Cannabis-flavoured vodka to make debut at Wine & Spirits Show

A new cannabis-flavoured vodka called Weedka is to take a stand at this year’s Wine & Spirits Show, which will be held next month at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.

Dutchweek | Zell Am See – Kaprun | 23-26 Januari 2019 | © MarcVerhees Fotografie

The vodka brand, co-founded by Maarten Witteveen, is made using 100% natural cannabis terpenes to flavour the vodka, and as such contains none of the psychoactive or medicinal properties of the marijuana plant.

“We started as most ideas flourish I guess, shooting the shit with some mates and coming up with the crazy idea of adding cannabis leaves to vodka, a bit like the botanical distillation of gins without the master distiller involved,” explains Witteveen.

“In the end we figured we would use 100% natural cannabis terpenes (flavour). Most cannabis terpenes are artificial as there is very little oil in the plant to extract. We considered the options and 100% natural is by far the best performer infused in top quality, quintuple distilled French grain vodka at 40% ABV.”

The cannabis oil used to flavour the spirit is sourced from California, where the team is able to work with cannabis legally, however tests are then carried out independently to ensure that there is no THC (the psychoactive substance in cannabis) present, making it legal in European markets.

As a result Weedka is 100% legal wherever alcohol is legal, adds Witteveen.

Weedka is produced in the Netherlands, with the first batch produced in December, and is now available in both the Netherlands and Germany, with plans to extend its reach to markets including the UK, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Georgia, Lebanon, Central/South America and the Caribbean in the near future.

Next month, the brand will be showcased at the Wine & Spirits Show in London, hosted by the drinks business and The Spirits Business, which will return to the Royal Horseguards Hotel at One Whitehall Place on 12 and 13 April 2019.

“There is a road to travel for Weedka as we are innovating within a pretty calm vodka category,” said Witteveen. “We are not another flavoured vodka, we are engaging deeply in infusing botanicals into an organic spirit experience. From a flavour perspective we have received various comments that we are closer to a botanical craft gin then we are to pure vodka. The fun part is that Weedka can most certainly be enjoyed neat, we would argue more so than gin can be. In a way we transcend both categories, the purity and clarity of great vodka married to the botanical flavour profile of gin.”

The Wine & Spirits Show

Alongside individual exhibitors, visitors will also be able to enjoy New Products Zone, a masterclass series and a G&T bar, as well as the launch of a new zone dedicated to the most-awarded wines from our annual Global Masters competitions.

All Global Masters are judged blind by the finest palates in the world – a panel of Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and senior buyers only.

Patrick Schmitt MW, the editor-in-chief of the drinks business, has hand-selected wines from our awards that received either a Gold or Master, the highest accolade the judges can bestow on any bottle, to be showcased on the Masters of Wine Selection stand.

The trade session will run between 2pm and 5pm on Friday 12 April. To register for the trade session, follow this link. 

The event will open to consumers from 2pm until 9pm on Friday 12 April, and 1pm until 8pm on Saturday 13 April.

For more information about the show and to buy tickets, please visit the website. 

Visit www.theglobalmasters.co.uk to find out more about the competition series.

Location: One Whitehall Place, 1 Whitehall Ct, Westminster, London SW1A 2EJ