Could this CBD drink replace your usual?

February is a tough time. Everyone is still a bit broke from Christmas, and dreading the upcoming expense of Valentine's day. It’s cold, and you’ve made a resolution to stay away from chocolate/meat/anything delicious. On top of that, it’s a huge election year for countries across the world, and Australia is literally on fire. Potentially the worst time to cut down on your drinking.

If you’ve pledged to cut down on your drinking this year, but still need to escape your woes every now and then, a new company hopes to be the answer to all your prayers – Little Rick CBD.

This UK beverage company has combined the health potentials of CBD with classic cocktail flavours so you can still share a big bag of cans with the lads, just without the nasty hangover the next day.

Any CBD connoisseurs out there will know that CBD beverages aren’t the most effective way to get your daily dose of CBD. That’s why Little Rick have included specific LCT & MCT carrier oils in their recipe, in an innovative technique for maximising the bioavailability of their drinks.

Each drink contains 32mg of CBD as well as 1.2mg of CBC (cannabichromine) and 6mg of CBG (cannabigerol). This combination means you’ll get the benefits of the ‘entourage effect’, which basically means that cannabinoids increase each others effectiveness by working together as a team.

Any CBD connoisseurs out there will know that CBD beverages aren’t the most effective way to get your daily dose of CBD. That’s why Little Rick have included specific LCT & MCT carrier oils in their recipe, in an innovative technique for maximising the bioavailability of their drinks.

So How Do They Go Down?

We got to sample Little Rick’s full range of CBD-infused sodas, which includes Mint Lime, Raspberry Coconut with Lemon Zest, and a tropical Piña Colada inspired flavour. Little Rick have also made the most of naturally derived ingredients like beet sugar and stevia for the perfect subtle hint of sweetness, without leaving you with furry teeth.

If you’re aching for a mojito to take the edge off, Little Rick’s Mint & Lime CBD sparkling drink will satisfy your cravings without giving you The Fear the next morning. Thanks to natural mint flavour, this sparkling drink is refreshing without being overly sweet. It is quite mint forward though, so keep that in mind.

For those with a slightly more deprived sweet tooth, the Piña is the perfect tropical flavour to quench your thirst. This soda is a delicious mix of exotic flavours like pineapple and coconut to transport your mind to a sunny island beach, when the rest of you is still stuck on a packed rush-hour tube.

Raspberry Coconut and Lemon might not be for everyone, and gathered mixed opinions here in the Candid offices – this feels like a love-it-or-hate-it kind of combination.

Does It Actually Have Any Effects?

Little Rick state that you should allow thirty minutes for their drinks to take full effect, but you should start feeling pretty chilled out within 15 minutes. We would liken it to that halfway-through-your-first-drink feeling: relaxed, perked up and sociable, but still focused.

After a few cans, you might start to feel a bit sleepy – so these beverages are best kept to one or two sociable drinks with friends (it’s way too cold to stay out all night anyways).

Of all Little Rick’s offerings, our favourite has to be Piña, which is the perfect balance of refreshing fruitiness with natural sweetness. Mint & Lime was a close second, with the slightly more wildcard Raspberry Coconut & Lemon Zest coming in third.

While these drinks are non-alcoholic, research into just how much CBD can affect us is still lacking – so Little Rick recommends you don’t consume them if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. You should also give driving or operating any heavy machinery a miss.

Overall, we’re giving Little Rick 8/10 for the ability to make effective CBD beverages that actually taste great. Who needs beer anyways?