Bronner’s grandfather, the soap man himself, Dr. Bronner. As my ego was shattered and burst through the steam with each tingling drop of the peppermint soap, I would in later years, go on to utilize Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap in my own mantra for deep enlightenment.
And David Bronner’s sun-grown cannabis? It is equally as ego busting as that day I metaphorically rode a bicycle with the benefit of his grandfather’s soap. Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap to be exact.
I first met Johnny Casali at the event known as Hall of Flowers in Santa Rosa California. I was immediately taken by his warmth and kindness. He had the strong hands of a farmer who got his results from working the soil with wooden handled tools. I felt very small next to him for the events that he has experienced. Johnny has endured much in his years due to his love of cannabis. I hope that the injustices of the past help push your successes of the present into greater acceptance of our plant. Thank you Johnny.
I’m a big fan of Flow Kana. They have taken the axiom of outdoor grown, sun drenched cannabis flowers and given the word craft, at least in the cannabis world new meaning. Craft cannabis means micro-farming in smaller amounts, not massive corporate grows. Craft cannabis means to me the similar approach to craft spirits. Something hand-made, with love. Flow Kana empowers the small growers with the art and science of cannabis growing. They have given new meaning to the word, craft.
