Humboldt’s Finest Cannabis-Infused Vodka. Ok…wait! Before you click away and start scoffing at the silly (and in my opinion terrible) recent trend of combining marijuana and alcohol in drinks, please read on – this is a fascinating product.

First, a little background on why this is specifically significant to Humboldt, where the product is made. Humboldt County an absolutely stunning forested region in northern California complete with rolling hills and skyscraping redwood tree canopies. Other than its natural beauty, the region is famous for and has been the leader of marijuana production in the US for decades, since its humble beginnings as a settlement area for the California counterculture and hippies escaping the San Francisco “city life” in the 60s/70s. (As a side note – the recent legalization of marijuana in California has been a nightmare for the economy and lives of many people in the area, and I highly recommend the Netflix series “Murder Mountain” to learn more – it’s absolutely captivating)

Back to this bottle. Humboldt Distillery wanted to capture this local specialty into their portfolio of spirits. No, it does not contain THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana) so it will not interact with alcohol. Yes, it actually smells like marijuana (moreso than it tastes). Taste-wise, it’s got a light herbal, creamy, sweet-but-not-sweetened flavor. It’s also one of only 2 Double Gold winners in the “flavored vodka” category from the prestigious SF World Spirits Competition a couple years back – not too shabby.

The product is made by infusing vodka with a THC-less strain of the cannabis sativa plant (also known as food-grade hemp). Although cannabis is most closely associated with marijuana, it’s also the same plant responsible for “health food” products like hemp seeds, hemp oil, hemp milk, and household goods like soaps, ropes, and even clothing. The plant for both marijuana and hemp have a characteristic scent, which is highlighted in this spirit.

*received as sample