How To Make Ginjah: Cannabis Infused Gin & Tonic

You do not have to be pro to make a killer G&T. There are a variety of ingredients that can easily turn a normal drink into a tantalising treat. It can be enhanced with special tonics, a slice of lemon or ice. But what is the killer ingredient guaranteed to make your cocktails stand out? If not give them a powerful kick? Infusing the gin with THC is guaranteed to put your concoctions in a different league.

Even better? This is super easy to make and bound to impress.
Ginjah, as this drink is also known, is a tasty new twist you should try out.

HOW TO INFUSE THE GIN

Luckily, alcohol is one of the top two ways to extract cannabinoids from the plant. The first thing you do is soak the cannabis in the alcohol for a period of days. That is pretty much it - the longer you can leave it, the better (up to 2-4 weeks). Some recipes (as in ours below) also suggest heating the alcohol slightly through a warming finisher bath. Then just steep and strain. This alcohol can be stored until you are ready to use it.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 grams of cannabis buds
• 750 ml good gin
• Steeping bottle
• Saucepan
• Cheesecloth mesh

HOW TO MAKE

Grind the cannabis as finely as you can. If you are also using leaves, chop them finely too. Place the ground matter in your steeping jar/bottle. Now fill the jar with alcohol. Make sure at minimum that all the weed is fully covered by liquid.

Firmly seal the bottle and place in a cool, dark place for several days. If possible try to let sit for at least five days, but up to a few weeks. You will get better results. Occasionally, at least once a day, shake the bottle hard for a few minutes to recirculate the plant matter with the liquid.

Once you have steeped the plant matter to your satisfaction, remove the bottle from the storing place. Heat a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Place your seeping bottle in the hot water for about half an hour. The water should not cover the top of the bottle. Some people also find that putting the sealed bottle in the dishwasher and running it through the hot wash cycle also works. Just make sure that the bottle is tightly sealed!

Once the liquid has cooled, strain the plant matter out of the liquid.

GINJAH GOES GREAT WITH…

Now you have an exotically infused gin to serve to guests. What you add to it is your choice!

Ginjah goes great with tonic and lemon. It also is a great base for other drinks (particularly with fruit). This may even enhance the effect of the cannabis!

WHAT STRAINS SHOULD I USE?

There are a couple of strains that are absolutely perfect to infuse gin with, especially given common mixers.

LEMON KUSH

This intense and potent strain has its well-known, celebrity fans. This hybrid expresses itself with an intense heady rush of lemon, followed by a strong body-numbing feeling. Mixed with alcohol Lemon Kush can be very potent. Go slow.

LEMON SHINING SILVER HAZE

This strong, sweet and sour strain is a cross of Lemon Skunk and Amnesia Haze. Both strains are known for their strong lemony flavour. Lemon Shining Silver Haze creates a strong head rush which is energising and motivating. This euphoria will dissipate slowly over many hours particularly if eaten. A great social strain.

WHITE LEMON

This fast-growing, high yield plant is a favourite among commercial growers for speed, yield and powerful bud. The great thing about White Lemon, is that you can use it to infuse gin and have a whole lot left over to enjoy other ways. This 50-50 sativa-indica hybrid creates a bud with a citrusy, skunky, woody flavour. The high is a brainy euphoric rush from the sativa that is followed by a mellow indica influence that removes pain quickly.

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Alcohol can dramatically impact your perception of intake of both cannabis and alcohol. If you infuse alcoholic drinks with strong cannabis strains, be prepared for a very powerful substance. Some describe the effects of both as a double buzz - which is either loved or hated. Limit your intake to small and infrequent serving sizes. Remember that cannabis consumed orally takes a longer time to be felt. It will also last for hours.

Also remember that while extracted THC into certain kinds of alcohol can be used for the purposes of medical treatment, the recipes here are for those who are using cannabis for recreational purposes.

As a guideline for use, assume that every serving of gin also has 10mg of THC.

Above all consume responsibly.

Luke Sumpter

With a BSc (Hons) degree in Clinical Health Sciences and a passion for growing plants, Luke Sumpter has worked as a professional journalist and writer at the intersection of cannabis and science for the past 7 years.

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