Last month was my sixtieth birthday. And with this said, for my birthday I enjoyed a particularly wonderful cannagar, one completely hand-made by Artisan Cannagars. It was a six gram version, all flower and no extracts. I smoked it over several days, it was that succulent. Patience is a virtue with a cannagar, especially if you smoke it without the assistance of another person. Artisan hand-crafts their cannagars using the finest ingredients available. I’m particularly happy to announce that I had taken a break from smoking for a week or so because I had some work done in my mouth. My dentist told me to stop smoking for a bit. When I finally started using cannabis again, the first thing that I smoked was the six gram Artisan Cannagar. Impressive to say the very least. They do amazing work with the plant. There is something really sophisticated about smoking a luxury cannagar. There is no mistaking what it is and what a cannagar represents. Pure indulgence!
Warren Bobrow is the CEO of Klaus Apothicaire, a 6x Author, Chef, Barman, Cannabis Alchemist, Master Mixologist. Some of his cannabis awards include: SXSW Cannabis Disruptor 2018, Berlin Bar Convent-Cannabis, and Moscow Bar Show-Master Class-Rum. He is the author of Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails, and Tonics, Available in Indie Bookstores, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indigo Books. See his cannabis creations on instagram.
Today I had the great fortune of finding something that I thought was lost in the shuffle. It was a little vacuum jar from Canlock. Inside the still vacuum sealed glass container was a very special nug. Something that came from a friend, not yet met. The man who calls himself Green Bodhi.
John Bayes is Green Bodhi. He practices a very personal cannabis growth methodology known as Intentional Horticulture.
Quite simply, this is his own, very personal methodology. I believe he is deeply influenced by Rudolph Steiner, the father of Biodynamics. I don’t think that Green Bodhi is Biodynamic, but I do believe that the flowers are nurtured using the highest respect for the earth and the individual ability to find them in the realm of healing. Whatever the true inspiration for John, I can assure you that the experience of smoking his cannabis transcends the usual, into the deeply personal. That of course is my experience. His cannabis unlocks my brain and allows me the benefit of the cultivars as not anticipated by my pen. Or in this case, my keyboard.
It’s cannabis that helps my creativity and takes the path of inquisitiveness. Cannabis like this makes the art of the word a thing of rare beauty. You do get thirsty for just one more hit when you are in Oregon. Lucky is the person to smoke the herbs that John Bayes nurtures. It truly does magical things to my brain.
Back to that nug. The nose is spicy, Pacific Rim-style spices like cardamom, garlic oil and lemongrass intertwine with dark, bittersweet chocolate and gobs of pine sap. There is an element of crushed rose petals each whiff is woven deeply into treacle based pudding. Further whiffs remind me of late-summer peach jam smeared on brioche toast.
The smoke is pure milk chocolate that leaves a thick veneer of pine sap on the inside of my teeth and under my tongue. This is cerebral cannabis that rivals the finest herbs that I’ve smoked in my pursuit of excellence.
The stone is not an afterthought, it is the reason why you arrived here in the first place. The high is Excalibur. You’ve searched a lifetime to discover something that was always here, yet undiscovered. The experience is clarity, wit, and wisdom. You may take up glass-blowing or some other creative pursuit. I mentioned that smoking Green Bodhi is akin to unlocking the brain. Cannabis smoking is a deeply personal experience. The art of cannabis is similar to wine in this regard. What I taste may be only my reflection on the integrity of the plant, or glass of wine. The terpenes, or flavors and aromas are the paints inside the paintbox.
In the wine world, especially the garage-wines that I crave, a very similar process takes place. This hands-off elegance commands the attention of the cognoscente. Not normal is this style, therefore I want to drink it. Think Abe Schoener and get back to me.
And what about this cannabis that is in the little jar, the Green Bodhi? I have to smoke it. It compels me. This cannabis exposes my creativity and gives the act of smoking cannabis of this quality a certain level of authenticity. At least that’s what it does for me.
I hope if you are fortunate to taste Green Bodhi, your experience will also be deeply introspective and kind. It’s the way of the plant. Intentional Horticulture.
What John has achieved is unforced, yet vividly imaginative.
Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC, then a trained chef which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow
Morristown, NJ is a nice mid-sized town located about an hour drive west/northwest of New York City. I’m born and raised here, which offers the opportunity to share some of my hidden places to get high.
The list is a long one, as I’m not just born. I graduated from prep school, Morristown-Beard in 1980. You can do the math on that one. I’ll be covering a couple at a time. So, you can enjoy the visuals of my walking tour.
Cannabis has only just become quasilegal in Morristown, NJ. I’m still pretty careful about smoking weed in the street. This isn’t New York City where all you smell these days is the stickysweet taint of weed burning. Not that I don’t like it, far from that- smoking cannabis in Morristown, NJ is probably still not such a great idea.
No matter what the voters have said in New Jersey regarding cannabis legality. The long-standing stigmas against smoking cannabis in public still rules the roost here.
But all is not doom and gloom. I’m sharing with you my hidden “underbelly” of where I like to smoke weed where I probably won’t get arrested, nor frowned upon by strangers. I own a gnome. His name is Klaus. Klaus is my mid 19th-century drinking gnome. He used to follow me around the globe when I was a master-mixologist and rum judge in the on and off premise beverage trade. Klaus traveled with me everywhere and he became quite famous for his rum fueled antics, but all that came to a crashing halt during Tales of the Cocktail in 2018. The halt was my leaving the liquor industry, forever when I quit drinking distilled spirits.
It was at Tales that Klaus suggested that I enter the cannabis industry, both as a journalist and as an author of the book, Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics. This suggestion probably saved my life because I’ve dropped nearly sixty pounds since leaving the liquor industry. Sure, he’s a drinking gnome, however Klaus enjoys the weed business much more. Travel is in his little terracotta heart and he loves getting stoned with me.
Klaus is starting this local journey today with a little bit of foot travel around two favored places in Morristown, NJ. This is the place where George Washington rested for a very cold winter during the Revolutionary War.
The first place that I got high over the years, where it was so risky to get stoned there, getting arrested was a probability. The Green in Morristown. The fountain, pictured is a good place to start any respectable journey into getting High in Morristown, NJ. I paused for a one-hitter (Green BodhiTenzin Kush) and remembered that just around the corner on the Green stood the pre-Colonial courthouse, long gone, and the Hanging Tree, also long gone.
The energy in this place is pronounced as this was quite the historic town during the Revolution. I’m sure many unsavory characters throughout history met their end at the bottom of a rope in this spot. You can feel it in your bones if you pause long enough.
On the back side of the Green is the First Presbyterian Church and just behind this grand stone edifice is the historic Churchyard and their preColonial cemetery. Back when I was a teenager, this wasn’t a place where you wanted to walk around in at night. It still may have that stigma with vestiges of a recent homeless camp off set just off into the poison ivy laced underbrush.
But during the day it’s a pretty place with headstones dating back to the early part of the 1700’s. I like to pay homage to the long-departed by smoking cannabis in this cemetery. It’s a serene place to get lit up and reflect on the residents who once graced the town. Their names are often intriguing in the study of history. I’m convinced that very few Morristown residents even know that this place exists… Much less come here to get stoned. It’s part of the journey in this town. To find places that are just off the beaten path, excellent for catching a fire.
Here are the 10 influential people who have gained popularity in the cannabis industry
The Cannabis Industry is getting a lot of attention, for all the good reasons. Some reports claim that the hemp-CBD business may be worth $22 billion by 2022. The industry is witnessing a huge surge of celebrities and famous personalities as collaborators, brand ambassadors, and even as entrepreneurs.
Many celebrities have not only proudly admitted their use of the plant, but they have also established businesses that not only give the society their take on its legality but also have a cult following sharing similar beliefs.
Most Cannabis Influencers have a devoted following of people who want to learn more about the benefits of Cannabis & want to know about its usage. Cannabis influencers may be ideal partners for cannabis companies in advertising their goods.
So let us take a quick look at the 10 Popular People Of The Canna-World:
Jolene Goring
Jolene is a Cannabis influencer with over 18 years of experience in the health and fitness sector. She was just named one of “America’s Premier Fitness Experts” by USA Today.
Jolene is a Cannabis influencer with over 18 years of experience in the health and fitness sector. She was just named one of “America’s Premier Fitness Experts” by USA Today.
She has previously featured on ABC, Fox 10 News, and other stations. Her Instagram page is filled with sponsored advertising for Cannabis-infused lotions, lip balms, massage oil, and other products.
Snoop Dogg debuted his Leafs by Snoop brand in Colorado in 2015. Since then, the rapper, whose name is linked with marijuana, has significantly improved his cannabis game. Merry Jane, his media firm, features a Cannabis e-commerce platform.
According to Tech Crunch, he co-founded Casa Verde Capital, an investment company that has amassed a portfolio worth at least $200 million. Snoop, also known as Calvin Broadus, recently persuaded right-wing billionaire Charles Koch to support a coalition for federal marijuana legalization, according to Politico.
Montel Williams
Montel Williams was a prominent face on American television in the 1990s before becoming a Cannabis influencer. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. That’s when he came upon Cannabis. Since then, he has been an outspoken advocate for the Cannabis lifestyle. As a result, this Cannabis influencer established Lenitive Scientific, a cannabis oil firm that distributes a variety of Cannabis products.
Dr. Michele Ross is a neuroscientist, author, and mental health specialist. She is a big advocate of plant remedies and has a passion for assisting individuals suffering from chronic illnesses. She is already a well-known figure on social media, having been in Big Brother as Michele Noonan. Her company, Infused Health, attempts to raise cannabis knowledge and education online.
Sanjay Gupta is a neurosurgeon, medical reporter, and author from the United States. He is the assistant chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as an associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and CNN’s top medical reporter.
He was one among many who spoke out against the usage of marijuana for medicinal purposes. He changed his mind after doing further research on the subject.
While working on a CNN program, he became persuaded that marijuana might treat a wide range of diseases. While he doesn’t post much about Cannabis or marijuana on social media, he does completely support it in other public conversations.
Warren Bobrow
Warren Bobrow compares his interest in cannabis cocktails to that of a bitters appreciator: adding the herb to his cocktails, in his opinion, is just another method of experimenting with depth, balance, and taste, similar to the impact bitters can have on a drink. The writer of “Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails & Tonics: The Art of Spirited Drinks and Buzz-Worthy Libations” has penned down many facts about cannabis use in drinks and its benefits.
Aisling Clodhnadh O’Sullivan, better known as Aisling Bea, is a comedian, actor, and screenwriter from Ireland. As a celebrity, she is utilizing her platform to raise awareness about Cannabis. She credits Cannabis for allowing her to sleep peacefully after fighting sleep deprivation for a long time.
Weediquette, a cannabis-themed show on Viceland, is hosted and produced by Krishna Sai Andavolu. In the episode, he explores how legalization has expanded the cannabis market in various areas of the United States and abroad. He also features folks who utilize medicinal marijuana for PTSD and cancer therapy in numerous episodes. It’s no wonder that he’s one of the most well-known cannabis influencers, given his relationship to the green plant.
Megan Elizabeth‘s YouTube channel focuses on health, fitness, and weight reduction subjects. This Cannabis influencer has a series of Cannabis -related videos where she shares her personal experiences. She also has a page on her website dedicated to her favorite Cannabis products.
Thomas B. Kin Chong is a Canadian-American actor, writer, director, musician, cannabis rights activist, and comedian. He is known for his marijuana-themed Cheech & Chong comedy albums and movies with Cheech Marin, as well as playing the character Leo on Fox’s That ’70s Show. He became a naturalized United States citizen in the late 1980s.
He feels Cannabis had a significant part in his two victories over cancer. Chong’s Choice, his cannabis company, sells pens, candies, vapes, and CBD oils.
Cannabis Drinks Expo is a must-attend event for those curiously eying the future of the burgeoning U.S. cannabis industry. We also cover the key issues surrounding the likelihood and timescale for legalization in other countries, as well as the impact of legalized cannabis on the traditional alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks markets globally.
Who should Visit?
Cannabis Drinks Expo promises to be relevant for anyone involved in the development, production, distribution and retailing of cannabis and related products. It will also provide a vital networking opportunity for political analysts, medical experts, and those involved in the development and implementation of legalized cannabis into new markets.
If you’re serious about the cannabis drinks category, we’re still keeping it as real as ever. At Cannabis Drinks Expo, our goal is to empower you with knowledge, network, and platform so you can grow and build your cannabis drinks business. CDE is where you will find cannabis brands and suppliers who are serious about building their business in this category.
My mood today is comfort and what better way to examine this theory then by enjoying a lovely pre rolled cannabis joint from FlowerShop. Framed by a glass tip, reminiscent of Murano (Italian) glass, this hand rolled joint immediately charms the attentive smoker. One toke at a time.
This joint is truly a luxury experience. The backbone of this deeply pleasurable circumstance is formed by deep inhalations. Deeper than that. You know the experience of tasting really find cannabis. This is one of those brands that speak a language, in this case the terminology is comfort.
The peaceful enjoyment (smoking) of Indica flower is one of my favorite ways to slip into the early evening. I’ve been enjoying Indica strains for this purpose as long as I can remember. In the couch is the understood wording. After a couple hits of the FlowerShop Indica, I know what the words really mean. The feeling of being enveloped in warmth and relaxation. An acceptance of slumber. The ability to finally rest. Focus will come later, after a well-deserved nap. All these descriptions mean something after smoking a couple hits from the FlowerShop’s mini-pre-rolled Indica joints.
I’m very impressed by their candor and humor. Yes, I’m stoned but it’s not overwhelming, nor incapacitating. But I’m very, very calm. And peaceful. This is exactly what the experience should be. If I’m as euphoric as I think I am, this would be my professional recommendation, smoke less than I did. You can always take more.
Their Comfort strain is pretty strong stuff, so be patient and smoke ½ of a joint first. Or less if you are a neophyte. Taking fewer hits are more in this case. Patience weed-hopper.
Wow. I’m feeling no pain.
Although not true “medical” cannabis, FlowerShop would like for you to feel better. Nothing is more rational right now, because I do feel better, inside and out.
I believe these well-woven, mini-pre-rolled joints are a class act.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A dollop of sweet lemon curd melting over brioche toast points
Palate: Touches of petrol and wood smoke come into view leading to droplets of lemon oil
Flavor/Stone: I got really stoned on just a couple hits from the blue-glass tipped mini-pre-rolled joint
When is a shrub not a shrub? When is a drink a plant? The quick answer is never, but these acidulated beverages are as old as history itself.
In my recently released book, Bitters and Shrub Syrup Cocktails, I revealed the secrets of these refreshing beverages and attempted to introduce a flavor profile from the past into the modern era of creative mixology. But first, what is a shrub?
A Shrub is in simple terms a mixer that is included in both mocktails (cocktails without the kick) and craft cocktails. In the days before refrigeration, it was pretty evident that without some means for food preservation, keeping items fresh was difficult at best. Gastric blockages from eating food that was less than pure was the norm and people just didn’t live long because of food borne illnesses.
Back in the times of the Egyptians, where the roots were sown for the argument that food and drinks were less injurious when they didn’t poison the imbiber. Food borne illnesses could be prevented or at least minimized by the use of an acid. In this case, the combination of vinegar and sugar when added to either fruit or vegetables contributed to the rudimentary food preservation system that existed to modern days.
Ethnic groups have long practiced food preservation methods and the use of vinegar is a major catalyst for adding both spark and health to the end result. This is of course the refreshing kick that comes from drinking beverages, (and to a lesser extent) eating foods that are preserved with vinegar. But why vinegar?
Vinegar is a powerful preservative and it also adds to digestion. The acid layer that enrobes the sweet sumptuousness of the often less than freshly picked fruit is beguiling in a liquid form, giving each sweet and tangy sip a depth unheard of prior. And the end result is good health for the entire digestive tract. Vinegar, after all, is what adds balance to the body.
Have you ever felt less than healthy from eating heavy food? Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and add it to a glass of fizzy water, drink it down and feel better quickly.
Fast forward to the Colonial era when intoxicants were less than high quality and masking the often assertive aromas of poorly made liquors led to the invention of something named punch. Punch was a combination of acid, to sweet, to savory – all meant to intoxicate the drinker with a minimum of effort. Students from the Northeastern states discovered that adding vinegar preserved fruits to their spirituous beverages made for a refreshing drink, one packed full of health giving ingredients that were good for the gut.
Was this vinegar based Shrub the original health drink? Certainly, it was used for good health, right up to the time when soda pop was invented. And soda pop as we all know, spelled out the demise of the Shrub until just recently when a resurgence of old methods took place in the mixology bar. Then add to that classic a voluminous portion of THC? Isn’t that irresponsible? No one said you had to drink the entire drink you know.
Flavors from our modest shrub are what forced the mixologists of today to unlock the secrets of piquancy and good cheer!
Shrubs are simply made with only three ingredients, fruit (or a vegetable), sugar and some type of vinegar. Here is a simple recipe for a Shrub that can be produced in about a week using easily acquired ingredients. It does have to be aged after the mashing of fruit, sugar and vinegar- but that timing is really up to you. It can age quickly overnight using balsamic vinegar, or the old-fashioned way. Often taking several weeks, slowly fermenting in a ceramic jug in the cellar.
I call this Shrub the Squire’s Shrub. It is a very easy Shrub to master. This is, in actuality- the preference for a softer (to the palate), yet pleasingly tangy- end result with or without an intoxicating hit of liquor or the addition of THC.
It’s true, the Squire’s Shrub does require a couple of extra steps, but I promise it’s worth your while: Your patience will be rewarded with a lush, crimson colored syrup that’s straight out of the eighteenth century, when America was in its infancy and early pharmacists would have relied on their gardens to supply the basis for their healing tonics. (Rhubarb has been used as a digestive aid for thousands of years.) There’s nothing difficult to it, though, beyond a little extra mixing, and caramelizing your fruit before making the shrub. The vinegar’s high acidity cuts through the sumptuous, charred, caramelized flavor of the roasted strawberries and rhubarb, making it a seductive addition to gin and rhum-based libations.
Recipe: The Squire’s Shrub
Ingredients
2 cups (340 g) Roasted Strawberries and Rhubarb
1 cup (200 g) Demerara sugar
1 cup (235 ml) light colored balsamic vinegar
Time: 3–4 weeks.
Process
Add the roasted strawberries and rhubarb to a nonreactive bowl.
Cover with the sugar, stir to combine, and cover it with plastic wrap.
Leave at cool room temperature for 24 hours.
Stir frequently during this time to combine as the berries and rhubarb give off their liquid.
Place a nonreactive strainer above a second nonreactive bowl, pour the fruit-sugar mixture into the strainer, and use a wooden spoon to mash the mixture in order to release as much liquid as possible. (Reserve the mashed fruit to use in cooking or baking, if you like.)
Add the balsamic vinegar to the liquid, stir, and let the mixture sit for a few hours. Funnel into sterilized bottles or jars, and age for 3–4 weeks in the refrigerator.
This shrub will last nearly indefinitely, but if it begins to quiver, foam, ooze, change color to blue, then begin dancing and speaking in foreign languages, throw it out.
Serving Suggestion:
Add a few ounces of the Squire’s Shrub to a glass of cool seltzer water for a refreshing pick me up or add to a portion of THC infused gin and a slurp of Rhum Agricole to make a proper weed cocktail.
From the very moment that the outer packaging, deeply reminiscent of luxury Chinese incense with lustrous gold leaf on the outside of the box. This brings your attention to the strikingly handsome red lettering, and then the box opens to reveal the polished glass inner tube. From here, an almost mystical experience fills the room and your head. The box, upon examination in cannabis, nerd-speak reads several very important statements about the contents and the provenance of the flowers held within. The first and foremost is the name of this ultra-luxury cannagar. That is, quite simply, Made in Xiaolin. Turning the smooth paper packaging, in the shape of an octagon, and twisting it in a circle, reveals more pertinent information. Rolled Proper comes into view. This statement provides the quality framework for what rests within. The lettering states the name again, Made in Xiaolin. Pure luxury. Drilling down deeper, more information reveals itself with every twist of the wrist. Ring Gauge, in this case, the cannagar resting in my hand is a #40. Then, in block letters it reads information on the lit time, and in this case it is at least three hours! The flower is equally as important with the strain listed, making up this cannagar as Electric Lemon G flower and Electric Lemon G, Live Resin in the carefully chosen mix.
**Xiaolin doesn’t grow their own flowers, nor do they extract their own concentrates.
Part of the art of a cannagar is the procurement of the finest raw materials depending on the harvest at the time. Crafted together to create a true work of living art. In my case, it’s ten grams of the most exceptionally well- propagated flower and two grams of the concentrate of the ‘chef’s’ choice. This amalgamation of raw materials comprises the cannagar. Glowing from within the inner glass tube, and the inner glow from the gold leaf wrapper. The cannagar is sealed from humidity and uncontrolled aging, with a secure, screw down closure for ease of access. Each ultra-high-end cannagar comes emblazoned with more of the luxury red and gold lettering that signifies elegance.
It reads Rolled Proper in gold and the lettering is carefully set handsomely upon the deeply colored, handsome red background. The packaging alone is representative of success, entrepreneurship and utter quality. It is safe to say that the packaging for this cannagar shows quite clearly the care and concern that goes into the assembly of each cannagar, as if it was the only cannagar made during the day. This is the quality quotient. When a product is created, not just to please the artist, but to offer a sense of self and luxury to the person fortunate enough to afford such opulence. If you are at the top of your game and want the very best cannagar that your hard-earned money can buy, find yourself one of these. It’s worth the effort because you are absolutely going to make it your business to find a Xiaolin Cannagar. As in the search for the Holy Grail, this is your quest. The Xiaolin Cannagar is a thing that exemplifies quality over quantity. It unlocks intellectualism and it makes you believe, deeply inside your CHI, that the enjoyment of this cannagar truly makes you one of the luckiest in the land. And the cost of this luxury? Anywhere between $ 200 and $ 420 dollars in the USA depending on where you go.
There is a scent that fills the room, and it is of perfectly aged flowers of the finest quality. Woven into a mixture of cannabis concentrate and freshly dried and then cured flowers. Good health comes into focus, because the experience of enjoying a Xiaolin Cannagar is not one to be rushed. Perhaps it’s the quality of the ingredients that bring the focus into view. First of all, the Xiaolin Cannagar is not a budget expenditure. The cannagar that I was fortunate to enjoy (via Carrier Pigeon), was assembled using absolutely the finest parts available in the marketplace. The outer wrapper is spun with SHINE gold leaf wrappers to form perfectly around the completely hand-crafted cannagar that will greatly exceed your expectations.
From the very moment that the outer packaging, deeply reminiscent of luxury Chinese incense with lustrous gold leaf on the outside of the box. This cannagar brings your attention to the strikingly handsome red lettering, and then the box opens to reveal the polished glass inner tube.
From here an almost mystical experience fills the room and your head. The box, upon examination in cannabis, nerd-speak reads several very important statements about the contents and the provenance of the flowers held within. The first and foremost is the name of this ultra-luxury cannagar. That is, quite simply, Made in Xiaolin. Turning the smooth paper packaging, in the shape of an octagon, and twisting it in a circle, reveals more pertinent information. Rolled Proper comes into view. This statement provides the quality framework for what rests within. The lettering states the name again, Made in Xiaolin. Pure luxury. Drilling down deeper, more information reveals itself with every twist of the wrist. Ring Gauge, in this case, the cannagar resting in my hand is a #40. Then, in block letters it reads information on the lit time, and in this case it is at least three hours! The flower is equally as important with the strain listed, making up this cannagar as Electric Lemon G flower and Electric Lemon G, Live Resin in the carefully chosen mix.
Xiaolin doesn’t grow their own flowers, nor do they extract their own concentrates.
Part of the art of a cannagar is the procurement of the finest raw materials depending on the harvest at the time. Crafted together to create a true work of living art. In my case, it’s ten grams of the most exceptionally well- propagated flower and two grams of the concentrate of the ‘chef’s’ choice. This amalgamation of raw materials comprises the cannagar. Glowing from within the inner glass tube, and the inner glow from the gold leaf wrapper. The cannagar is sealed from humidity and uncontrolled aging, with a secure, screw down closure for ease of access. Each ultra-high-end cannagar comes emblazoned with more of the luxury red and gold lettering that signifies elegance.
It reads Rolled Proper in gold and the lettering is carefully set handsomely upon the deeply colored, handsome red background. The packaging alone is representative of success, entrepreneurship and utter quality.
It is safe to say that the packaging for this cannagar shows quite clearly the care and concern that goes into the assembly of each cannagar, as if it was the only cannagar made during the day. This is the quality quotient. When a product is created, not just to please the artist, but to offer a sense of self and luxury to the person fortunate enough to afford such opulence. If you are at the top of your game and want the very best cannagar that your hard-earned money can buy, find yourself one of these. It’s worth the effort because you are absolutely going to make it your business to find a Xiaolin Cannagar. As in the search for the Holy Grail, this is your quest. The Xiaolin Cannagar is a thing that exemplifies quality over quantity. It unlocks intellectualism and it makes you believe, deeply inside your CHI, that the enjoyment of this cannagar truly makes you one of the luckiest in the land. And the cost of this luxury? Anywhere between $ 200 and $ 420 dollars in the USA depending on where you go.
There is a scent that fills the room, and it is of perfectly aged flowers of the finest quality. Woven into a mixture of cannabis concentrate and freshly dried and then cured flowers. Good health comes into focus, because the experience of enjoying a Xiaolin Cannagar is not one to be rushed. Perhaps it’s the quality of the ingredients that bring the focus into view. First of all, the Xiaolin Cannagar is not a budget expenditure. The cannagar that I was fortunate to enjoy (via Carrier Pigeon), was assembled using absolutely the finest parts available in the marketplace. The outer wrapper is spun with SHINE gold leaf wrappers to form perfectly around the completely hand-crafted cannagar that will greatly exceed your expectations.
I’m not a big fan of sugary sweet beverages. It seems like many of them fill the store shelves. Americans tend to traditionally enjoy beverages that are sweet. It’s the same most everywhere that I’ve visited in the world with Russia leading the pack. When I visited Moscow in 2015 to teach a master class in non-interventional rum at the Moscow Bar Show, I learned firsthand what it meant to drink one dimensional liquids. Everything was tooth aching sweet! Their favorite coffee in Moscow wasn’t Starbucks, (although sold there), it was Dunkin Donuts! Light and Sweet was how the Russians like their coffee.
With this said, I don’t enjoy making sweet drinks. There are so many other flavors to play with. From tangy to sour, to balance to the realm of bitters to playing parlor games with your tongue, there are so many things to taste that are not sweet in regard to flavor.
When I am tasked with developing something that is challenging in the context of just being different, my goals don’t bring me into Blueberry, candy sugar based cheap THC distillate and lemongrass, although interesting ingredients alone- they just don’t belong together.
A THC infused egg cream does sound intriguing though. Just not more than one per hour.
Truly, what I am seeking is simplicity.
The seltzer phenomenon is popular all over the world and for good reason. These beverages are relatively low calorie and refreshing, while not being as expensive as soda.
I propose however, instead of making just one more fruit punch flavored seltzer, why not emulate the classic, (at least to myself) French Herb Scented Vichy Water?
Have you ever enjoyed real French seltzer water, treated to a pinch of Herbs du Province to refresh your palate? It’s so delicious to enjoy your seltzer water with something other than sugary sweetness. How about a few drops of cucumber bitters added to the mix? That sounds really yummy. And of course, there is an ungodly amount of THC in there. What great mock-tail doesn’t include this essential ingredient? There’s no booze, so take it slow.
I created a French herb flavored simple syrup to add to the Vichy water. It’s slightly sweet from the infused simple syrup, deeply intriguing from the touch of Southern French herbs and tangy from the lemon zest infused, hand cut ice cubes.
Pro Tip: Wash those lemons really well before you zest them!
If you combine sugar and alcohol, the result is, far too often, a knee knocking hangover. So make yourself a French Herb-Scented Vichy Water instead: it’s both booze-free and mercifully low in sugar. First, you’ll make a concentrated, tangy, medicated simple syrup. Then, you’ll add it to a refreshing pour of sparkling water, before dotting the finished drink with cucumber bitters. Use a Medicated Rich Simple Syrup you’ve infused with Blue Dream, which boasts a spicy, herbal fragrance and flavors of sugar coated dark berries and exotic spices.
RECIPE: French Herb-Scented Vichy Water
Ingredients
For the herbed simple syrup:
2 TABLESPOONS (8 G) DRIED HERBES DE PROVENCE
1/2 OUNCE (15 ML) MEDICATED RICH SIMPLE SYRUP (SEE PAGE 43), MADE WITH RAW HONEY
1 TABLESPOON (15 ML) APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
For the cocktail:
LEMON ZEST ICE
6 OUNCES (180 ML) VICHY WATER (OR 6 OUNCES PLAIN SELTZER TOPPED WITH A PINCH OF SEA SALT)
CUCUMBER BITTERS
LEMON ZEST TWIST
Process
First, make the herbed simple syrup.
Place the herbes de Provence in a hemp tea bag, and seal.
Combine the Medicated Rich Simple Syrup and the apple cider vinegar in a heat-proof mason jar, and immerse the teabag in the liquid. Do not seal the jar.
Place the jar in the top of a double boiler.
Fill the top of the double boiler with enough water to cover the mason jar halfway.
Simmer lightly at no more than 160ºF (71°C) for 1 hour. (Use a digital thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature.)
Remove the teabag from the syrup mixture, and let cool.
Then, add the lemon zest ice to a Collins glass. Top with 1 ounce (30 ml) of the herbed simple syrup. Top with the Vichy water.
Dot with the cucumber bitters, and garnish with a lemon zest twist. Serve immediately.
