London-based wellness company OTO has launched a CBD cocktail enhancer which you can now add to your drink of choice. The ‘premium’ brand is hoping to bridge the gap in the UK market and cater for the growing demand for cannabis-infused drinks. We have previously also looked at how CBD and alcohol mix
According to figures from the Cannabis Trade Association UK, “the number of cannabidiol consumers in the UK doubled from 125,000 in 2017 to 250,000 last year”.
The cocktail bitters was developed by a team of experienced industry leaders including food scientist, Dr. Ketan Joshi; Antonia Jamison, a founding director at Sipsmith Gin, managing director of OTO, Gemma Colao, and James Bagley, CEO of DMD Ventures, and owner of drinks retailer 31 Dover.
‘Complementing CBD’
A single measure of the infused shot – which the company recommends as three dashes- contains 50mg of non-psychoactive CBD. It also includes a number of added botanicals which have been selected to “complement the effects of CBD”, including liquorice, cardamon, and cacao.
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According to OTO, the resulting flavour profile is “herbaceous, citrus and with a hint of floral”. The new shots can be used to enhance traditional cocktails or even as a functional and flavourful alternative to alcohol.
“The drinks market is entering a really interesting stage where the non-alcoholic alternatives are now just as exciting and complex as their alcoholic counterparts,” Antonia Jamison, director of OTO, said.
“However, just because people are adopting a more balanced approach to drinking, doesn’t mean that they don’t need a bracer to help them unwind and socialise. This is where OTO’s non-alcoholic CBD bitters come in.”
‘Cocktails With Purpose’
OTO, who also market a range of premium CBD oils have teamed up with Camille Vidal- brand ambassador for St Germain and a partner in HealthyHospo- to create a signature range of no and low-ABV cocktails infused with the CBD bitters.
Alongside Vidal, the brand will be running a number of events, both within the industry and for consumers, to promote and trial run the new product. OTO’s new partner explained that the bitters allow bartenders to create “an enjoyable cocktail experience even when the customer isn’t drinking alcohol, making the cocktails delicious and with purpose”.
The company said it also plans to launch a line of 50mg CBD shots later this year.
