James & James, based out of Longmont, Colorado, is a relatively new beverage company that focuses exclusively on CBD-infused non-alcoholic seltzers; the company launched last summer with two products, Cherry Vanilla and Cucumber Mint craft hemp seltzers. J&J sent me a four-pack to review a little while back.

The parent company, CFH Ltd., grows hemp for CBD production which gets used in a variety of products, and the CBD used in these seltzers is thus all produced in-house (so to speak). The pitch for CBD-infused drinks is this:

We developed a product specifically designed to help you relax & rebuild after any arduous effort. James & James will help wind down while at once supporting & accelerating your body’s natural ability to repair itself. Please, note: James & James is not intended to inebriate. It is meant to soothe & help maintain your best health. James & James is perfect at the end of a stressful or strenuous day at the job, to help you wind down.

So while these aren’t intended to be inebriating, the individual product descriptions mentions using them in cocktails, so… mixers? I chose to drink each of these straight rather than doctoring them up with alcohol. Each of these drinks features 0 calories, 0 carbs, and 25mg of CBD per serving (12 ounce bottle). So how are they?

Cherry Vanilla

A bottle of our Cherry Vanilla delivers 25mg of Full Spectrum Hemp Extract. So, while you’re enjoying the perfect balance of tart and sweet, your body is also working to recover from the long day behind you, preparing you to take on tomorrow feeling refreshed & rejuvenated. Something Different: Top off your favorite bourbon with a splash of Cherry Vanilla…you can thank us later.

My notes:

It’s milky white-colored and has a sparkling, fizzy appearance. There’s a cherry vanilla aroma—like a cherry cordial candy, sweet and appealing. There’s almost no related or similar flavor though—it’s a bit like waving a cherry over sparkling mineral water. There is an oily, bitter flavor like taking a straight dose of hemp extract. And that’s about as far as it goes, aside from the sparkly fizz.

Cucumber Mint

A bottle of our Cucumber Mint boasts 25mg of Full Spectrum Hemp Extract. A tried & true blend, mint & hemp pair well together as mint hits those same taste receptors as hemp, allowing the senses to balance naturally while cucumber quenches your thirst. Kick your feet up, take a sip and allow Cucumber Mint to rebalance your body & refresh your mind. Something Different: Let a generous pour of Cucumber Mint revamp your go-to summer cocktail.

Notes:

Similar appearance to the Cherry Vanilla, perhaps a bit less milky white. The aroma is mellow and pleasant, a bit “health spa cocktail” with a touch of hand lotion. The flavor actually has noticeable mint, and also the same medicinal extract bitterness as the Cherry Vanilla… but there’s a bit of lingering fresh mint that tempers the bitterness and is slightly reminiscent of tea. So overall it has a better finish I think.

The overall question, of course, is: does the CBD work? I don’t know. I can’t say that I’ve felt any different after drinking these or other similar CBD beverages, certainly not as obvious as the effects of ethanol, so I really can’t evaluate them from that angle. As far as standalone beverages, I think the bitter/medicinal qualities could make them a hard sell if you’re expecting more soda-like character, but if you’re treating them as cocktail mixers, then I think that’s an avenue worth exploring.

And of course as straight lifestyle drinks, with zero calories and carbs and no sugar (and gluten free, caffeine free, and so on), they are hard to beat.