Tasting/Testing Journal, Ep. 7 Dixie Elixir “Berry Lemonade”
Don’t know why this elixir from the Rockies was whistling dixie…
When I was in Denver and recently checked out JARS Cannabis downtown, I grabbed a Dixie Elixir, their beverage line. Mostly, I was just curious, but I also had variance in the back of my mind.
When we compared the cannabinoids in several nugs of JARS weed last week, we attributed the variance between those measurements to mostly come from differences between buds. Since each pour of a drink usually tastes the same, we expected small variance between measurements of a beverage. https://lnkd.in/ekxhSvze
The bottle is colorful, contains 250 mL, and is topped with a cap like mouthwash. One is instructed to serve from the cap, which has a measuring line for 15 mL = 6 mg of THC. The Elixir itself was cloudy and salmon-colored, and smelled like cough syrup. Dosing from the cap enhanced the cough syrup vibe.
Most cannabis beverages I’ve seen are regular soda-sized cans with ‘skinny’ proportions, 12 fl oz. » 350 mL, and contain 5-10 mg THC; thus a few mg/100 mL. I’ve also seen “beverage enhancers” that are much more concentrated (20 mg/mL), for adding to a drink that ends up in that few mg/100 mL range convenient for sipping.
I don’t know many people who hang around at a party nursing a capful of syrup, so this product targets a different audience than most cannabis beverages I see.
Each shot went to our heads pretty quickly, and we felt effects within minutes. Imbibing this product made me smile a lot, a particular result of this drink that I noticed several times.
We tested three times on the hashtagLightLab from Orange Photonics, Inc., which uses an injection of the neat liquid (no dilution). Our three samples averaged 5.4 mg THC / dose (5.3, 5.1, 5.9) The standard deviation of those is 0.34, or about 6% of the value, and the label value of 6 mg lies within the 95% confidence interval of our measurements.
How could the three sips of this elixir we tested each contain different amounts of THC? Isn’t it all mixed together in the bottle?
To begin answering, we note the words “Shake gently before consuming” on the label, the cloudy appearance of this syrup, and the ingredient “Quillaja.”
Cannabinoids are oily and don’t easily dissolve in water. It takes chemical technology to get THC into a drink. Quillaja is a natural emulsifier from soapbark trees. The cloudy appearance suggests that this was not a stable emulsion, so THC could settle over time or cling to the sides of the bottle. Hence the shaking.
In conclusion, the Dixie Elixir from JARS is like the ‘5-Hour Energy’ of weed – it’ll get you high. It made me smile, but it wouldn’t be my first, second, or third choice for a cannabis beverage.
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TL;DR
🍷🌿 Tasting/Testing Ep. 7: Dixie Elixir “Berry Lemonade” (JARS, Denver)
Don’t know why this elixir from the Rockies was whistling Dixie…
On a recent Denver visit, I picked up a 250 mL bottle of Dixie Elixir at @JARS Cannabis; not because I love syrupy shots, but because I was thinking about variance.
🌫️ The liquid? Cloudy, salmon-colored, and smelled like cough syrup.
🥄 Dosed by the cap (15 mL = 6 mg THC), which made the experience extra medicinal.
💨 Effects kicked in fast. Consistently made me smile. Strange, but delightful.
We tested 3 doses on the hashtagLightLab3 from @Orange Photonics:
THC per dose: 5.3, 5.1, 5.9 mg
Average: 5.4 mg
Standard deviation: 6% — label said 6 mg, which falls within the 95% confidence interval.
⚗️ But why does THC vary in liquid? Shouldn’t it be totally mixed?
→ Nope. THC’s oily. This cloudy beverage relies on an emulsifier (Quillaja). If the emulsion isn’t stable, THC might settle or cling to surfaces. That’s why the label says: “Shake gently.”
💡 Verdict:
It’s like the 5-Hour Energy of weed. Effective and fast — but not exactly enjoyable. You won’t find me sipping this at a party.
