Cannabis–infused beverages designed to replace traditional alcoholic drinks is a vibrant category seeing more entrants as folks experiment with both cannabinoids like THC and CBD, and terpenes such as myrcene.
Cannabis and hops share similarities aromatically, so THC-beer makes a lot of sense, but the kind herb’s complex nose means that lingering between those sticky buds are also notes of lemon, black pepper, berries, fruits, pine, and lavender. But you can also find botanicals in traditional bitters, flavors like citrus, juniper, bark, and other herbs that enhance the flavor profile of a cocktail. That synergy is on full display with cannabis aperitif Artet.
Modeled after classic aperitifs, Artet’s blend of eight botanicals and cannabis comes mildly dosed to mimic some of the positive effects of alcohol, and each 50ml shot contains 2.5mg of THC. Better still, the new cannabis beverage creators designed the drink so that folks could enjoy it in the same setting as where you would usually get your favorite cocktail.
“Artet gets made from a balanced blend of botanicals inspired by Italian style liqueurs,” says Zach Spohler, co-founder of Artet. “It gets its citrus note from Italian grapefruit oil, floral quality from chamomile, and a more dry and spiced finish from cardamom, gentian, ginger, and allspice. The botanicals work in harmony with the cannabis to create a flavor that is both sippable and mixable.”
Artet’s resemblance to storied liqueurs extends to the visual identity and packaging as well. The canna-spirits’ bottle is square-bottomed with broad shoulders, reminiscent of classic gin bottles. The dark and opaque blue is evocative of cannabis’s calming effect and includes a stainless steel shot glass for precise dosing. Artet worked with Daniel Arenas’s studio, Triptk Design ( formerly known as Sunday Morning) and Thomas Haddad at Special Project Studio to develop the branding and packaging design.
“The ambition [of] our brand was to celebrate cannabis as the perfect aperitif,” Zach says. “The silhouette of our bottle, designed in partnership with Thomas Haddad, pays homage to the art deco foundations of aperitif brands like Campari and Pernod, while our illustration style is a contemporary approach to early 20th-century poster graphics that celebrate the playful nature of cannabis.”
An attractive presentation, the classic taste of bitters, and a moderate dose go far in creating a spot on the home bar next to alcoholic staples. Artet comes designed for both the intrigued that want to change up their favorite spirit without veering too far from the familiar, or for those well-initiated in the world of cannabis-infused products.
