This article is part of our complete THC drinks guide. For the overview of formats, dosing, and where to buy, start there.
Making cocktails at home is one of life's simple pleasures. There's something deeply satisfying about measuring, mixing, and garnishing a drink for yourself or someone you care about. Good news: everything you love about cocktail making translates beautifully to THC.
If you've been curious about THC cocktails but aren't sure where to begin, you're in the right place. Making an infused cocktail at home is easier than you might think, especially if you're working with a THC spirit rather than a tincture or dropper. Here's everything you need to know to get started.
What do you need to make a THC cocktail?
The beauty of making THC cocktails is that you don't need much. If you've ever made a cocktail with liquor, you already have the skills. The difference is that you're swapping the alcohol for a THC spirit.
Here's what you'll want on hand:
A THC spirit. This is the foundation of your drink. A THC spirit is a non-alcoholic, THC-infused liquid that comes in a 750ml bottle, just like a traditional bottle of liquor. Some spirits are neutral. Others, like Artet's aperitif, bring their own flavor profile to the glass — think botanicals, citrus, spice, and a gentle bitterness inspired by classic Italian spirits.
Mixers. Tonic water, soda water, ginger ale, ginger beer, fruit juices, lemonade, coconut water — if you'd use it to make a cocktail with liquor, you can use it to make one with a THC spirit. Start simple and experiment from there.
Ice and garnishes. Never underestimate the power of a good ice cube and a fresh garnish. A sprig of rosemary, a twist of grapefruit peel, a few slices of cucumber, or a wedge of lime can elevate even the simplest pour into something that feels intentional.
A measuring tool. This is important for both flavor and dosing. Many THC spirits come with a dosing cap that measures out a precise serving, so you always know exactly how many milligrams of THC are in your glass. If yours doesn't, a standard jigger works perfectly.
How is making a THC cocktail different from a regular cocktail?
Honestly? Not very. The mechanics are the same: measure your spirit, add your mixer, stir or shake, pour over ice, garnish, and enjoy. The only real differences come down to two things: alcohol is out of the equation, and dosing deserves a bit more thought.
Because there's no alcohol involved, you won't get the burn or warmth that ethanol provides. A well-made THC spirit compensates for this with its own flavor profile. Artet, for example, uses ginger and allspice to create a gentle warmth on the palate that replicates the mouthfeel of a traditional cocktail. The drink doesn't feel empty or watered down the way a simple juice-and-soda mocktail might.
As for dosing, the key is to start low and build up. A single measured pour of a THC spirit is a great starting point. Wait 15 to 20 minutes after your first drink to see how you feel before mixing another. You can always have more; you can't have less. For a more detailed breakdown, read our guide to finding the right dose of THC.
Do I need a THC spirit, or can I use a tincture?
You'll find plenty of guides online that recommend using THC tinctures or droppers to make cannabis cocktails. That approach works, but it has some drawbacks.
Most tinctures are made with MCT oil or alcohol and are designed to be taken sublingually, not mixed into drinks. When you add a tincture to a cocktail, the oil can separate, the flavor can be off-putting, and the dosing can feel imprecise. You're essentially adding a supplement to a drink rather than building a drink around an ingredient.
A THC spirit, on the other hand, was made for this. It's water-soluble, so it blends seamlessly into any liquid. It has its own flavor profile that enhances your cocktail rather than fighting it. And it pours and measures like a real spirit, so the entire experience — from building the drink to sipping it — feels like cocktail making, not dosing.
If you're serious about making great THC cocktails at home, a spirit is the way to go.
Three easy THC cocktails to start with
You don't need bartending experience to make a fantastic THC cocktail. Here are three simple recipes that anyone can pull off, each requiring just a few ingredients.
The Artet & Tonic
This is the simplest cocktail you can make and one of the most satisfying. Pour a single serving of Artet's Flagship Aperitif over ice in a rocks glass. Top with tonic water. Squeeze in a wedge of lime or grapefruit. That's it. The botanicals in Artet — juniper, gentian, grapefruit, ginger — pair beautifully with the bitterness of tonic, creating a drink that's crisp, complex, and endlessly sippable. Think of it as the THC answer to a Gin & Tonic.
The Infused Spritz
The spritz format is one of the easiest cocktails to love. Pour a serving of Artet over ice in a wine glass. Top with equal parts soda water and a splash of fresh lemon or grapefruit juice. Garnish with an orange slice. The result is bright, bubbly, and perfect for warm weather or a pre-dinner moment. It's no coincidence that Artet was inspired by the same Italian aperitivo tradition that gave the world the Aperol Spritz.
The Artet Mule
If you like spice and sweetness, this one's for you. Pour a single serving of Artet over ice in a tall glass. Top with ginger beer, depending on how much heat you want. Add a healthy squeeze of lime and a thin slice of fresh ginger if you have it. The ginger in the mixer amplifies the ginger already present in Artet's recipe, and the lime brightens everything up. It's warm, lively, and dangerously easy to drink.
For more ideas, check out our full collection of THC cocktail recipes.
Tips for making better THC cocktails
Once you've got the basics down, a few small adjustments can make a big difference in the quality of your drinks:
Use good ice. It sounds minor, but large, clear ice cubes melt slower and dilute your drink less than the small, cloudy cubes from a standard ice tray. If you're sipping something on the rocks, the ice matters.
Don't over-mix. THC spirits are typically bolder in flavor than neutral vodka, which means you don't need to pile on the ingredients. Some of the best THC cocktails are two or three ingredients at most. Let the spirit do the heavy lifting.
Match your mixer to your spirit. If you're working with a botanical, aperitif-style spirit like Artet, reach for mixers that complement those flavors: tonic, citrus juices, ginger, soda water. If you're using a neutral THC spirit, you have more freedom to go in any direction.
Garnish with intention. A garnish isn't just decoration. Citrus peels release essential oils that change the aroma and flavor of your drink. Fresh herbs like basil, mint, or rosemary do the same. Take the extra ten seconds — it's worth it.
Pace yourself. THC cocktails are sessionable, but they're not consequence-free. Give each drink 15 to 20 minutes to settle in before pouring another. The right dose is the one that makes you feel great without going overboard.
Can I make THC cocktails for a group?
Absolutely — and it's one of the best reasons to keep a THC spirit on your bar cart. Hosting with THC cocktails is not that different from hosting with regular cocktails, with one important caveat: not everyone in the room will have the same tolerance.
The simplest approach is to set up a self-serve station. Put the bottle of Artet on the bar alongside the dosing cap, a few mixers, ice, garnishes, and a small card explaining how much THC is in each pour. This way, your guests can build their own drinks and dose at their own comfort level. It's responsible, it's social, and it's a great conversation starter.
For guests who'd prefer something ready to drink, you can also offer Artet's canned spritzes, which come pre-dosed and ready to enjoy.
Ready to start mixing?
If you're new to THC cocktails, we'd recommend grabbing a bottle of our Flagship Aperitif or the Artet Starter Pack, which comes with everything you need to start experimenting: the aperitif, a variety of our canned spritzes, and a cocktail booklet with recipes and dosing tips.
Making THC cocktails at home is one of those things that's far easier and more rewarding than it sounds. All you really need is a great spirit, a good mixer, and a willingness to experiment. The rest takes care of itself.
Want the bigger picture? Read our complete THC drinks guide — covers formats, dosing, legality, and how to buy.
Cheers, and as always, keep your spirits high!
