Dope Cocktails: From Legacy cannabis to licensed market

BY SEAN SEURATTAN

Cannabis in Canada is a unique microcosm for the world’s industry within a first world setting. While the initial corporate cannabis behemoths lumber around like dinosaurs, it is the small business owners and innovators beneath them that will inherit the earth. The greatest leaps in evolution for cannabis culture happen at the grassroots level. Growth from here allows for the most adaptive and best-suited companies to flourish.

Back in early 2020 when Adrian Davidstein started his company DNA Drink Solutions, which Dope Cocktails was a service of, it had humble beginnings, but its goal of achieving success was always certain. Launched from a well-orchestrated pop-up cocktail party in downtown Toronto, word quickly spread like wildfire across the local cannabis community about his amazing concoctions and incredible service. Having collaborated with Dope Cocktails myself through several of The Heightened Chef dinner party events, I can confidently vouch for the high quality of class they bring to any atmosphere. Adrian is able to customize signature cocktails to fit any type of event with almost any theme.  His superior mixology skills allow him to navigate complex yet nuanced flavours and terpenes in every drink.

While the flair of his bar service and the flamboyance of his beverages speak volumes, Adrian is a most modest fellow with the exception of his enviable sneaker game. This balance of energy is no doubt born from Dope Cocktails very personal tragic origin. Boldly, he chose to make strength out of weakness by starting his company on the path to recovery from serious drug addiction.

Frustrated by existing treatments that were not interacting with his body well, he looked for another way. Luckily his doctor was wise enough to recommend cannabis as addiction treatment but could not provide any information.  After researching for himself, he had a literal life changing experience by using THC and CBD in a morning coffee. He was provided relief from his ailments in a way that was better, and healthier than current chemical treatments.

“All of a sudden I felt like I finally had something that made me feel safe about coming back from being messed up by life threatening drugs.” Using this motivation and his unique perspective on controlled substances, he identified that not many options existed for people like himself and many others. Recognizing that methods for consumption were also sorely lacking, he saw that infused cocktails was the perfect entrance into the cannabis market. The business was not only a ladder to success but also an active part of his recovery process, and personal growth.

The existing cannabis community welcomed Adrian and he began creating his own following. His rise to popularity was meteoric and his event schedule quickly became super busy both domestically and internationally. Now he stands on the cusp of moving from the craft market to the mass market.

Making the leap from Legacy cannabis to the licensed arena is the dream of every business in the field. Approached by corporate licensed producers Black Rose and 3C Cannabis Collective, who recognized his phenomenal product, he would be given the opportunity to scale up his business.  With the keen foresight to foster growth from craft creators, they would provide the much-needed resources and corporate business acumen needed to make the transition.

It would take some time to formulate what exactly would be offered from Dope Cocktails in the currently highly regulated licensed market. Several months of development was rewarded with powdered and syrup derivatives of his original cocktail creations. Dope Mocktails will be available through OCS dispensaries across Ontario in February 2023.

Unique and exciting flavours are geared towards true beverage connoisseurs by rewarding them with subtly complex notes on their palettes. Limonene Cordial (Sativa), Sweet Dream (Hybrid) and Calm-o-mile (Full Spectrum) are just a few examples from their initial offering with many more slated for future release.

Watching someone ascend to another tier of success is always exciting, but also inspiring. Knowing that it can manifest for someone as cool and deserving as Dope Cocktails instils confidence that dope stuff does happen to dope people.

Check out Dope Cocktails on Instagram to support or go to https://www.dope-cocktails.com to find out how you can enjoy an irreplaceable experience!