High Rise
High Rise hails from South Carolina. They’ve been quietly creating a stir on the West Coast by shipping their products to SC where they are available in local bars and eateries. This brand offers hemp-derived THC seltzers in cans with approachable fruit notes, and they have recently expanded into THC infusions—an intensified version designed for cocktails, much like spirits relate to alcohol. The company sent over a sampler featuring a pack of their seltzers along with a THC infusion for me to sample, so here are my impressions.
Raspberry THC Infusion
Pros: This flavor evokes a frozen, icy raspberry dessert and I mean that as a compliment. High Rise intends this infusion to be a component in mixed drinks, yet it’s nearly sippable on its own. You can still detect some THC, which is the only factor tempering its drinkability. Diluting it with other ingredients would help soften that effect. If you ever wanted to shoot a THC dose neat (I’ve done it myself), this would absolutely perform the task.
Cons: THC dosing is something I take seriously, and while the packaging clearly states the serving size (50ml of liquid containing 10mg of THC), the practical challenge is real. Quick kitchen math aside, achieving exactly 50ml is awkward—roughly 10 teaspoons or 3⅓ tablespoons. Not something you can easily measure without a proper tool.
Mango THC Infusion
Pros: High Rise’s mango infusion delivers a bright mango punch that sticks with you in a very pleasant way. It evokes sunny seaside fantasies and conjures tropical vibes as you sip. It feels like a beverage you’d enjoy on a sunny beach or perhaps on a cruise—though I doubt cruise lines permit THC drinks aboard. Still, this seltzer exudes strong tropical energy.
Cons: The infusion line as a whole has a common critique: the level of carbonation can be a bit aggressive. A softer fizz would complement a THC beverage more naturally, whereas these bubbles tend to feel nightclub-y rather than couch-friendly.
Blood Orange THC Seltzer
Pros: High Rise nails the citrus profile with this one, delivering one of the most robust flavors in their lineup. It presents a bright mouthfeel and stands out as a strong secondary pick for me. It also paired nicely with the Mango variant, so I enjoyed a couple of 5mg cans in a single evening to reach my target dose.
Cons: The zesty citrus flavor that I found so appealing didn’t linger for long after swallowing, but that isn’t a major drawback given the munchie-prone experience that typically follows your intake.
Blueberry THC Seltzer
Pros: Overall, High Rise has done a commendable job of masking the THC in their seltzers. For someone who isn’t fond of the weed flavor, this is a win because the cannabinoid notes stay tucked away. The blueberry can, in particular, demonstrates this, with the flavor of the cannabis hardly coming through. This is notable given the potential drawback we’ll discuss next.
Cons: I found it challenging to extract a discernible blueberry flavor from this can. Blueberry is a delicate note to balance; if the flavor is too strong it risks tipping into cartoonish territory for a beverage. That said, if the brand were worried about overdoing it, they could have left this one in the lab. The moment you finish swallowing, the flavor seems to vanish almost entirely.
Blueberry Seltzer
Pros: In general, High Rise manages to craft seltzers that mask the THC well, which I appreciate if you don’t enjoy the taste of cannabis. This can demonstrates that approach, as the flavor of the bud is barely detectable in the can, which is a notable achievement given some of the potential drawbacks discussed below.
Cons: The blueberry flavor can feel faint and fleeting. Blueberry is a delicate note to balance; if you push it too hard, it risks tasting cartoonishly manufactured. If the brand wanted to hedge their bets, this one might have remained in the development phase. Once you swallow, the flavor quickly disappears which can feel unsatisfying for some.
