October 31st, affectionately known throughout the country as Halloween, is fast approaching! With all the stress of finding the perfect costume, deciding whether or not to attend your buddy’s party (or host one yourself), and stocking up on all the candy for the scarily costumed ghosts and ghouls, it can all feel quite overwhelming as the witching hour draws near. To help you vanquish some of this stress, we’ve come up with a list of boozy cocktails infused with CBD that will have you ready to celebrate the spookines of All Hallow’s Eve with the calmness of a cucumber. If you’re ready to trick or treat yo’self to some of the finest CBD cocktails known to man and monster alike, keep reading to find our favorite ways to kick back during autumn’s creepiest holiday!
CBD and Bioavailability
The bioavailability of CBD is defined as the amount of cannabidiol that is ultimately absorbed and used by our body’s natural endocannabinoid system. The bioavailability of CBD varies on the type of product consumed. Edibles like gummies and softgels are low on that spectrum due to how the body digests it. Inhalables like pre-rolls and CBD vape juice are high on the bioavailability scale because they bypass the digestion system completely via the lungs. The problem with inhalables is that many users aren’t keen to smoke or vape and would rather consume something orally in order to get their desired dose of CBD.
That’s where the third product type of CBD really shines: tinctures and oils. This form of CBD is usually consumed sublingually, as in under the tongue. The liquid is absorbed via the mucous membrane into your bloodstream much faster than edibles; since the CBD has bypassed the digestion system, much of the CBD is readily available for use. There’s a catch to sublinguals; if you incorporate CBD into your favorite food or beverages, it will wind up being digested and much of the CBD is lost.
However, this form of CBD consumption can be very entertaining, especially during the holidays! We’ve whipped up several cauldrons of Halloween-inspired cocktails and we’re excited to share those with you now! Before we begin, keep in mind that all of these drinks are intended as a single serving. As such, you should incorporate only a single serving (or less) of CBD into these beverages. Most CBD oils and tinctures come with graduated droppers for precise measuring, so be mindful of how many drops you release into your waiting glass.
The Headless Horseman
You’ll remember in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that Ichabod Crane was chased down by the Headless Horseman on a spooky autumn evening. The phantom throws a flaming pumpkin at Ichabod who instantly vanishes into the night, never to be heard from again. In honor of poor Mr. Crane, we’ve recreated the Halloween version of a Jack-and-ginger with a bit of an autumnal twist. Cheers!
Ingredients
- 2 oz. hard cider
- 1 oz. of your favorite whiskey
- 1 can of ginger ale
- Crushed ice
- 1 serving CBD
Blend the whiskey and hard cider together in a tall glass and add crushed ice. Release a single serving of CBD tincture into the glass and carefully pour in the ginger ale. Garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick for an extra jolt of flavor!
The GraveRobber
If you love Tootsie Rolls, you’re in for a treat with this cocktail! While there’s no actual candy that goes into this drink, the combination of flavors makes a liquid rendition of the soft and chewy candy. But don’t let your skepticism prevent you from crafting a beverage that’s easily worth its weight in gold!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur
- 1 can of Root Beer
- Ice cubes
- 1 serving CBD
Start off by filling a tall glass with ice cubes and pour the coffee liqueur on top. Sprinkle in the recommended CBD tincture of your choice and slowly add the root beer until the glass is filled. You can opt for a straw to sip it through or right from the glass. For the ultimate comparison, be sure to have a few unwrapped Tootsie rolls nearby to see which one tastes better. We’re willing to bet it’s our cocktail, but we’ll leave that up to you!
The Witching Hour
If venturing outside seems too scary for even the bravest souls, stay inside and get cozy with our version of a classic nightcap. This recipe calls for candied ginger, but you can switch that out for a sugared lime wheel instead. It’s recommended to use a cocktail shaker to make this drink, but you can also use two glasses to pour back and forth until the ingredients are combined.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- Ice
- 2 slices candied ginger (or one sugared lime wheel)
- 1 can of ginger ale
- 1 serving CBD
Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the lime juice and rum. Let your inner bartender shine as you vigorously shake the contents for a few seconds. Lastly, add in your dropper of CBD and the ginger ale. Pour over fresh ice and garnish with the candied ginger or sugared lime wheel.
Dracula’s Deadly Kiss
Inspired by the coldness of the world’s most famous vampire and his unquenchable thirst, we’ve whipped up a mouthwatering cocktail that even Count Drac would approve of. The sharpness of the vodka paired with the sweetness of the fruit-flavored liquor promises a life-changing experience you won’t soon forget!
Ingredients
- 3 oz vodka
- 1 oz raspberry liqueur ( we recommend Chambord)
- 2-3oz black cherry soda
- Lime Juice
- Red sugar (optional)
- 1 Maraschino cherry\
- 1 serving CBD
Start off by pouring lime juice onto a small saucer big enough to fit the rim of a cocktail glass and repeat the same process with the red sugar. Dip your cocktail glass first into the lime juice and then the sugar. Pour in about half an ounce of the raspberry liqueur into the glass and add in the vodka. Carefully release your dropper of CBD into the glass and top off with black cherry soda. That last ½ oz of raspberry liqueur? Pour over the back of a spoon (making it float to the top) and add a maraschino cherry as a garnish for even more cherry flavor. Tip: if you like your drinks cold, you can chill the glasses and vodka prior to making the cocktail. No “fangs” necessary!
Lights Out!
Calling all lemonade lovers! This refreshing cocktail brings the best of both the sweet and sour worlds in a way you never thought possible. Because it’s a boozy twist on lemonade, this recipe makes about 8 servings. If you’re worried about making such a large amount, you can always save some for later or divide the ingredients by the amount of people drinking.
- 10 oz gin
- Lemonade (store-bought jug or you can pre-mix your own)
- 2 oz lemon juice (for a more lemon-y flavor)
- 12 oz grapefruit juice
- 6 oz sweet vermouth
- 20oz sparkling wine (or 2 cans of black cherry soda)
- Grapefruit wheels for a garnish
- 8 servings of CBD
Conclusion
There’s nothing scarier on Halloween than hosting a party without some soul-refreshing beverages. Thanks to these delightful CBD-infused cocktails, now you can offer four scary-good beverages that will have your guests cackling with glee. Try one, try them all, and be sure to let us know in the comments below how you liked them!
Not sure which CBD oils and tinctures to use? No problem, we’ve got you covered. Here at Erth Wellness, we carry a variety of tinctures, including broad-spectrum THC-free tincture, full-spectrum CBD tincture, and even CBD+CBN sleep aid tincture for those looking for a nightcap. All of our tinctures have been tested thoroughly by third-party independent labs to ensure purity and potency in every drop! If you’re looking to steer clear of any and all alcoholic beverages, be sure to check out our next article, where we’ll present some of our most treasured mocktail (alcohol-free) recipes. We hope to see you there!