How to make THC infused alcohol

Though legalization in Canada has brought us fair access to marijuana for both recreational and medicinal purposes, what it hasn’t done is bring very much selection to the table. Most cannabis infused products, including edibles, topicals, concentrates, and beverages are still illegal to sell. Even once Health Canada’s new regulations come into effect on October 17, 2019, any legal access to these goods will be incredibly limited in quantity and will not include cannabis infused alcohol. Though it may not be as easy as heading to your local LCBO to pick up a ready-made bottle, you do have the option of making your own THC infused liquor since making any form of edibles or drinks for personal consumption is permitted.  

Cannabis infused whiskey recipe

Whiskey contains flavor that pairs incredibly well with any citrus or pine scented marijuana strains, though to make this recipe you can use any kind of weed you may already have on hand at home. One of the most important parts of creating a THC infused whiskey is choosing the highest proof you have available to you. This is because the alcohol content is pertinent to extract as many of the cannabinoids as possible. While it will work with lower proof brands, it won’t be anywhere near as potent and won’t utilize the dry herb you use very efficiently.

Makes: 1 bottle of THC infused whiskey

Time to Make: 3.5 days

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of whiskey that contains 750 milliliters.
• 12 grams of dry marijuana.

Tools required

• Oven
• Cookie Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Cheesecloth
• 2 1-Liter Jars or Larger Sealable Mason Jars
• 1 Brown Paper Bag
• 1 Funnel

Instructions

1. The first step to making your own cannabis-infused whiskey at home is decarboxylating your bud. This step is required to convert the THCA into THC which activates the psychoactive components in the marijuana. Without it, you will not notice any difference in the potency of your whiskey when it’s finished as THCA will not get you high. To do this preheat your oven to 240 F. Grind your dried herb and remove any stem. Put one sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread the bud grind around keeping it away from any metal edges. Bake the bud in the oven for 40 minutes. Once finished remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

2. Empty the bottle of whiskey into a one-liter resealable mason jar. Dump in the decarboxylated cannabis and swirl the jar to mix it. Do not stop mixing until all of the bud grinds are completely covered in whiskey. Ensure there are no floating pieces as they will remain exposed to the air and introduce a potential for mold growth. Once finished, seal the jar and store inside of a paper bag in the sun. The sun will heat the mixture while the bag provides shade keeping the THC and terpenes intact. Leave the jar in the bag for three days while taking it out only twice a day to shake it for one minute.

3. After three days the infusion of THC into the whiskey will be complete. The next step is to strain the plant material. Do this by placing cheesecloth over a funnel that is set into the opening of a clean resealable mason jar. Then slowly pour the contents through the cheesecloth. Once all the mixture has seeped through you can squeeze the cheesecloth to collect every last drop before disposing of it. Rinse the jar the mix aged in, so it is clean. You will now need a second new piece of cheesecloth to repeat the straining step. You can strain it as many times as you need to, to remove any excess plant material which will make your drinks gritty.

4. Once it has been filtered the results are a THC infused whiskey that is ready to enjoy! Seal in either in its original bottle or in a mason jar and store it in a cool dark place until you are prepared to serve it.

Dosing

Two ounces of this cannabis-infused whiskey is the equivalent of one full serving. It is recommended to begin with one serving at a time waiting at least two hours between doses to allow time to fully gauge how it will affect you.

How to Use

An alcohol-infused drink can be consumed by drinking it just as you would any alcoholic beverage, but there are more exciting cocktails that can be made using this cannabis-infused whiskey.

Cocktail recipe for weed infused whiskey

Chronic Cure- In the times of prohibition cannabis-infused whiskey was sold as an effective medical treatment for those suffering from a variety of different ailments. The Chronic Cure may not cure everything that ails you, but it will offer a unique experience. Mix two ounces of THC infused whiskey, one ounce of honey, one half of an ounce of lemon juice, one-quarter of an ounce of ginger juice and shake using a mixer filled with ice for one minute. Then pour over ice cubes and garnish with a lime or lemon wedge.

THC infused gin

Much like with any weed infusedliquor, you will want to buy the highest proof available to extract as many cannabinoids as possible.

Makes: 1 bottle of THC infused Gin

Time to Make: 3.5 days

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of gin that contains 750 milliliters.
• 15 grams of dry marijuana.

Tools required

• Cookie Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Cheesecloth
• 2 1-Liter or Larger Sealable Mason Jars
• 1 Brown Paper Bag
• 1 Funnel

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 240 F. Grind your dried herb and remove any stem. Put one sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread the bud grind around keeping it away from any metal edges. Bake the bud in the oven for 40 minutes. Once finished remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

2. Empty your entire bottle of gin into a one-liter resealable mason jar. Add the decarboxylated bud and swirl the jar to mix it. Do not stop mixing until the ground bud is completely covered in the gin. Make sure that there are no floaties as they will remain exposed to the air and introduce a potential for mold growth. Once finished seal the jar and store inside of a paper bag in the sun. Leave the jar in the bag for three days while taking it out only twice a day to shake it for one minute.

3. After three days the process of extracting the cannabinoids will be complete. Your next step is to strain the excess plant material. Do this by lining a funnel with cheesecloth. Place the funnel so that it rests on the opening and then slowly pour the contents through the cheesecloth. When all the mixture has drained through you can then squeeze the cheesecloth to get every drop before disposing of it. Rinse the jar that the mixture infused in, so it is clean. You will now need a second new piece of cheesecloth to repeat the straining step. You can strain it as many times as you need to. The goal is to remove any excess plant materials that are visible.

4. Once the mixture has been filtered, you will have THC infused gin that is prepared to serve and enjoy! Seal in either the original bottle or in a resealable mason jar and store it in a dark, cool place until you are ready to use it.

Dosing

One ounce of this cannabis infused whiskey is the equivalent of one full serving. It is not recommended to exceed one serving every 2 hours, especially for new users.

Cocktail recipe for THC infused gin

If you want to make a mixed cocktail with the gin you’ve prepared, then follow the next few steps:

• Mix one ounce of cannabis infused gin, one ounce of chartreuse (green), one ounce of maraschino liqueur, and half of an ounce of lime juice using a mixer full of ice
• Shake until mixed and cooled and serve