Book Review: Warren Bobrow’s Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails, & Tonics

Released this summer, this new book is the ultimate guide to cannabis drinks. It will be the topic’s reference for years to come and a book that every cannabis user with a taste for fine drinks should consider essential.

Its pages are filled with invaluable advice about drinking cannabis, including recipes for cannabis syrups, tonics, butters, infusions, bitters and tinctures, along with flavorful drink recipes that do not always include alcohol. All of your cannabis drink questions will be answered with a sophisticated vibe that appeals to the connoisseur of both cannabis and drinks.

Warren Bobrow has a colorful background that includes culinary training and a family of apothecaries, complete with genuine 1960s hippies. He is the real deal and his past was a natural foundation that combined with his passion for sharing great drinks. “I had a dream and knew exactly what I wanted to do with this,” Bobrow says of his original inspiration. He began by infusing almost any alcohol available with cannabis. “It worked out well, actually too well, and I had to ratchet it back a bit so it didn’t obliterate people,” he says.

Bobrow created and tested each of the book’s 75 recipes, so it’s best to heed his advice on dosage and consumption, and even cut it back a little at first. He is also adamant that the book is not dedicated to alcohol. “These are health-giving tonics to which you don’t have to add alcohol,” he says. Many of the book’s recipes are non-alcoholic and can be drunk as a medicinal dosage or as a therapeutic and relaxing drink.

Where Should a Novice Cannabis User Begin?

Cannabis Cocktails is accessible to everyone—no special equipment or training to get the drinks just right is required. From decarbing to dosage and flavor pairings with common cannabis strains, Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails, & Tonics contains all of the information you need to get started. Bobrow recommends starting out with one of his mocktails. A simple Turkish coffee like the Beside the Bosphorus recipe, made with one of Bobrow’s canna butter recipes, would be a great beginner’s drink.

Balancing Alcohol and Cannabis

As you might expect, combining cannabis and alcohol is tricky. Bobrow has learned from experience that you need to pace yourself when it comes to the cocktail recipes in his book. “It’s extremely important to know your tolerance level as two drinks can make you feel completely out of control,” says Bobrow, adding that one drink an hour is more than enough. “It’s not about getting drunk, it’s about holistic and homeopathic healing.” One cannabis cocktail a night may even be a better recommendation.

This mindset is clear throughout the book; you can relate it to the effects of edibles: it may not hit you right away or all at once and you certainly want to take it easy. If you do find that even one drink is too much, there is an antidote of sorts: drink the fresh juice from one lemon and chew on a few peppercorns. The overwhelming feeling from having too many edibles will begin to subside.

Cannabis Flavor Pairings

One of the fascinating parts of the book is Bobrow’s cannabis strain profiles. He has dissected nine of the most common strains with amazing detail. Each has a flavor profile, a little background and a number of flavor pairings to use when creating drinks. The research put into this section alone is impressive. When asked to point out one that he found most surprising, Bobrow says, “Trainwreck, which I use in my version of a Bloody Caesar, called A Bloody Good Remedy.” It pairs with everything from Cognac to gin and the strain is good for both afternoon and evening consumption, making it a versatile cannabis, he adds.

Candy Says Cocktail Recipe

Makes two cocktails

One of Bobrow’s favorite recipes from his book, Candy Says is an approachable rum punch that will appeal to many palates.

Ingredients

• Coconut water ice
• 2 oz. 100-proof Rhum Agricole
• 1 oz. non-medicated coconut cream
• 2 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 handful fresh raspberries, crushed with a wooden spoon
• 1 tsp. ground turmeric
• 2 oz. Medicated Rich Simple Syrup*
• 2 oz. cane syrup-based ginger beer
• 6 drops aromatic bitters

Fill a Boston shaker half full with the coconut water ice. Add the Rhum Agricole, coconut cream, orange juice, raspberries, turmeric and Medicated Rich Simple Syrup, and shake hard for about 15 seconds. Divide between two miniature coupe glasses. Top each with 1 oz. of ginger beer and dot with the aromatic bitters to finish.

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and reduce heat. Add 1 cup raw honey and stir until dissolved. Add 4 grams ground, decarbed cannabis, cover and reduce heat. Allow to simmer for about 30 minutes. Reduce heat again and add 1 Tbsp. vegetarian liquid lecithin and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and strain.

*Medicated Rich Simple Syrup