Fine Flowers
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
I’ve been traveling around the country and some of the world for craft cannabis these days. That should be no surprise to those who follow along with me on my Instagram or my deeply bemusing, one hundred and forty character Twitter feed. Or even my cocktail whisperer website. All show a plethora of fine, hand-tended flowers from passionate craft cannabis growers. I’m truly the lucky man to do this for my work.
To those who don’t know me well, I made a conscious decision about five years ago when I was just reinventing myself, yet again, this time from a national brand ambassador in the boutique (read craft) liquor field. Craft liquor is in many ways similar to craft cannabis. It’s hand-made to a large extent- except for certain brands who will remain nameless, but their labels call themselves hand-crafted- which they are not at all, but that’s another story for another day. To me, the most glaring difference is the fact that craft cannabis never offers me (without asking) a grossly overrated hangover, which the liquor industry offers often and deeply to those who drink too much, either intentionally or not. I’m ready to embrace good health.
Keith Haring one-hitter
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
I just had to quit drinking distilled spirits. For good health.
Craft Cannabis on the other hand has never given me a hangover. Far from really, with certain indica strains always offering me a truly lovely nights sleep after seshing with friends and new friends I’ve not yet met. Cannabis is my go/to for relief from my own life’s minor ills and in my case, glaucoma, which is nothing to fool around with, or joke about. With that said, I’m the poster-child for medical cannabis.
Yes, it does work to reduce my eye pressure and daily headaches that forced me to gobble down a bottle or two of Advil every month, only to alleviate my behind the eyes pain. All of this is in the past with medical cannabis flower as my guide.
Here is my professionally tested list of gourmet cannabis flowers for your significant other’s Valentines Day. Each of these flowers you should try to seek out. Recreational or Medical, we enjoy cannabis for many reasons. Thus share with your significant other, deeply, early and often.
For this tasting I utilized my Stonedware Purse Pipe from Oregon. I love the draw and the ease of cleaning. A win/win for cannabis luddites like myself.
Craft Cannabis from the Emerald Cup
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
Island Flower: Artisanal quality, hand-tended flowers that are deeply pertinent. Theri flowers are always bespoke in nature. There is nothing that overtly says cannabis in Island, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying really tasty flowers that get me perfectly relaxed and chilled!
Seed & Smith: Terpene preservation is key at Seed & Smith, the gourmet cannabis dispensary and grow, located in Denver, Colorado. They seek the finest in cultivars for their own proprietary strains with luxury as the pre-determinate. The quality is delicious with all the right notes represented. I’m impressed!
Oregrown: There are many strains and cultivars that Oregrown produces in the Pacific Northwest for their guests. All have one thing in common, their adherence to only utilizing the finest techniques to produce some of the finest flowers that are sold in this perpetually mist-shrouded state.
Josh D: Josh Del Rosso has consistently raised the bar on craft cannabis with his namesake, Josh D. Kush and other various “personalities” of the artistry in luxury, craft cannabis. This is gorgeous stuff folks by a true OG.
Sherbinsky: Sure they are known for their gourmet pre-rolls and eye-catching bright orange packaging. But what sets Sherbinsky aside from the others is their deep commitment to quality. They don’t have to put the good stuff in there. But they do. ‘Nuff said.
Fine Flowers
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
Wonderbrett: Yes friends, I’m a total weed-nerd. Definitely a nerd as well if you knew me from Gill/St. Bernards and Morristown-Beard in the 1960’s and 1970’s growing up. Weed science has always interested me, I’ve enjoyed our plant since these early days. That’s probably why I dig Wonderbrett, because I still remember the first time I smoked really good cannabis from California in the 1970’s. From the lush photographic views of their sticky flowers on their website to their richly textured stoneage that deeply fills my lungs, Wonderbrett gets me nicely placed in the universe, thank you.
Sunrise Mountain Farms: I was really happy to bump into Dave in December at the event known simply as the Emerald Cup. He shared with me a couple sample jars from this year’s farm’s harvest and these passionately nurtured flowers ooze a romantic and richly meditative spirit that inspires me to write my heart out. The stone that they impart, continues to inspired my writing, including this short paragraph. Thank you Dave.
Brother David
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
Lakegrade: Lakegrade is gorgeous craft cannabis for the intellectually curious. I love the packaging, with clear, easy to read writing and cool insightful artwork. The words describe the effect, in this case they read: Balanced, Mind & Body, Stimulated. And the flowers? They are perfectly geared to my individual needs. Tasty too!
Canndescent: The first and foremost of truly luxurious cannabis for the discerning cannabis gourmet afficianto. Canndescent have pushed themselves out of the luxury cannabis mold that they alone created with the addition of their Good brand of ultra-quality cannabis at a slightly lower price-point. They are a class-act, alone in their field.
Brotherly Love: These really are two brothers from Philly who really get it with regard to the energy of cannabis and Biodynamics. How the healing power of our plant brings safety and kindness to the universe. The utter balance in the natural soil, aka: terroir of the place. This is what defines the passion brought to the marketplace with every enthusiastic puff of their ebullient flowers.
Casa Humboldt: I’m a massive fan of their Charlie Girl. The nugs are a life-long romance encapsulated in dense clouds of petrol-textured cannabis aromatics. I tried some well-cured Charlie Girl recently with wonderful results. Not only did I become blissfully relaxed, but my brain was unlocked to ambition. Truly gorgeous stuff from passionate, organic growers, way up there in Humboldt County.
Flow Kana: Sustainable cannabis from California, grown under the sun. I like that phrase and in this case it actually says more than mere words alone. Flow Kana nurtures relationships with legacy farmers who share their passion with everyone who is fortunate enough to smoke their efforts. I’ve tasted my way through their offerings and find a balanced approach to the alleviation of what may ail ye! Fun stuff.
Harmony Dispensary in Secaucus, NJ. New Jersey for cannabis? Yes my friends and what well-tended and enthusiastic medical cannabis this is. I’m in the medical cannabis program here in New Jersey and I have the choice of several dispensaries for my specific needs. The one that has captured my attention and grows the fine flowers that I require consistently grows the finest kind that money can buy in their unique automated system for nurturing our medicine. Impressive to say the very least. If you are in the program and you live in New Jersey, make Harmony your dispensary for your Valentine’s Day flowers.
NUG: They are certainly normalizing the cannabis experience at Nug and nothing goes further to exemplify this reasoning then buying a jar of their expressive flower and sharing it with your significant other. They are growing righteous flowers at NUG and I’m happy to share their passion with you.
A Golden State: They tout themselves as offering the most expensive flower in California and I think they may be correct in their assertion. But more goes into a specific cultivar than just marketing on a page. A Golden State uses water from Mt. Shasta, said to be the key to their great success in the craft cannabis business. There is a certain sweetness to their flowers. I’m a big fan, therefore they are often in my cannabis search when I travel to California.
Brotherly Love
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
Farmacy Brothers: A cannabis brand you may never have heard of, yet has consistently charmed me with their unique, terroir-driven approach. I’ve tasted a lot of really fine Burgundy wine over the years as a correlation. Really good Burgundy differentiates from other wines with something known to the trade as the taste of the place. I’ve tasted flowers from many ultra-gourmet cannabis grows recently and Farmacy Brothers has truly set the bar higher than most. They get it on the theory of passion in their craft cannabis.
Brother David’s Cannabis: If you are ever able to truly enjoy craft cannabis that is produced with the deepest of love for our plant then please seek out Brother David’s cannabis. I’m consistently charmed by their lovely, hand tended flowers that truly speak a lost language. Twist up a joint of Brother David’s and enlighten yourself, one puff at a time. Romance is not lost!
Excelsior Extracts: Sure, you’ve never heard of them either unless you’ve spent time in frosty New England, or possibly at a sesh, but that must not stop you from seeking out their passionately nurtured, pragmatically tended cannabis flowers. The fine folks at Excelsior have exceeded the overall expectations of the norm here on the East Coast with their own pristine vision of excellence. I cannot find a more caring or conscientious pair of growers and humanists on this side of the Mississippi.
Willie’s Reserve: They made it easy for me at the Emerald Cup to enjoy their excellent, hand-tended flowers, packaged thoughtfully in a recycled cardboard container. Each one crisply printed with a small glass jar inside, shielding the fragile flowers from oft-damaging sunlight. Everything that goes into Willie’s Reserve says care and concern for the body. That alone should be reason to share Willie’s Reserve cannabis with your love this Valentine’s Day.
Rolled Proper. If in Colorado, get one for your girl/guy! Xiaolin!
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Edie Parker Flower: Who said that girls cannot create a luxury cannabis brand that is every bit as pertinent *and potent* as her male counterparts in the cannabis industry? NO ONE EVER. Edie Parker has partnered with luxury craft cannabis incubator/producer Flow Kana to encapsulate this luxury in their flowers. Edie Parker flowers are the utter exemplification of design. A truly feminine experience of cannabis as a metaphor for good living through gourmet cannabis.
I wish I had someone to share my Xiaolin Cannagar, or my Ganjarillo or that very special Jean-Carlos Magar with this Valentine’s Day… But NO, it’s not to be so.
That very special Spanish weed I smoked in Berlin during the Bar Convent this past December. I’m pretty sure that you cannot get any here in this country, too bad. It may not ever exist at all, but I’ll tell you that smoking craft cannabis from Spain in Germany was one of the highpoints of my entire life.
Although not flowers per say, I’ve found that the well-placed, Highrize mini-pre-rolls are just the perfect size (under a half a gram, each) to make a new friend if it’s Valentine’s Day and you are in need of companionship in the short-form of a very mini-sesh. Their hash infused mini-pre-rolls are my go/to for walking the cat, although with cats I haven’t gotten very far. They just don’t understand the concept of going for a walk, sitting on a lap maybe. Walking the cats? Probably not. That is why we have luxury flowers, so we can question first world problems, like why dogs like to be walked, not cats.
something lovely this way comes
Warren Bobrow: iPhone XR
Happy Valentine’s Day!