We all knew it was coming to this. Humboldt Distillery — which began selling its Humboldt Vodka brand a couple years ago — has released a cannabis-infused vodka called, obviously, "Humboldt's Finest." 

Owner Abe Stevens explains in a press release that the vodka — which doesn't have any THC in it, rendering it legal to sell — has an "herbal and aromatic quality reminiscent of fresh cannabis, and we've found it works very well in place of gin, giving classic cocktails a fresh new spin.” 

The Journal profiled Stevens and his burgeoning line of spirits several years ago. In the press release, he explains that he couldn't ignore a market demand that called for infusions of Humboldt County's most famous agricultural product. Apparently it's available now, so start looking for it on shelves soon at around $30 a bottle. 

Journal staff reactions are... varied, but call this writer curious. 

The press release:

Humboldt Distillery, Humboldt County’s first micro-distillery, and producer of award-winning organic vodka and spiced rum, announces the release of HUMBOLDT’S FINEST, a vodka infused with cannabis sativa, now available statewide in California and Colorado.

Humboldt's Finest, one of the first spirits of its kind available to the public, begins with a unique botanical aroma and ends with a smooth finish. With its appealing herbal character, the cannabis infused vodka is ideal as a neutral base for today's innovative, specialty cocktails. Humboldt’s Finest is 80-proof (40% alcohol by volume) and available in 750-ml bottles at a suggested retail price of $29.99.

“We've been selling our original Organic Vodka for more than two year now” says Humboldt Distillery owner and head distiller, Abe Stevens. “As the vodka has grown in popularity I've found more and more consumers asking us to add some of the 'local flavor' to our alcohol. That obviously wouldn't be legal for us to do, but I couldn't ignore the consumer demand. My solution was to come up with a compromise that captures a bit of that character without breaking any laws.”

Humboldt’s Finest uses local and legally grown hemp. Domestic hemp cultivation has only recently been authorized with the passage of the 2014 United States Farm Bill, which distinguishes it from marijuana by requiring a THC content of less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. The food-grade hemp used for infusion is from some of the very first legally produced hemp crops in the country since prohibition.

“Humboldt's Finest doesn't have the THC that you'd find in marijuana, so it's not going to get anyone in trouble with the law,” explains Stevens. “It does, however, retain an herbal and aromatic quality reminiscent of fresh cannabis, and we've found it works very well in place of gin, giving classic cocktails a fresh new spin.”

About Humboldt Distillery (www.humboldtdistillery.com): Humboldt Distillery was the first micro-distillery on the North Coast, and the only in the region to produce certified organic spirits. Founded in Fortuna in 2012 by fifth-generation North Coast native Abe Stevens, Humboldt Distillery also produces organic vodka and organic spiced rum. Both are distilled from domestic organic cane sugar and are gluten free. The company will soon release its first batches of organic single malt whiskey and organic aged rum. Humboldt Distillery products are available at the distillery gift shop at 735 10th Street in Fortuna, California, and for sale at liquor retailers throughout California and Colorado. Humboldt Distillery products are distributed by Young's Market Co. in California, and Breakthru Beverage Group in Colorado.

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