It seems every second day there’s a new hemp-based product being released, but none but none quite like cannabis gin. As the first of its kind in the world, the small-batch gin is infused with myrcene, the terpenes (the ‘essential’ component in essential oil) derived from the cannabis plant.

Best served with lemon and paired with tonic, the gin is said to impart bubblegum aromas blended with pine forest, sage and lavender – all of which sound very medicinal to us (except the bubblegum). Meanwhile, on the flavour front, gin lovers can expect notes of rosemary, resin, cloves and woody spices. 

Created by The Cannabis Company in Victoria’s Healesville region, the spirit is the result of years of research by Dr David Stapleton, a senior researcher at The University of Melbourne with a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, and fellow co-owners Cormac Sheehan and Richard Jameson into the ‘Tree of Life’, also known as hemp.

We’ve got nothing against hippies,” says Sheehan. “But the public image of the cannabis plant is still stuck in the ‘60s. It’s unfortunate, as this plant has a million applications as a food, a medicine, a textile, even as a sustainable fire-resistant building material. Yet it still suffers from considerable stigma,” he continues.

It’s not the first time though that terpenes have been used in spirits such as gin. Research by the group through historical archives revealed a long history, dating back to the 17th century, in which the component was used to mask the flavour of crude distilled versions of what we’ve come to call gin.

Initially released with a limited run of 300 bottles, it’s undoubtedly one of the more enticing hemp products we’ve seen to date.

The Myrcene Hemp Gin from The Cannabis Co can be purchased via pre-order here: cannabiscomapny.com.au