Pounding headaches, fatigue, hot flashes, blurred vision. These were all the effects I had to look forward to when I drank too much alcohol.
As someone born with genes susceptible to what’s known as the “Asian flush,” I never had the kind of flourishing relationship with alcohol that many around me do. But in recent years, I started to turn to THC drinks, which I’ve written about in the past. And even though they are more commonplace, they aren’t as accessible everywhere. Some breweries offer THC alternatives, but the dosage might be too high, or I don’t enjoy the flavors. Restaurants may not offer them at all.
So usually, I opt for half a beer or nothing at all. But then things changed.
One day I was checking out at my neighborhood grocery store, Bestway, when I spotted a little display of packets next to the register. On them, in a stylish serif font, was the word “Wims!” and a description: “pocket-tonics. Snap, squeeze and stir.” At the bottom, a note with dosage and instructions: “4MG THC: 4MG CBD, Add to any drink.”
I was intrigued and bought the pack.
The next day, I brought the three-flavor variety pack—unflavored, lemon basil, and ginger lime—to a meet-up with friends. We gathered at Incendiary Brewing, where a bunch of friends already sipped on IPAs and lagers by the time I got there. I ordered a mocktail off their menu and sat down.
The process is quick and easy. You take the plastic container, which is shaped like a skinny credit card, and snap it in half with one side facing your drink. A pale liquid streams out, turning any drink into a THC cocktail. At 4MG THC, it’s the perfect buzz.
I first used the ginger lime, which was pretty spicy and added a kick to my mocktail mule. The other one is also citrusy but without the bite. The unflavored is as advertised, flavorless.
Since then, I’ve used Wims! a few other times at restaurants and have taken it with me on trips.
It’s cost-efficient too; at a little more than $3 per serving, it’s much cheaper than ordering a cocktail at a bar, which at minimum costs $13 these days. If you order a soda and add a squirt, it’s even cheaper.
But perhaps the biggest surprise about Wims! isn’t the ingenuity of the product or that no one has really made something like this before. It’s the fact that it is made locally.
In tiny black letters at the bottom of the package are the words, “300 N. Greene St., Greensboro, NC, 27401.” On their website, they have the coordinates, “36°12’11.3″ N 79°50’46.6″ W,” which pinpoints to a location off Lake Brandt Rd.
I reached out to the company through their business email but never heard back. A business search shows that the company launched in 2024 and is registered to Kenneth D. Miller. When I searched the company’s website, I couldn’t find any backstory on the product.
I suppose that will remain a mystery for now. But for those like myself who want to go out and enjoy a drink but can never be sure of the options, Wims! takes away the uncertainty by offering something affordable and delicious. In me, they’ve found a loyal customer.
