Century-old New York orchard releases cannabis-infused apple cider
As each day shortens, the signs of fall settle in. Green leaves shift to crimson and gold, evenings get brisk, and apples plump on their tree branches.
Beak and Skiff, a 100-year-old apple orchard in central New York, is celebrating the season with Honeycrisp, an infused beverage from its cannabis brand ayrloom. The brand grows the apples and weed used in the recipe.
“Beak & Skiff apples are at the center of everything we do here at the orchard,” Eddie Brennan, ayrloom president, shared with GreenState in an email. “Our family grows, hand trims, and harvests over 350,000 heirloom apple trees every fall season. We still use many of the same genetics that our great-great-grandfathers passed down to us.”
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Formulating the perfect infused cider
Honeycrisp is a light dose edible, designed for social enjoyment. Each can contains five milligrams of THC and five milligrams of CBD. The drink is enjoyed cold from the fridge or heated into a mulled cider, making it ideal for the season famous for bringing in winter.
Beak and Skiff began shipping cannabis drinks to licensed New York dispensaries in December 2022 alongside the brand’s gummies, balms, tinctures, and vapes. They hold the title of being the first infused drinks brand in the state.
The ayrloom operation is built for the future New York cannabis industry. The factory can run 250 cans per minute, equating to 25 million units yearly. With New York retail licenses halted by a discrimination lawsuit, the orchard may have time before hitting production capacity.
Until then, ayrloom will push forward, researching new products like Honeycrisp, which uses one of the orchard’s most popular apples.
“Each of the 25+ apple varieties on our 5th generation 1,000 acre orchard is special, but the Honeycrisp apple is especially popular. The sweet, crisp, and juicy variety inspires thousands of people to visit our award-winning orchard each year.”
All eyes on the future
The orchard also has an alcohol brand called 1911 Established, whose expert team was instrumental in crafting the perfectly balanced flavor of Honeycrisp and the other ayrloom sparkling waters.
Beak & Skiff bet on cannabis beverages, and now ayrloom drinks are available in dispensaries throughout New York. Grab the new seasonal Honeycrisp or the signature line of flavors, including Pink Grapefruit, Pineapple Mango, Black Cherry, and Lemonade. Those out of state can still cop the brand’s CBD line which is available nationwide.
With this latest offering from ayrloom, it seems safe to say that Apple season has arrived. Before hopping on the pumpkin spice train, it’s about time to enjoy some infused mulled cider– and Brennan agrees.
“Because it’s still a bit warm in New York, I’m enjoying the ayrloom Honeycrisp chilled or poured over ice, but I’m looking forward to the first crisp day of fall so that I can mull it and enjoy it in a cozy mug,” Brennan concluded.