Drink of the Week: Cann Social Tonic

Dry January or not, unless I have guests over, I rarely drink at home. Even then, many of my acquaintances (in keeping with national trends) choose not to drink at all. But it’s nice to be able to offer something a little special, or sip a beverage that demarcates the end of a work day. I had seen Cann on market shelves before, labeled as a “Cannabis-Infused Social Tonic.” But the brand has made big waves in a growing market, and in this year’s Imbibe 75, we highlight the work of friends and co-founders Jake Bullock and Luke Anderson. From initial formulation to legal hurdles and marketing challenges, Bullock and Anderson created the best-selling cannabis beverage in North America.

In general, I am not a cannabis consumer, so I approached Cann with both caution and curiosity. Each 8-ounce can is formulated with 2 mg of THC and 4 mg of CBD to create a gentle micro-dose. But what first struck me was the flavor; these botanical sparklers are genuinely delicious. Not a seltzer but not quite a soda, Cann comes in three flavors—Grapefruit Rosemary, Lemon Lavender, and Blood Orange Cardamom—made from real fruit juice, botanical extracts and sweetened with agave nectar. The flavor of the cannabis is also detectable but tends to be rather complementary to the botanical profiles. I found the overall effect to be calming and pleasantly subtle. Perfect for a social gathering among both drinkers and non-drinkers, or for simply marking the end of a day. $49.95/12-pack, drinkcann.com