There’s something about arriving in a new city for work that always gives me a quiet thrill. It’s like slipping into a parallel life for a few days–one where you know the streets just well enough to feel a bit like a local, but still get to see everything with fresh eyes.
This time, the destination was Boston. And yes, I was there for work–but I had a personal mission too: to get my hands on a very specific cannabis product that I’d tried the last time I was in town–Squier’s Specialty Elixirs Hash Rosin Drink Mixers.
Squier’s Specialty Elixirs
I was lucky enough to receive an invite to a cannabis industry networking brunch hosted by Kate Avruch of Operator Academy, with Good Life Gang and Beard Bros Pharms. I didn’t expect it to be a highlight of the trip, but it absolutely was — not just because of the company and conversation, but because I had the chance to meet Zack Squier, the founder and CEO of Squier’s Specialty Elixirs.
Hearing him talk about his process and purpose gave me a deeper appreciation for why I’d been so eager to get my hands on his product again. It’s the attention to detail that shines through: the use of clean, quality ingredients, the inclusion of solventless hash rosin (available in Maine and Massachusetts), the way every part of the experience feels considered without being complicated.
That morning, after stepping outside for a smoke break and realizing the sun was up and I wasn’t shivering in my coat like the day before, I made a quiet little plan. If the weather held, I’d treat myself to a harbor cruise to end the day. No big gestures, just something gentle to wrap up a full day of movement and conversation–something to restore my social battery before my early morning flight.
My Harbor Cruise at Sunset
By 6:00 PM, I was already out on the water, bundled up just enough to enjoy the crisp air without distraction. Sunset wasn’t until 6:59, but you could already feel the shift–the sky beginning its slow descent into evening, brushed with the early hints of pink and gold. I found a seat on the deck and got comfortable, ready to watch the light change.
I grabbed a Rita-No-Marg lemon mocktail from the bar, then pulled out the Squier’s Blueberry Lemon mixer–packaged in a charming little glass bottle, another nod to the brand’s thoughtful design. I poured it into my drink, gave it a gentle stir, and took the first sip. The flavor was everything–bright, balanced, just a little bit wild.
A few minutes in, a woman sat down beside me–a stranger at first. We took turns snapping photos of each other against the backdrop of the city glowing in the fading light. After that moment, we parted briefly to take in the views alone, but eventually found ourselves both inside, running from the chill that rolled off the water. That’s when the conversation began to unfold. We talked about cannabis in Switzerland–where she’d just left her attending physician role to move to Boston and begin cardiology research–and then wandered through topics like travel, family, politics, and what we were both hoping for in this next chapter of our lives. The kind of conversation that flows without force–the kind you remember.
I’m grateful–for that evening, for the unexpected warmth in the air, for the stranger who became a momentary companion, and especially for Zack Squier. The care and quality he pours into his products made that night possible in the most subtle and beautiful way. It’s not just about the drink. It’s about how good things, made well, can help us slow down and savor life–one sip at a time.
