5 CBD Mocktails To Help You Thrive Through Dry January

After a year or holiday season full of tipsy memories and hangovers, many people choose to use January to “dry out.” That is, they opt out of alcohol for the month.

Joining the #DryJanuary crew doesn’t have to mean you’re restricted to cranberry juice and club soda, though — especially now that cannabidiol (CBD) is a part of the sober lifestyle. You can infuse CBD in the form of flavored drops to make concoctions that rival the fanciest mixed drinks and cocktail classics.

If you’re committing to start the new year with a sober perspective, the CBD mocktails we’re sharing in this article will help ditch the boozy bottles without losing the fun and flavor you love about your usual drinks.

But first, you might be wondering…

Why Swap Out Alcohol For Cannabidiol?

Beyond being a tasty and versatile non-intoxicating option, CBD has wellness-supporting properties that may bolster the benefits of quitting drinking.

• Ever pass out early after a few drinks, only to wake up in the middle of the night? That’s because the depressant effects of alcohol wear off, which can be jolting to your system. CBD has the opposite effect, helping you sleep soundly, likely by regulating the sleep-wake cycle.(1)
• Alcohol suppresses your body’s immune response, making it more likely you’ll catch whatever is going around.(2) By interacting with your immune system via the endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD might be the immune-booster you need in the winter.(3) Broad-spectrum CBD also contains terpenes — plant-based compounds with antiviral properties.(4)
• Consistent alcohol consumption over time is linked to liver and pancreas damage caused by inflammation.(2) CBD has well documented anti-inflammatory properties that can take effect in these organs.(5)

Drizzle in the no-hangover factor, and you’ve got a recipe for 31 days of sobriety your body will really thank you for.

Now, let’s get to the fun part: making drinks!

If you need a primer on bartending with CBD, we’ve got you covered with Be A CBD Bartender! CBD Bar Basics.

A Sober CBD Bar Menu For Dry January

This non-alcoholic drink menu has something for everyone.

Love a light and bubbly refreshment? We’ve got you covered. Serving a crowd? You’ll find a pitcher-friendly option here. Want to wow your friends with some bartender flair? There’s plenty of shaking and flavor alchemy in this lineup.

You will need a couple of basic tools to make some of these recipes:

• A Hawthorne strainer and a cocktail shaker, or a cocktail shaker with a strainer on the top
• A muddler

These can be acquired at your local kitchen supply store or online. You can probably also find them at any of those big box or discounter type retailers.

Other than that, add some CBD tinctures to your sober bar, and you’ll be ready to rock on the rocks or straight up.

Tropical CBD Press

Inspired by a vodka press, this lightly sweetened CBD drink hits the spot for something bubbly and fruity but not too sweet. 

A modern press is made with a combo of lemon-lime soda, club soda, and liquor. Instead, this recipe harkens back to simpler times, calling for a DIY citrus soda that you mash up yourself. Tropical flavored CBD drops replace the spirits for a distinctive yet familiar sipping experience that inspires chill holiday vacay vibes.

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients

• 6 oz club soda
• 1 dropperful Nano CBD Water Soluble - Tropical
• 3 orange wheels, seeds removed
• 1 sugar cube
• Sprig of mint for garnish (optional)
• Ice

Directions

• Pack a pint glass with ice.
• Add 2 orange slices and the sugar cube to another pint glass with a splash of water. Use a muddler to crush the sugar cube and press the orange slices to release the juices. Continue pressing until the sugar is fully dissolved and you can see the orange juice has released.
• Strain the orange and sugar mixture into the ice-filled glass. Top with club soda and CBD tincture. Garnish with an orange wheel and mint.

Virgin & Vegan Eggnog

Eggnog is one of those things that you either love or you hate. And if you love it and can’t have it because it contains booze and/or animal products, that’s a real bummer.

Enter: This virgin and vegan ‘nog. It’s “spiked,” but only with vanilla-flavored, vegan CBD oil drops.

This recipe makes 11 servings, so you can whip up a batch and dip into it throughout the festive season, or make a help-yourself pitcher for a sober celebration. Just make sure parents know it’s a CBD-infused virgin drink and keep it far away from kiddos and pets.

Makes 11 servings. Store leftovers in the fridge in a labeled container that indicates CBD content and serving size. Inspired by the Easy Vegan Eggnog recipe by Minimalist Baker.(6)

Ingredients

• 3 cups plant-based milk such as almond or oat milk
• 1 14-oz can full-fat coconut milk
• 11 droppersful Nano CBD Broad-Spectrum Oil - Vanilla
• 5 tablespoons maple syrup
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• Plant-based whipped cream for serving (optional)

Directions

• Combine all ingredients (except the optional whipped cream) in a high-speed blender and blitz for one minute.
• Transfer to a pitcher or divide between 11 serving glasses. The whipped cream on top is entirely optional, but adds a truly festive feel.

CBD Sour

Sours are part of the OG cocktail family. Whiskey Sours are the most popular today, but the sour technique can be used with any spirit — or with CBD!

Like traditional sours, this recipe calls for an egg white. This may sound weird if you haven’t tried it before, but the egg white mellows out the citrus edge and creates an irresistible frothy texture.

A CBD oil sour with egg white would typically be difficult-slash-impossible because oil can prevent the egg whites from stiffening. But thanks to the scientific wonder of water-soluble CBD drops, the whites are able to build up the body that gives this drink its signature richness.

Any flavor of water-soluble CBD drops will do here. Take your pick and get shaking!

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 ½ tbsp simple syrup
• 1 eggwhite, room temperature
• 1 dropperful Nano CBD Water Soluble
• 8 drops non-alcoholic bitters
• Maraschino cherry for garnish (Use the good ones!)

Directions

• Pack a lowball (6-10 oz) glass with ice (if serving on the rocks) or chill a martini glass by filling it with ice and water (if serving up).
• Combine all ingredients except the cherry in a cocktail shaker with no ice. Shake vigorously for around one minute, then open the shaker to make sure the ingredients are fully combined and frothy. If there are traces of unincorporated egg white remaining, continue shaking until it achieves a light, frothy consistency.
• If you’re serving it on the rocks, pour the drink over the ice in the lowball glass. If you’re serving this drink up, add some ice to the cocktail shaker and give it a 10-second shake to chill the drink. Then, empty the martini glass and pour the mocktail into the now-frosty glass.
• Add the finishing touch — a cherry — and enjoy!

Sober Strawberry Mojito

If you’re a mojito drinker, you’ll be pleased to hear that a no-alcohol version of your favorite drink can be just as delicious!

When you back up the herbaceous mint and sweet strawberries with a strawberry mojito flavored CBD simple syrup, you won’t be missing a single thing — except the hangover. Good riddance!

Makes 8 servings.

CBD Simple Syrup Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 8 droppersful Nano CBD Water Soluble - Strawberry Mojito

Directions

• Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar dissolves.
• Pour the syrup into an airtight container and allow to cool slightly. Add the CBD and shake gently to combine.
• Label the container with today’s date and include the dosage directions (2 tbsp = one serving). Store unused simple syrup in the refrigerator.

Makes 1 serving.

Strawberry Mojito Ingredients

• 3 oz soda water
• 2 tbsp CBD simple syrup
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 6 mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish
• 2-3 fresh or thawed frozen strawberries
• Lime wedge for garnish
• Ice

Directions

• Pack a pint glass with ice.
• Add the mint leaves and strawberries to a cocktail shaker. Muddle them until the strawberries are mashed to a thick, jam-like consistency.
• Pour in the simple syrup and lime juice, and a handful of ice. Shake until the shaker is frosty.
• Strain into the prepared glass. Top with soda water and garnish with mint and a lime wedge.

Peppermint Hemp Cocoa

Nothing hits the spot on a cold January day like a cup of cocoa.

This CBD-infused hot cocoa is a delightful afternoon treat or after-dinner drink. Peppermint-flavored CBD oil drops bring all the minty flavor you need, keeping your ingredient list short and sweet. It can be made with fully plant-based ingredients, too!

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients

• 8 oz milk or plant-based milk
• 1 tbsp cocoa or cacao powder
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 dropperful Nano CBD Broad Spectrum Oil - Peppermint

Directions

• In a small saucepan, combine the milk, cocoa or cacao powder, and sweetener over medium heat. Whisk to fully incorporate.
• Continue whisking regularly for a few minutes while the mixture heats up. Avoid boiling — we’re going for low, slow heat so it doesn’t get scalding hot or cause that funky film on the top of the milk.
• When the mixture is steaming but not boiling, remove it from the heat and mix in the CBD oil.
• Transfer the CBD cocoa to a warm mug and enjoy immediately.

CBD, The Perfect Dry Bar Ingredient For A Healthful New Year

Saying “no” to impairment is a great way to kick the year off right.

Jumping on the Dry January wagon is a whole lot easier with an arsenal of tasty non-alcoholic drink alternatives at the ready. And when you add CBD to the mix, it can help your system reset and recover from the effects of booze while keeping your refreshments interesting.

Shake up your usual with these CBD drinks made with flavored CBD tinctures and see what a month of sobriety can do for you!

SET UP YOUR SOBER BAR WITH CBD TINCTURE

References

1. (2020). CBD: For Sleep and Insomnia. American Sleep Association. https://www.sleepassociation.org/sleep-treatments/cbd
2. Miller, L. (2021). Benefits of Quitting Alcohol and How to Stop Drinking. American Addiction Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/quitting-benefits
3. Nichols, JM, et al. Immune Responses Regulated by Alcohol. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2018.0073
4. Herrington, AJ. (2021). Compounds In Cannabis Show Promise As A Treatment For Coronavirus Infections. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2021/04/14/compounds-in-cannabis-show-promise-as-a-treatment-for-coronavirus-infections
5. Ashton, L. (2021). Does CBD Oil Help With Chronic Pancreatitis Attacks? CFAH. https://cfah.org/cbd-oil-for-pancreatitis
6. (2019). Easy Vegan Eggnog. Minimalist Baker. https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-vegan-eggnog