The New Way To Buzz

by Katerina ↪ 8 min

Jump to:
– The Categories
– Stir Up Feelings
– Play Mood Mixologist
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Illustrated bumblebee surrounded by white flowers on a colorful abstract background, representing the different moods and experiences inspired by beverages.

Get to know the difference between sensory, functional, and experiential buzzes.

Beverages aren’t one-size-fits-any-occasions. A sunny day on the patio might have you craving something fizzy and fresh, whereas a late night drink after a rich meal is better when it’s strong, smooth, and herbaceous. Certain flavors fit certain moments better than others—and the same goes for buzzes.

For ages, that warm, loose, fuzzy feeling brought on by alcohol was the default. For some situations it’s just right, but there are all kinds of other choices out there. From light and lifted, to clear-headed and content, to inspired and energized, beverages can inspire a wonderful array of different feelings. When you know all your options, you can pick the perfect buzz to fit the occasion next time you pour yourself a drink.

The Categories

Vintage-style collage featuring two illustrated bumblebees flying among small white flowers on a warm, glowing background, representing the different feelings and experiences that beverages can inspire.

We have a vast vocabulary to describe the flavors of a beverage. But when it comes to discussing the different kinds of feelings a drink inspires, language is far more limited. In general, we can parse the feelings contained in your cup into three major categories: sensory, functional, and experiential.

Sensory

Sensory beverages, or ingredients, appeal to your five main senses. If the drink makes you pucker, or fizzes and bubbles, or hits your palette with a silky-smooth mouthfeel, those are all elements that contribute to a sensory buzz. Flavor, of course, falls into this category—but so does texture, temperature, and even color and appearance.

Functional

A functional buzz comes from ingredients that support health and wellness from the inside out, and subsequently leave you feeling nourished, balanced, and cleansed. Ingredients that can bring on a functional buzz include anything rich in vitamins and minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, electrolytes, antioxidants, adaptogens, and so on. By helping your body function at its best, these kinds of drinks inspire a subtler, feel-good sensation that comes from nourishment rather than stimulation.

Experiential

Experiential buzzes are the kind most commonly associated with the word “buzz.” They affect your mood and mindset, making a more detectable difference in your conscious experience. Alcohol and cannabis fall into this category, as do other ingredients that influence your energy, emotions, and perception. By altering your state of mind, they inspire a noticeable shift in how you experience the moment.

Stir Up Feelings

Vintage-inspired collage featuring a bumblebee, silver spoons, and clusters of white flowers on a warm floral background, representing the ingredients and sensations that shape different moods and beverage experiences.

Now, let’s move from theoretical categories, into the practical ingredients that help mix up a mood. To set your sipping on the right track, we’ve put together a non-exhaustive list of some of the feelings we crave most often, and the ingredients that help us tune into them.

Dissolve Stress

Lavender—it’s aromatic, herbaceous, and instantly soothing

Tea—green and black teas are both rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that feels subtly relaxing, but not drowsy

CBD—a grounding, calming compound found in cannabis, that you can mix into any drink via Wims for an experiential buzz

Find Your Social Spirit

Sparkling seltzer—because anything with bubbles feels automatically festive

Coconut water—naturally rich in electrolytes, this functional ingredient helps you feel energized

THC—a light dose of THC, like the 4mg in each Wims packet, can unlock charisma and charm, while helping you stay present

Sharpen Your Focus

Peppermint—its crisp, cooling scent wakes up the mind and all your senses

Pomegranate juice—high in antioxidants and bursting with flavor, it helps you feel good from the inside out

Caffeine—a well-loved experiential favorite to boost energy and alertness, you can find it in coffee or tea

Unleash Creativity

Rose water—unexpected and alluring, its aroma evokes all the wonderful possibilities of spring

Lion’s mane—this functional mushroom can be added to any drink as a tincture, and used to support cognitive clarity

THC—known for sparking curiosity, new ideas and inspiration everywhere, we like to add it to our drinks via Wims.

Feel Cozy and Calm

Cinnamon—a warm and gentle spice that feels as cozy as it smells

Magnesium—a mineral that supports relaxation and overall well-being, and can be added to drinks via cacao powder, or directly as a supplement

CBD— helps you slow down and settle in with a steady, grounded calm.

Play Mood Mixologist

Close-up of a person's eyes alongside a bee and floral collage, representing personalizing beverages to match your mood and desired experience.

Equipped with your newfound knowledge of sensory, functional, and experiential buzzes, you can now craft a cocktail that not only has perfectly balanced flavors, but feelings too.

It’s a zillion degrees out and your inbox is a nightmare? Pour yourself something citrusy and calming. You’re going out with friends, but have an early morning workout? Unlock your inner social butterfly, but skip the hangover. You’re back from vacation and looking to supercharge your body and prioritize your sleep? Pair a functional ingredient or two with a dash of CBD.

What you want to drink is personal, and ever-changing. And that’s exactly why we made Wims pocket-sized and portable—so you can always keep a little extra cheer, calm, charisma, on hand, while still having the option to mix it with whatever other ingredients suit you. When you tune into your feelings and take a second to consider what it is you really crave, you can perfectly tailor your beverage to your here-and-now. That’s the beauty of having options.