Tag: warren bobrow

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Articles Klaus Recipes Reviews

Why Flavor is important – Dreaming in flavor, one sip at a time.

Why Flavor is important - Dreaming in flavor, one sip at a time.

I’m fortunate to have a photographic memory for tastes and scents. This helps me in mixology because I’m influenced not by fast food flavors, but ones on a global basis. You see, when one spends a good amount of time traveling and not eating in American hotels, you tend to learn something about flavor and how memory fits into the equation of how flavors work together.

If you want another lazy seltzer, flavor and memory are unimportant.  So no amount of concentrate is going to make that drink palatable. But take a craft beverage, add a thoughtful amount of the best ingredients that money can buy, and combine them in a way that unlocks memories of the first time you tasted a given recipe? That is what makes the efforts of Iconic Tonics resonate with not only your taste buds but your dreams as well. And that is what a good beverage does. It offers you an alternative to industrialized experiences. I come from Craft Spirits and although I don’t drink hard alcohol any longer and haven’t in some time, I will say that the art of mixology is never forgotten, just examine the work of Jerry Thomas!  You could say he is a great influence upon me. And another person, Beach Bum Berry, who influenced a generation of Tiki Bars and party people. I am deeply influenced by the rum lore of the Caribbean and the Beach Bum Berry classic named the Zombie Cocktail is one of my favorites in the repertoire of rum soaked classics. I on the other hand have reinvented the classic, with Cannabis instead of rum- because there is nothing elegant about a Sailor’s Hangover. And a THC infused Rum punch, without the rum?  Essential. You don’t need it. You won’t miss the rum, I promise!  

A thing of Rare Beauty.

Why use the best ingredients? I believe we have a social responsibility to eat simply, drink healthier, and enjoy life- without liquor. At Iconic Tonics we are uniquely geared to the traditional reinventions of the classics of mixology and we are also able to harness your wildest dreams in flavor… To make your dreams come true as well. Why?

Because we dream in flavor and sipping our unique craft beverages and the very special ones, the ones we consult upon are magical in many ways.

We can make your dreams come alive, one sip at a time.

The only thing holding you back is your imagination!

A Simple LYB, a garage rock n’ roll, yet sailor-influenced Rum Punch- without the Rum… But with THC. And you decide how much you want.  I wouldn’t go over 25 mg per drink, but then again, that’s up to you. Cheers!

I use the Ardent to decarb my cannabis (no more burnt batches) and I recommend the Levo2 to infuse the simple syrup with a crazy amount of ouid or Delta 9.

Ingredients for five or six thirsty lost rock and roll stars… who have been too long at sea:

  • 4 oz. Grilled Pineapple Juice- Slice pineapple into rounds and grill until marked, cool and juice
  • 2 oz. Each: Freshly squeezed tangerine, mango, orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit and sour cherry juice
  • 1 oz. Orgeat – almond flavoring
  • 3 oz. Demerara Simple Syrup, infused with THC

Good ice that doesn’t taste like the fridge. *put large cube ice trays in double freezer bags, no…… it won’t be perfectly clear ice, but then again it won’t taste like last week’s garlic pasta lurking in the back of the fridge…*

Angostura Bitters

Prep:

  • Combine all juices in a Boston Shaker with the orgeat (fill the shaker ¾ of ice)
  • Shake darned hard for fifteen or so seconds
  • Double Strain into a couple old fashioned glasses with a couple of your fancy ice cubes
  • Garnish with grilled pineapple spears
  • Dot with Angostura and serve. 

How much THC? That is up to you, my friends. Don’t destroy yourself! 

Warren Bobrow is a master mixologist and author of 6 beverage books on cannabis cocktails, mocktails, and tonics. He is also the CEO & Co-Founder of Klaus – Ready-to-drink functionally-infused cocktails. With extensive expertise and creativity, Warren brings valuable insight and creativity to our team and clients at Harmony Craft Beverages. If you’re interested in working with Warren on your next beverage innovation, reach out to Harmony Craft Beverages today!

https://drinkiconictonics.com/blogs/blog/dreaming-in-flavor-one-sip-at-a-time

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Klaus Podcasts

Snoop Dogg Bets Big on Functional Beverages with Iconic Tonics

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Articles Klaus Reviews

Snoop Dogg, Harmony Craft Bevs Partner on Functional Drink Co

The legendary rapper and entrepreneur announced a strategic investment and partnership with Craft Harmony Beverages to create Iconic Tonics.

Snoop Dogg’s beverage empire is expanding. The legendary rapper and entrepreneur announced a strategic investment and partnership with Harmony Craft Beverages today that brings along both his existing range of THC-infused beverages – Death Row Records Do It Fluid and Dogg Lbs Doggy Spritz – and his considerable cultural cache.

The deal creates a new company, Iconic TonicsIconic Tonics, that folds in both Snoop’s brands launched. in December 2023: the carbonated four-SKU line Do It Fluid in 12 oz. cans, and Dogg Lbs Doggy Spritz. Those will be integrated into Harmony’s existing functional portfolio, which includes Klaus, Malus, Love Yer Brain, and Lift.

“We’ve known [Snoop and his team] for a long time, and really this gives a much broader, and I would say, deeper exposure for Snoop in the functional beverage space,” said Evan Eneman, Co-founder and CEO of Iconic Tonics.

“I’ve always been about innovation, and functional beverages are the next frontier,” said Snoop Dogg in a press statement. “People want drinks that do more than just taste good – they want benefits, and they want choices. Harmony Craft Beverages has been pioneering this movement, and together now as Iconic Tonics, we’re bringing something fresh to the table. This is more than a brand – it’s a lifestyle.”

Beyond his personal expertise in all things cannabis, Snoop’s arrival brings “more mainstream viability” to the emerging THC drinks category, said Eneman. Harmony’s portfolio reflects that approach: partners like acclaimed mixologist Warren Bobrow (with Klaus) and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips (Love Yer Brain) have unique reach with different audiences and use occasions, all under the auspices of functionality.

“Snoop is really endemic in culture. Wayne is deeply endemic in creativity and art. And so these are people that represent I would say more movements and cultural shifts,” said Eneman. “Them together, plus someone like Warren, it just brings a lot of these, you know, endemic understanding and global influence together.”

Snoop’s prowess as a businessman and marketer can come at a cost; some recent CPG ventures, including an RTD coffee and an ambitious cereal brand now in litigation, fizzled quickly, while his other successful projects (Gin and Juice, Still G.I.N.) put more demands on his time. Eneman described Snoop’s participation as a “50-50 partner” in Iconic Tonics, working across the full portfolio, and noted the rapper “will be active in the ways that he can incorporate [the brand] into what he’s doing going forward.

The products themselves are available mainly both online (DoorDash) and in stores like Total Wine & More and Woodman’s Markets.

“We want to reach consumers in a way that they’re used to, having optionality based on occasion or day part or experience they’re looking for. That’s how we’ve built our brands. That’s how we built our experiences,” said Eneman. “And it’s early for us, but we’re seeing that bearing out in the ways that consumers are reacting.”

https://www.bevnet.com/news/2025/snoop-dogg-harmony-craft-bevs-partner-on-functional-drink-co
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5 Questions Skunk Magazine

A Deep Dive into Selfies: Uncommon Name/Brilliant Cannabis

When I look back into the past and my path to becoming the person I have finally become, it’s important to remember the people who I’ve bonded with along the way. Two of these people knew me when I worked for that business-centric magazine because I wrote about them. Now, more than a few years later, I had a dream. And in the dream, I was smoking a perfect .25 gram Selfies: The Lime. The next day, I was going through my cabinet, and what I thought was an empty box of The Lime/Selfies dropped out onto the floor. I thought it was empty because it’s been a year since I’ve been out west and had the opportunity to procure a few packs. But getting back to the box, which I thought was empty, I found a perfect little preroll for selfies inside. It was calling me as if to say, please savor me. Smoke me. Enjoy me. And the back story is, lately, the cannabis I’ve been enjoying has not been from California. It’s someplace different. And when I lit up that perfectly stuffed, delicious “the lime,” it brought me back to the place where I bought it in Los Angeles when I developed the liquor and non-alc program at Love, Life, Nourish in LaLa… This brought me back to square one professionally and gave me the ability to pivot right back to the people who still influence me.

The people behind Selfies, that is.

I’m the lucky one to be able to be influenced by their passion for the finest California-grown cannabis, stuffed into a .25 space with a paper filter and the marvelous box around. They have succeeded and found their niche amongst many. I wish they were available in New York or New Jersey. Or anywhere near me. I’m a massive fan of the brand, yes. But more importantly, the people behind the brand resonate with a very special place in my experience, and their interview is from the heart. Glad to have done this interview with you, my friends.

Cheers! WB

cannabis world news cannabis products

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourselves. Where are you from? Where are you now? How did you choose to open your business in California?

Kristen and Chad Heschong: We are the co-founders of SELFiES. We’re both from California: Chad is from the Bay Area, and Kristen is from Orange County, CA. We’ve both lived in California our whole lives, and our families are here. California has our hearts, so deciding to start our business here was easy and natural.

WB: Please tell me about your business. What do you do? What are your strengths? Please tell me about Selfies. What’s in the name?

KH: Heshies is our parent company, specializing in contract manufacturing and white-label services. We collaborate with some of the most respected brands in California, building our business on a foundation of strong relationships and exceptional product quality. Our commitment is to consistently exceed client expectations, ensuring the success of every partner we work with. Rather than focusing solely on financial gain, our priority is to deliver premium, clean products that California consumers can trust and enjoy.

CH: I oversee all aspects of the business, with a primary focus on manufacturing, inventory management, and sales. In addition to my day-to-day responsibilities, I dedicate significant effort to identifying and cultivating new partnerships to drive the continued growth of our company. Given the dynamic nature of our industry, we all wear multiple hats to ensure success. While we launched over seven years ago, the challenges of operating within California’s evolving market make it feel as though we are still navigating the early stages of a startup.

KH: I oversee the creative and marketing divisions of our business, while also stepping into various roles as needed. With a background in public relations and marketing for consumer brands, I was eager to merge my professional experience with my passion for the plant. This has allowed me to create a product offering that I am truly proud of.

SELFiES started due to Chad constantly bringing home new products to try and me not wanting half-smoked joints on our coffee table. I wanted to try everything, but in a smaller format, so Chad started rolling and bringing home smaller and smaller joints. When he got to the .25g minis, we both knew we were on to something- there wasn’t anything in the market like this, this size, this quality – it was unmatched. My biggest issue at the time with the cannabis market was the creative/ marketing; it was either super stoner-like or apothecary-like. I wasn’t drawn to the super-stoner branding, and as appealing as the apothecary-like branding was, I saw it as a disservice to our biggest goal in the industry, which was the destigmatization of the plant. Masking cannabis in packaging that is fit for a pricey candle at a high-end store felt insincere to me. I wanted to shine a light (this is where holographic came into play) on this amazing product we have, and on destigmatizing this wonderful, magical plant we have on our beloved earth. We have a great quality product, and we’re fun and approachable. It was so important to articulate that in our branding.

WB: What about the name?  

KH: Chad came up with the name SELFiES, but to be honest, at the time, I wasn’t completely sold on it. Having spent so much time in fashion and being so excited for a meaningful career change, it was hard for me to detach my conceptions at the time of being self-absorbed and the term selfies. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I vividly remember a long conversation Chad and I had about the need for small joints in a pack you could share. We chatted about all the times we shared a joint with strangers and realized, wow, how awesome would it be to be able to share a joint without sharing YOUR joint? Everyone keeps their germs to themselves, but everyone gets to smoke and share the experience together. We also loved the idea of treating yourself whenever that made sense! The size makes it so non-committal I would never feel bad about lighting and enjoying one solo.

WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor? When did you first discover cannabis?

KH/CH: 6 Months: Continue to expand and capture market share in California. 12 Months: Expand into other states with the right partners that share a similar vision.

Obstacles: Ever changing regulations, TAXES & AR collections. One of the most significant challenges for brands in California is collecting payments according to the agreed-upon terms. This unpredictability makes it incredibly difficult to maintain an accurate financial forecast, as we’re never certain when—or if—we will be paid. It’s the primary source of stress for us. We are fortunate to have an exceptional, dedicated team, and ensuring we can retain and compensate them fairly and on time is a non-negotiable priority. To mitigate financial uncertainty, we rely on our personal savings to continuously bootstrap the company, taking on the larger financial sacrifices ourselves, along with Tyler, the other co-founder of Heshies. Additionally, we are constantly navigating the complexities of an oversaturated California market (both legal and illegal).

Removing Obstacles – The majority of the obstacles we face are unfortunately beyond our control. Addressing these challenges will require significant policy changes, such as the de-scheduling of cannabis, the passing of the Banking Act, the removal of Section 280E, and improvements in funding—though we are determined to avoid external funding for as long as possible. What we can control, however, is our response to these challenges. Adapting and overcoming the numerous hurdles thrown our way has become our greatest strength. One area where we do have control is in how we navigate the saturated market, continually setting ourselves apart by offering unique, high-quality products.

cannabis world news cannabis products

WB: When did you first discover cannabis?

CH: In high school, I injured my back while lifting weights, and the only relief I found from the pain was through cannabis—rather than the prescription medications my doctor recommended. The day I turned 18, I took my medical records to a physician, obtained my medical cannabis license, and have since been dedicated to creating a product that can provide the same kind of relief for others dealing with pain, anxiety, depression, and other challenges.

KH: My parents may read this, so let’s say I first discovered cannabis at 18 in college in San Francisco (shoutout to Hippie Hill!). I had always struggled with anxiety, although at the time, I didn’t know that was what it was. I just knew that cannabis made me feel better, more at ease, able to process hard things better, and overall just live a better life. And I enjoyed it! Much more than drinking or anything else people were doing.

WB: Circling around to a more personal question, What kind of food do you enjoy when imbibing your products? Do you have a favorite restaurant or meal you like to enjoy when imbibing?  

KH: We’re both trying to be healthier currently (it’s the beginning of the year, right?!). After COVID-19, the stresses of the industry, and a heartbreaking 3-year fertility journey, we’re trying to make a concerted effort to prioritize what we’re giving our bodies. Recently, we’ve been devouring The Good Soup by Caroline Chambers. It’s full of veggies and the best thing I’ve made in a while. Maybe it’s ever? I have a huge sweet tooth, so I am constantly trying to find healthier sweet alternatives- currently, lots of dates and chocolate recipes, and we both love popcorn to satisfy any late-night cravings.

More than food after smoking SELFiES, we LOVE experiences. THRIFT SHOPPING- flea markets all over California are one of my favorite things to do and have become one of Chad’s favorite things as well (Long Beach Flea and Alameda are our top picks). So much of our furniture, decor, and clothing comes from thrift shopping; we love the hunt, and we love buying preloved items to help our beloved earth. We also love getting out in nature after enjoying our products; they make us both stop and really appreciate all the beauty around us and focus on gratitude no matter what we are dealing with in life at that time.  

WB: What is your passion?  

KH: To destigmatize the cannabis plant and provide exceptional products so that many more can experience the incredible healing properties it has to offer because that will make the world a better place.

All photos credit: Selfies

Follow online: https://selfiesbyheshies.com/

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5 Questions Articles Skunk Magazine

Intellectual Cannabist in New Mexico: Corrina Miramontes

Ihad the pleasure of meeting Corrina through a mutual friend and the honor of visiting her one of a kind, art gallery/dispensary/performance space in Las Cruces, New Mexico was one of the highpoints of my journeys through this land of enchantment. The time we were afforded was ever too short- as all great conversations are but I’m encouraged at the opportunity to revisit- and discuss the myriad of fine flowers that seem to be ethereal and effervescent- all at the same time.

Her space, redolent with art and gorgeous luxuriant planks of old wood floors, encapsulated in a historical adobe shell, mid-century modern before anyone coined the name. The energy of her space is palatable, and you can feel the spirits of this historic place dance around you. Her building? Spiritual for certain- filled with the energy from the healers who lived here, I sensed it the second I came in. Made the hairs on my arms rise up, as if to say, rest awhile, learn. experience. Share. Good people this Corrina Miramontes… My family of cannabis luminaries has expanded deeply. What an honor to learn from her! She is truly a cannabist.

Her massive, Great Pyrenees puppy with many tasks to complete met me at the door and ran with me around the back yard. Fun! Great personality. Tons of energy! Good dog!

Now, please enjoy my interview with Corrina. And if you make your way through Las Cruces, stop in to her dispensary/art gallery and introduce yourself. Have a glass of alkaline water, meet the spirits… Relax and learn what you don’t know… Plenty as I found out.

And now? What’s next? Please enjoy.

cannabis world news interviews image of Corrina Miramontes smiling
Photo credit: Rebecca Munoz

Waren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Live now?
Where did you get your start in the hospitality business? You are evidently extremely talented in fine wine and how do you use this knowledge in what you are doing now.

Corrina Miramontes: My name is Corrina Miramontes Strauss, I was born in southern California raised in Northern California & New Mexico. I am currently spending my time between Las Cruces and Albuquerque. My family owned a restaurant in Northern California for 25 years, but I will say my ex-husband’s family had a Mexican employee that taught me so much about serving and hospitality. Arora was her name, and she just passed this year. She taught me so much about being of service truly.

Yes, I learned about terpenes in wine! I defiantly analyze cannabis and cannabis products like wine and smell is everything! Smell, sight, taste!
Next to smoking. I suppose a lot of what I learned as a Sommelier helps me in the Cannabis industry.

WB: Please tell me about your business in Las Cruces? How did you decide to put in a dispensary? You have amazing strains that I’ve seen nowhere else… Do you source your own plants? How do you choose what you sell? Terroir? Sungrown? Landraces?

CM: Royal Road Cannabis Company dispensary, art gallery, apothecary, community space.

My father’s family was from Chihuahua and settled in the area, Ahaa the Borderlands and it’s trauma. I came here, to care for my grandmother the winter of 2021, rec just passed. I felt drawn like “It was meant to be “for me to share the knowledge gained in Northern California, not only in Cannabis but as an example for young, underserved Latinas in the community.

Thank you for the strain (or cultivar) compliment, I research growers, strains, style of growing and intention of the human growing the medicine. I cannot source my own plants YET but in the future!

cannabis world news interviews image of Corrina Miramontes with Swami Chaitanya
Photo credit: Madeleine Strauss

WB: What are your six and twelve month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing those obstacles? Tell me about your historic building that your dispensary is in… What makes it so special….

CM: My six month goals are to get the word out! WE are here, open and have incredible products for you!

My goal for twelve months is to launch a few products under The Royal Buzz brand.

The biggest obstacle is my place is not on a major street, so its challenging to find. We had a huge Mural painted on the building to bring attention to the building.

The building was built in 1915, and you can most certainly feel that when you are in it. One of my favorite stories of the space is that during WW2 a woman whose husband was at war, was living here. She prayed every day for strangers. The main wall in the dispensary was filled with photos of strangers, this women, who lived in this building was a “Prayer warrior”. She would pray for hours every day. What an angel.

Also, it is on the Camino Real hence the name Royal Road, it’s on the original road that went from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Pat Garett, the man that shot Billy the kid lived on my street.
I could go on with the history of my house, street and neighborhood. I am actually the Historian for the neighborhood Historic Preservation group.

WB: What are your favorite foods? Do you cook? If so, what is your go/to when imbibing fine wine- I mean the plant! And fine wine too… Do you have a favorite restaurant? Where? What do you enjoy eating when you go out?

cannabis world news interviews image of dog laying on floor
Photo credit: Adrain Medina

CM: Favorite food? Well, that is a hard one for me, I worked with French Chefs most of my Beverage Career. Chef Cammile Swartrz was from Alsace and Chef Roland Passot from Lyon, their food is so incredible!

These days I don’t eat much rich food. Mexican food feeds my tummy and my soul.

Yes! I love to cook, and I don’t have a particular favorite style, I do have years of question to Chefs and family members. I adore fine ingredients. I’ll focus a whole meal on an ingredient I’ve found.
When I do drink, I love finely executed mocktails, Champagne, Burgundy (red or white) and agave spirits like Tequila, Mescal, Sotol and Bacanora.
As far as plant medicine I LOVE Hash Holes, I love a broad range of cultivars, I think there is a place for it all. Narrow leaves for me during the day although they can be cerebral, but they do stimulate my creativity and productivity. I love a wide leaf in the evenings, during my moon, and after a long day snowboarding. I love 1:1. I grew 1:1 last year and it was such a lovely smoke.

Lavender Trainwreck was my favorite plant ever! To grow and smoke!

Rosin is a special treat for me, the layers of taste reminds me of wine. And that is why I LOVE Hash Holes.

Favorite restaurants, in Las Cruces I have to say Café Paisano has the best flavors and ingredients. Saenz Gorditas is the best fast food! My grandpa would take me there.
When I am in Albuquerque, I like to eat at Annapurna clean and intentional. I have to say my favorite meal ever was at Quintonil in Mexico City. It was like tasting through my childhood and culture but with the execution that was second to none. I am pretty adventurous when it comes to eating. I did say no to Llama!

WB: What is your passion?

CM: Passion well…. I love being a mother! I can’t wait until my children have children.

I love community and I am hopeful there is a community focus shift in consciousness. I am very passionate about sharing knowledge of any kind with those in need. I have come from an underserved community of brown and indigenous women, and it is my greatest passion to serve them as our future.

Gardening is my heaven (is that different than passions?) Snowboarding is my exhilaration. Learning is my drive. I didn’t realize how much I’d love advocating, but it makes sense, and I am so thankful for my cannabis crew and historic preservation crew. Music is my church and snowboarding is my self care.

Thank you, my friend, for affording me the time in your world in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I learned something I didn’t know about myself in the process.
Cheers! WB

Follow online: www.royalroadcc.com 

Feature photo credit: Adrian Acosta

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Intellectual Cannabist in New Mexico: Corrina Miramontes

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5 Questions Articles Skunk Magazine

Fourteen Counties Temple Ball Magic in Massachusetts

Let’s talk about luck for a moment. Having just returned from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I tasted for the first time an outdoor grown in the high desert (with love and abundant sunshine) cannabis from this magical place. The location was the most marvelous dispensary named Royal Road, filled with spirits. Some known, and others hovering outside, waiting patiently to be dispersed in the small packages of outdoor-grown cannabis. Had I had more time, I would have dug deeper into this mysterious plant that arrives in dispensaries in many formats, from edibles that take time to assimilate to beverages and flowers. Hash is in there too, I’m sure of it; everything was so thoughtfully chosen. I just didn’t ask the right questions. Next time, I’ll try to do better.

This conversation about terroir and the classics leads me to a trip to an island off the coast of Massachusetts. In this cast-away place, surrounded by the churning seas, the dream of creating temple ball hash made its way to my inland empire, and what delicious hash this is. The artisan crafts enlighten the traditionalist, something that I consider myself. Mostly because I wasn’t just born, and the first time I tried “temple ball” hash in the form of a small brick was in the Ivory Coast in Africa in 1976. Hey, you asked; I was about twelve. The guards of the place we were staying smoked this tobacco and hashish stew in large chalices. Was it ceremonial? I probably was because the sharp stone-tipped spears they carried weren’t for show. They got pretty high on hash, as did my young self. Something wild that remains with me in spirit to this day.

When I investigated Fourteen Counties @fourteencounties on Instagram, they had the usual dabbing stuff. The bubble hash and some truly gorgeous live rosin, but no offense to them; I’m not a dabber. The scents of the plant certainly are beguiling in this format, but I don’t understand the ritual. I need to learn someday, but for all intents and purposes, I love the classic temple ball hash. And that’s what I love to describe. Although I believe hash should be aged, this had all the stuffing. I felt like having a dream from many years gone.

cannabis world news interviews Hashish Block and ball

There was something that caught my admiring gaze. That was the Fourteen Counties Hash, real temple ball hash, inspired by Frenchy. Need I say more? Probably not if you know, and if you don’t, I implore you to set aside your dab rig. Search for a hash cloche. Made of glass with a little glass tip that comes out. Inside, you’ll find a small chunk of wood with a thin nail protruding into the glass bell-shaped contraption. Remove with your fingers a nice chunk of the temple ball hash. Roll it around in your palm, smell the aromatics, and tap into the soul of the flower, the plant in all her glory. Form a little ball in your palm and pierce it on the nail. Light it until it glows, blow out any flame, and replace the glass lid. When it fills up with smoke, pull open the top opening and inhale the delicious aromatics.

What you experience is very personal. Hash feels like the embrace of an Angora wool blanket to me. I love the sleep it offers at the end of the day. I’m charmed to know that Fourteen Counties is making the stuff of my dreams. Thank you for being patient. I’ve been traveling, mostly in my mind.

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. What was your path to the plant? Where are you from? Where do you live now? When I met you, we were at Martha’s Vineyard. Your roots are deep there- want to tell us about it? When did you first try cannabis? How old? With whom? (A lot to cover, I know, but I like to get a feeling to the readers about who YOU are….)

Ian Mattson: Taking a debate class in high school where I had to debate being pro-medical marijuana. The research and effort behind that experience fueled a lot of interest and background I was unaware of beforehand. I was born in Santa Cruz, CA, and lived in Oakham MA, as well as Martha’s Vineyard. I currently live in Oakham/Barre, in Central MA. I spent summers on the Vineyard throughout my childhood. My grandfather, Alvin Seymour Lane, was stationed there in the Navy as a lieutenant and ended up building a home. Because of this, my family has deep ties to the Vineyard through my grandfather. He has a hospital wing named after him there. The Vineyard did and still does play a big role in my life since my family still lives there, and I visit often. I was only 13 years old with friends at the time and ended up doing it because everyone else was. Overall, it was a negative first experience, but the outlook improved later with the debate and research at school.

cannabis world news interviews containers of dabs

WB: What are you working on right now? Why hash? Who is your inspiration? Why? What style of hash is your favorite? Do you smoke flower too? Any particular strains? Growers you want to give props to.

IM: Right now, I am focusing on expanding the 14 Counties’ solventless concentrates to bring clean, high-quality hand-washed hash and live rosin to the Massachusetts market. After being unimpressed and uninspired by rosin on the market, I used my inspiration from Frenchy Cannoli and my passion for hash to focus on creating top-quality solventless concentrates for consumers in Massachusetts. The holistic benefits of hash as a medicine, with its’ terpene content and powerful expression of the entourage effect, make it a stand-out in terms of concentrates. It really focuses on being clean and high-quality throughout the process. Yes, but mostly smoke live rosin and consume full-spectrum edibles because of the holistic benefits associated with them.

Fresh Connection is a highly respected indoor cultivator fueled by passion and a deep background in cannabis. Fresh Connection has continued to provide us with top-tier flower ground-break collaborations (like our traditional hash) and a solid friend in the community.

Picnic is an exceptional small-batch indoor/outdoor cultivator focused on growing intended for hash production. Our continued partnership with Picnic has allowed us not only to bring in amazing flower but collaborate back and forth on results from seed to jar.

Live rosin. It is the best expression of quality from input-output & overall process.

cannabis world news chunk of hashish

WB: What are your six and twelve-month goals? What obstacles do you face? How do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor? If so, who?

IM: Frenchy Cannoli. His ethos is inspirational. His passion for hash, from the genetics of the plant to growing it to the best processing methods possible, his dedication to every part of the process, and the education he has provided have been inspiring and motivating forces.

To bring exceptional rosin to the MA that is not only high-quality but also explores more strains grown locally to better fit the MA market.

Sticking with Fourteen Counties in creating the best non-solvent concentrates I can while consistently improving and introducing new products to the community.

Start pressing hash in personal amounts for my own endeavors and research and development of new techniques.

Cannabis regulations are a huge obstacle. Our regulations do not operate the same way other retail markets do. Heavy restrictions on packaging and in-store rules make finding product details difficult before purchase. During purchase, daily limits (unseen in alcohol) and high tax rates make the experience price-focused instead of product-focused. Then, after purchase, there are almost zero return protections if there are issues.

I am mostly self-taught through YouTube and online sources. However, some people in the traditional market have provided help in the past.

Currently, Good Will Hunting at Blue River Terps is an excellent collaborator/mentor type, pointing me in the right direction for refining my process.

WB: What does hash do that smoking (plain) cannabis doesn’t do? Is it more spiritual for you? Does it unlock your brain differently?

IM: Hash has more of a medicinal benefit for me due to how it plays into the entourage effect. The higher potency (terpenes and THC%) brings a more intense experience.

Because of the more intense combined effects and the potency of hash, it can be influential spiritually. However, the focus for me is medicinal.
It provides a strong version of the intended effects, so better pain management, focus, etc.

WB: What is your passion?

IM: Hash is truly my passion! I live, breathe, and literally eat hash. I don’t have a direct place where I can say where my passion comes from, but I’d like to think my Lebanese background has a heavy influence.

Marvelous! WB

Follow online: https://fourteencounties.com/

Photo credits: Nico La Guerre-Mercury 
Packaging design by Dan McGregor

Fourteen Counties Temple Ball Magic in Massachusetts
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5 Questions Articles Interviews Skunk Magazine

New Mexico’s Landrace Outdoor Cannabis Nurturer: Monica Davalos

As many of my readers know, and for those who don’t, I’m currently working on a couple of projects in New Mexico. For the past few months, I’ve been working with a New Mexico based, craft cannabis company, which let to my completely life-changing experience of sourcing some of the finest cannabis in the land. This friends, would be in New Mexico and this is in my humble opinion. And what has happened to me is striking in the respect to the local terroir and overall history of the plant and what she has taught me about life and good health.

Through the magic of social media, a collaborative effort was born and my path to New Mexico only deepened with a correspondence with Monica Davalos, who is very intent on craft cannabis, outdoor grown- using landrace strains…. She’s doing something outside of the norm (indoor grow, multiple times) and in Monica’s life, she grows once per year without chemicals or pesticides. In the high desert!

New Mexico!

Nearly everything I’ve tasted that has been grown outside with nearly zero humidity has opened my eyes to that false axiom (again, my opinion) of chasing the higher and higher levels of THC as a merit of quality. NO, this is not so! Quality in my opinion is not high THC, it’s the history lessons, The landrace strains, low THC, medicinal cannabis. The stuff I require for my medical use… These are history lessons from the past, grown in the wild outdoors, under the sun with miniscule amounts of rain… In the wine world we call it dry farming with cover crops. What Monica has achieved is in this regard to terroir? Dry farming with cover crops? It is truly the taste of the place.

And it’s the natural way!

But what caught my attention is Monica’s dream of making her own temple ball hash.

Frenchy would be proud.

cannabis world news interviews mage of cannabis plants in a field with the sun just setting, throwing golden beams doen across the plants

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now? Do you travel to other places?

Monica Davalos: My Name is Monica Davalos, I am a fifth generation native New Mexican. I was born and raised here in Bent NM. I am the fifth generation owner of our family farm where I have been lucky enough to start my cannabis grow. I travel, however, not as often as I used to. I am usually occupied with the farm.

WB: Tell me what you’re working on right now.

MD: At the moment I have just finished harvesting. The future is wide open for me. Recreational cannabis is still in its infancy. With the amount of acreage and plenty of water I have space to expand on ventures. That being said, my passion is to keep the natural integrity of cannabis in all forms. I am starting to explore old school ways of using and producing cannabis i.e., temple balls, growing only landrace strains from our region, outdoor growing seasonally, chemical and pesticide free.

WB: What are your six and twelve month goals?

MD: To Keep expanding, Taking on new projects and creating new products…the goal is to make cannabis a viable and socially acceptable product. More so than alcohol, tobacco, and Big Pharma

cannabis world news interviews image of cannabis plant in field of grass

WB: What obstacles do you face?

MD: Being a woman growing in this industry, Finding people that hold the same values and passions as I do about cannabis, overcoming the cannabis stigma

WB: How do you anticipate removing them?

MD: In this industry I believe it will be much easier for women to excel. It’s starting to get better and better. I have and continue to find people in the cannabis community that want and do uphold the same work ethic and curiosity as I do. I believe patience is on my side.

WB: Tell me please about the plant and your experiences with her. What strains are you working with? Why?

MD: This beautiful medical plant has opened me up to new ways of thinking and approaching her. When I started growing to scale, I didn’t want to mass produce on a scale that would dilute the importance and integrity of the plant. As I write this NM has a long way to go as far as educating our cannabis community in all faucets of her wonders. NM still bases cannabis values on high THC levels and the quick “high” if you will. I would like to see us grow our tastes that include the whole expression of the flower. From the terpenes to the last flavor of the exhale. I also didn’t want to grow indoor; I do realize this is a touchy subject. But because of the area I farm it would be a waste not allowing the plant to express the full terroir… the sun, high desert mountain air, fresh water, beautiful soil,….it would be a disgrace!!!

As I mentioned I love the landrace strains. Acapulco Gold has been my go to since I started growing, I will be adding on some Sinaloa and Oaxaca. I also experienced landrace strains have better genetics and are healthier and more stable for growing in the high desert.

WB: Please tell me about food. What do you like to eat? Do you cook? Where do your recipes come from?

MD: As a Latina I’m all about food. It’s how we love. Of course I love all the Southwestern NM food. I was raised on it. On the regular I stick to pretty basic veggies, fruits and meats. I’m a busy human so I have to make sure I am healthy and stay that way. But when I want something more I love great home cooked meals, elegant French dinner, Hearty Italian, Thai is also a favorite…GEEZ I could go on and on.

WB: What is your passion?

MD: Keeping it artisanal and simple…boutique style. I’m sure you’ve noticed when products are made on a big scale the quality is compromised. Only the best wines, cigars, truffles, pasta, breads etc. are simple and in small batches. All the top shelf ingredients go into a top shelf product. And they are rare…but it’s all worth the work and wait. The end product is the PASSION…the taste, the smell, the sight, the feel…

Thank you for the questions, it was a joy answering them, M.

WB: My thanks to you, Monica, for teaching us something new about your passion for the plant and a little about you too.

Photos Credit: Monica Davalos 

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https://skunkglobalmarijuanaculture.com/cannabis-world-news/industry-business/interviews/new-mexicos-landrace-outdoor-cannabis-nurturer-monica-davalos/

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Uncategorized

Clean Buzz Technologies: A Clean Bowl Is Possible

While attending the Revelry Buyers Club Event in Hudson a couple months ago, I stumbled upon a very interesting pipe. Inside the carefully polished aluminum shell there appeared to be a thimble shaped insert containing ceramic balls. These balls as it turn out form the basis of the pipe… A very unique one that has a “limited” life span. What does that mean? It means that you change out the bowl every fifteen or do uses to remove all the tar. Again, what does it do? The interior of the bowl, shielded by a screen, contains tiny ceramic balls. They trap the tar and let the terpenes draw through. Would you drink wine out of a dirty glass, or rum? Or anything for that matter? And what about your usual pipe or joint? What filters out that gunk that collects on the front of your teeth? Nothing!

Until this pipe found a path to my hands. And my teeth.. and my lungs.

What an invention! The Clean Buzz Pipe has my vote!

And if you reorder, there is a nice discount. After a couple times, the pipe is virtually free!

I love it!

cannabis world news interviews image of red metal cannabis pipe

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Now?

Mark McWilliams: I grew up in New Hampshire skiing on “boiler plate”, and after high school, went to Northeastern University and MIT to study Mechanical Engineering and entrepreneurship. I worked in aerospace for a decade in San Diego and worked on some very cool defense technologies that became mainstream in the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s. Then I found an opportunity to co/found a medical device design firm, followed by three more medical device companies pursuing different products and technologies. Two doubles, a base hit and a strike-out.

WB: What brought you to the cannabis industry?

MM:  Knee pain. I began with the treatments available in the ‘90’s and then started taking Vioxx until the COX2 inhibitors were implicated in organ complications and had to stop taking them. What was the remaining option? Opioid’s?? No way.

Those were the early days of medical marijuana, and I thought it was a regulatory gimmick at first, but after I tried it and my pain became much more manageable, I became a believer. That said, I could feel the tar in my lungs and did not like it at all. I tried a bong but that did nothing to remove the tar. The last straw for me was cleaning the pipe which clogged quickly and required frequent cleaning. What a nasty mess! Then vaping came along and I got very excited about that development but soon was disappointed because it lacked the potency I needed for my pain.

Those experiences got me thinking about the problem/opportunity of removing tar from the flower smoke but allowing the desirable terpenes, where flavor and medicinal components are, to pass through to the user without potency degradation.

Filters using various media present an obvious option for tar removal, but they also remove terpenes from the smoke stream, so that technology as a class would not work well in a medicinal use-case were it is desired to selectively trap tars and pass terpenes. Moreover, filters are placed after the combustion chamber and so do not prevent the pipe from getting covered with tar up to the filter, so you’re still cleaning a nasty pipe.

A new technology approach was required and frankly, that took some time to figure out. When the solution came into mind after a couple years of noodling, it seemed obvious, so I had a hunch I was onto something. A few prototypes later, the concept was proven, and an entirely new smoking technology was invented where tar is trapped in a small disposable liner and terpenes pass right through, and pipe cleaning became as simple as popping out a used bowl liner and putting a new liner in place.

WB: Tell me about your company? What do you do that makes you better than your competition?

MM: CleanBuzz is the only flower smoking technology I’m aware of that removes tar from flower smoke and passes desirable terpenes, while also keeping your pipe or bong clean. Clean lungs and clean pipe or bong. Once I had a viable solution, I formed the company to begin test marketing the product and prove the technology met user needs as it had mine.

WB: Why Cannabis? Is this your first foray with the plant? Who designed your marvelous pipe? What about the bowl makes it special? How did you think of this?

MM: I think my long-winded answer above, answers these questions? What makes it special (actually work to remove tar but pass terpenes) is the configuration of the liner in the bowl, the chamber under the screen and the small beads in that chamber. The beads are well separated from each other, so do not act as a filter of the smoke. Instead, the hot smoke passes over the beads which have lots of pores that create an enormous surface area and the tar condenses on the surface but the terpenes remain in the smoke and pass through to the user. Very simple but very effective. It is the differential condensation of the smoke constituents on the beads that does the separation, not a filtration process. This is why you get full potency of the flower, but no tar.

WB: Does your disposable bowl work with temple ball hash?

MM: I don’t know why it would not work for any smoke producing material that has not been rendered in some way.

WB: Do you recommend grinding the flower first before using the bowl?

MM: Yes. I put one gram of ground flower through each liner and collect 200-250mg of tar in each one. Too small of a grind will clog the screen though.

WB: What are your six and twelve month goals?

MM: Break even?

WB: What is your passion?

MM: OMG: passions
Skiing. I skied every season for 55 years until my knees got so bad I couldn’t. One knee replacement done and one to go, then I’ll get out again.

Entrepreneurship: I’ve co-founded 4 companies and invested in and helped over a dozen entrepreneurs advance their technology or product to market. It’s very rewarding to see these products impact lives in positive ways.

Trail Riding: I love the outdoors in SoCal and now that ebikes have become prevalent I can get out to most of the places I want. I’ve done 60 miles of single track this weekend ????

Follow online:

www.cleanbuzztechnologies.com

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1247323572/bundle-cleanbuzz-pipe-system-and-15-pack?click_key=da3931ffa7aebe26cf511e3ac7318ea6241d5d02%3A1247323572&click_sum=fde5316f&ref=related-1

Photo Credits: Courtesy Mark McWilliams 

Clean Buzz Technologies: A Clean Bowl Is Possible
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Uncategorized

Raising the spirits: Whisky and the occult

Whisky has long been revered for its taste, but beyond the palate there lies a mysterious past intertwined with the world of the occult

Cocktails | 27 Oct 2023 | By Mark Jennings

https://whiskymag.com/articles/raising-the-spirits-whisky-and-the-occult/

Devilishly good cocktails

“Consulting your local mixologist about a healing cocktail is not far removed from the way in which patients would have approached their local pharmacist in years past.”  Warren Bobrow, Apothecary Cocktails. 

The following cocktails have recommended ingredients but could be made with an alternative brand as preferred.

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5 Questions Articles Skunk Magazine

THE CHALICE: CHRIS LOUIE’S MADE IN XIAOLIN LUXURY PIVOT

Made in Xiaolin.

Years ago, in the late 1980’s when I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, I was gifted a very special tool from my old friend, Jean-Jacques, used for smoking cheeba. He named it the chalice. It was a very simple device, a piece of timber bamboo with a hole in it, where a sandblasting tip had been inserted and sealed with wire and clay for airtightness. You would fill the sandblasting tip with ouid and light it up. Your mouth would rest on one end, the other acted as a carburetor. The hits that the chalice put out were exemplary and potent. I’d never smoked anything like it until a car-ride with Chris Louie on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, when he passed me a glass, curiously filled with concentrated cannabis smoke.

Chris instructed me to drink the smoke, just like you would drink a glass of fine Burgundy, sip gently and deeply. Not too much at a time…. Something I failed to hear, because Chris’ chalice was filled with diamonds. No, not the kind that go on your finger, but concentrated cannabis that had formed these gorgeous little gems. Once heated these gems melted and filled my inexperienced lungs with their secrets.

I coughed and then again. Whatever was going through my head was twisted up, form shifting… Manhattan? Park Avenue?
This is a serious piece of equipment, Chris’s Chalice.

My piece of bamboo was lost to history, yet it remains vibrant in my mind… Chris’s Chalice on the other hand will be in my mind forever, primarily because it’s just limitless what you can do with it. Starting with that car ride… In Chris’s dad’s car.

A priceless experience of a lifetime.

Chris sent me a Chalice and it can be used one of two ways, the first with a 710 cartridge, it screws right in. Or you can use a concentrate. The learning curve is very short, and the quality of the device is sturdily built and very elegant. The gold lip is pure luxury.

cannabis world news interviews cannabis vaporizer against red background

Warren Bobrow: Please tell me what you’re working on in regard to luxury. How do you define a luxury cannabis experience?

Chris Louie: At Made In Xiaolin, we focus on luxury to craft exceptional cannabis journeys. We believe luxury means uncompromised excellence, elegance in presentation, and a superior sensory experience. We’re developing products that appeal to those who seek the finest in cannabis—not just for its effects—but for the complete experience it offers. For example, our 6 gram Capo combines 5 grams of premium flower with 1 gram of rosin, providing a rich, flavorful, and enduring session that’s perfect for aficionados who appreciate the nuances of high-quality cannabis. Additionally, our commitment to personalized customer service, innovation, exclusivity, and sustainability enhances the overall luxury experience. We believe in building strong relationships with our customers by offering personalized service, exclusive events, and educational resources. This approach ensures that our customers not only enjoy our products, but also feel valued and part of a larger community of like-minded individuals.

WB: Why the chalice name? What is the inspiration?

CL: It’s inspired by ideas of celebration and reverence. Historically, chalices are used in ceremonies to signify something precious and communal. For us, it symbolizes an elevated cannabis experience meant to be savored and shared. Our products are designed to capture those senses of specialness and unity that make every session a luxurious ritual.

Our Chalice represents a vessel of enjoyment that elevates the act of consuming cannabis into something more ceremonial and sophisticated. We want our customers to feel that each use is an occasion—a moment to be appreciated and enjoyed to the fullest. This inspiration drives us to create products that not only deliver high quality but also offer a unique and memorable experience.

WB: Tell me about the product. What is it? How is it used?

CL: The Chalice is our innovative vaporizer device that we crafted to provide a unique yet familiar experience for consuming cannabis concentrates. Unlike typical vaporizers, the Chalice features an atomizer with a quartz coil that heats the concentrates into vapor. The vapor is collected in a glass cup—or chalice—which can be removed and “sipped” or “drunk,” much like you would enjoy a fine drink. To enhance the luxurious experience, we’ve added our signature gold detailing that includes a gold rim around the mouth of the glass and adds an extra touch of elegance and sophistication.

Additionally, the Chalice is designed with versatility in mind. The atomizer can be replaced with a pre-filled 510-thread vape cartridge, allowing it to function in the same manner. The vapor from the cartridge fills the glass cup, which can then be consumed in the same sipping or drinking fashion. This dual functionality ensures that the Chalice provides a sophisticated and practical cannabis experience, whether you’re using concentrates or cartridges.

Our focus on creating a user-friendly, yet luxurious device means that the Chalice stands out not only in its functionality, but also in its ability to provide a ritualistic and refined cannabis experience. This innovative design bridges the gap between traditional cannabis consumption and modern vaping technology to make each session special and memorable.

WB: What makes your chalice different from others in this market?

CL: What sets our Chalice apart is that we’re a dedicated cannabis company with deep roots in the industry. We’ve been crafting exceptional cannabis products that deliver unique experiences since 2018, and other companies that offer devices with similar functions aren’t primarily cannabis companies. Our expertise and commitment to excellence ensure that every Chalice stands out and provides a luxurious and unparalleled cannabis experience.

Moreover, our deep understanding of cannabis and our commitment to quality set us apart when we combine our expertise in cannabis with innovative design to create products that truly enhance the enjoyment of cannabis concentrates. The Chalice is not just a vaporizer; it’s a product born from our extensive experience and passion for cannabis, so consumers can be confident that it meets the highest standards of quality, excellence and performance.

WB: What’s next?

CL: We’re going to expand our product line and continue to maintain our commitment to excellence and luxury. We’re developing new and innovative products to elevate the cannabis experience, and we’re increasing our presence in upscale dispensaries with exclusive events to connect with our consumers.

We are also expanding our brand into different states, including New York. We’re also looking to enter the upscale cannabis hospitality sector and create environments where our luxury products can be enjoyed in premium settings. Our goal is to keep setting new standards in the luxury cannabis market by offering products and experiences that captivate and inspire. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the cannabis industry, we aim to offer our customers something truly extraordinary while continuing to lead the market in luxury cannabis products.

Thank you… WB

The Chalice: Chris Louie’s Made in Xiaolin Luxury Pivot