Drink This Now: Plift
Plift cans and mocktail // Photo by Sarah Sipple
Todd Harris, co-founder and CEO of Plift, is an alcoholic.
That is a big reason why he co-founded Plift. “I come from a family where alcohol was uber present, so our mission is to provide ANY person with an affordable, social alternative to alcohol,” says Harris.
Plift is a lightly sweet, hemp-infused, canned beverage. These bevvies are available with either 4 or 10mg of Delta-9 THC. This keeps the product in compliance with 2018’s Farm Bill, which means that it is federally legal. Yep–it’s currently available in both Kansas and Missouri.
Straight from a chilled can, the Tart Lime variety gives more of a sweet lime flavor. It’s light enough to be refreshing and sweetened without being syrupy. If there are any tasting notes of hemp, I cannot detect them. For a dressed-up version, I like to pour it over ice and add fresh lime, maraschino cherries, and a few dribbles of the cherry jar’s juice. The Juicy Grapefruit flavor is slightly more tart and is fun to serve with orange bitters over ice.
Most people feel the slight but uplifting THC effects within 15 – 30 minutes. “The name Plift is intentionally one letter short of the word ‘Uplift’ because all that’s missing is U,” Harris cheerily says as his background in marketing shines through.
Though I usually feature locally-made products, this one is manufactured in Minnesota. Harris and his family, however, reside in Kansas. “KC is growing rapidly and while it was once ‘fly-over country’, it’s affordable, centrally located, and wide open for growth and innovation. The vibe is chill and reminds me of Austin 11 years ago when we first moved there… big city amenities with a charming sensibility about it.”
You may find him or Plift representatives at events around the metro. SipSteady’s Hemp Social events are something to be on the lookout for if you’re interested in alcohol alternatives. Plift and similar hemp beverages are readily available at area liquor stores and bars, but this prepackaged concept is still relatively new. Harris says, “We are meeting consumers where they are in their journey with cannabis. Our Plift (4mg) is for the cannacurious while our Plift+ (10mg) is for cannapros. Give us a try, go slow, you can always drink more!”
Plift is available online and at area liquor stores and restaurants.
