# Picon Punch

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**Picon Punch**, or simply Picon, is a [cocktail](/source/Cocktail) made with an [Amaro](/source/Amaro_(liqueur)) liqueur, a splash of soda water,[1] grenadine,[1] a lemon twist, and a bit of brandy[2] floating on top. The drink is identified as [Basque](/source/Basques),[3] but is almost unheard of in the Basque region in the Pyrenees.[4] [Basque immigrants in the U.S.](/source/Basque_American) however have embraced the drink, where it is popular in Basque restaurants and bars in the western USA, particularly [southern Idaho](/source/Southern_Idaho), northern and [central California](/source/Central_California),[5][2] and northern [Nevada](/source/Nevada).

## Description

The traditional liqueur used is [Amer Picon](/source/Sirop_de_Picon), which is made in [Marseille](/source/Marseille), France.[1][6] It is not readily available in the United States. As a result most bars use a substitute liquor; the most popular is [Torani](/source/Torani) Amer.

In Northern Nevada, the Picon Punch is served with ice in a custom stemmed glass produced by the Louie Picon Glass Company of [Sparks](/source/Sparks,_Nevada).[7] In other regions, the drink is made in a [highball](/source/Highball) or [Collins glass](/source/Collins_glass) filled with ice. At the J.T. Basque Bar and Dining Room in [Gardnerville](/source/Gardnerville,_Nevada), it is served in a short 4 oz. glass. [8]

## History

**Picon Punch** originated in Europe and remains popular among [Basque immigrants in the United States](/source/Basque_Americans).[9] As of 2005, the drink was almost never made in [Basque Country](/source/Basque_Country_(autonomous_community)).[4]

In 2024, there were shortages of Torani Amer resulting from supply chain interruptions from the [COVID-19 pandemic in the United States](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States) and a production change, which required recertification by California authorities. During this time, there were shortages in Nevada with several bars and restaurants unable to make Picon Punch or using a different substitute liquor. Rumors appeared about the long term viability of the drink as Torani downplayed the liquor to focus on their flavored syrup business.[10] In 2025, Torani transferred the recipe for Torani Amer to Ferino Distillery in Reno, NV. [11][12]

In 2025, a bill was approved[13] by the [Nevada State Legislature](/source/Nevada_State_Legislature) designating Picon Punch the official [state cocktail](/source/List_of_Nevada_state_symbols).[13]

## See also

- [Basque cuisine](/source/Basque_cuisine)
- [List of cocktails](/source/List_of_cocktails)

## References

1. Zubiri, N. (2006). [*A Travel Guide to Basque America: Families, Feasts, and Festivals*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mNK_W8va9h8C&pg=PA112). Basque (Paperback). University of Nevada Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-87417-632-2.

1. Gold, J. (2000). [*Counter Intelligence: Where to Eat in the Real Los Angeles*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Agxy6i_QeT0C&pg=PA219). St. Martin's Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-312-27634-8.

1. Douglass, W.A. & Bilbao, J. (2005). [*Amerikanuak: Basques in the New World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=8KzfK1QwxDIC&pg=PA377). Basque (Paperback). University of Nevada Press. p. 377. ISBN 978-0-87417-625-4.

1. Douglass, William A. & Bilbao, Jon (1975). [*Amerikanuak : Basques in the New World*](http://archive.org/details/amerikanuakbasqu00doug). Reno : University of Nevada Press. ISBN 978-0-87417-043-6.

1. Haigh, T. (2009). [*Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails: From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind Them*](https://books.google.com/books?id=sCR7wWhM7IQC&pg=PA231). Quarry Books. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-61673-475-6.

1. Grier, J.; Reamer, D.; Beaumont, S. (2015). [*Cocktails on Tap: The Art of Mixing Spirits and Beer*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WWWdBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT68). ABRAMS. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-61312-779-7.

1. ["Louis' Basque Corner in Reno"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150703162651/http://www.holmfamilycookbook.com/apps/blog/show/5459332-louis-basque-corner-in-reno). *Holm Family Cookbook*. Archived from [the original](http://www.holmfamilycookbook.com/apps/blog/show/5459332-louis-basque-corner-in-reno) on July 3, 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

1. ["J.T. Basque in Gardnerville, NV"](https://jtbasquenv.com/menu/?cocktail)

1. Douglass, William A. & Bilbao, Jon (1975). [*Amerikanuak : Basques in the New World*](http://archive.org/details/amerikanuakbasqu00doug). Reno : University of Nevada Press. ISBN 978-0-87417-043-6.

1. Maynard, Mark (August 6, 2024). ["Picon Panic: Key ingredient for iconic Nevada cocktail unavailable until mid-August at the earliest"](https://thisisreno.com/2024/08/picon-panic-key-ingredient-for-iconic-nevada-cocktail-unavailable-until-mid-august-at-the-earliest/). This is Reno. Retrieved March 28, 2025.

1. ["Reno distillery to produce Amer liqueur, key ingredient of Nevada's iconic Picon Punch"](https://www.rgj.com/story/life/food/2024/12/10/ferino-distillery-torani-amer-liqueur-picon-punch/76892755007/)

1. ["Torani and Ferino Distillery partner to preserve Amer Liqueur"](https://www.nnbw.com/news/2025/jan/03/torani-and-ferino-distillery-partner-to-preserve-amer-liqueur/). *Northern Nevada Business Weekly*. February 3, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.

1. 2 News Nevada Digital Team (June 12, 2025). ["Governor Lombardo signs bill allowing off property alcohol sales or delivery, naming state drink"](https://www.2news.com/news/local/governor-lombardo-signs-bill-allowing-off-property-alcohol-sales-or-delivery-naming-state-drink/article_3dc6afe8-05cd-4f60-9485-582ae2e3db2b.html). *2 News*. Retrieved June 25, 2025.

## Further reading

- Solmonson (7 June 2013). ["Where To Drink Picon Punch With the Basques in Bakersfield"](http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/where-to-drink-picon-punch-with-the-basques-in-bakersfield-2893729). *LA Weekly*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180711104531/http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/where-to-drink-picon-punch-with-the-basques-in-bakersfield-2893729) 11 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 September 2025.

## External links

- ["Amer Picon Punch recipe"](http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink837.html). *drinksmixer.com*
- ["Picon Punch"](http://www.liquoranddrink.com/drinks/343-picon-punch). *liquoranddrink.com*
- ["PICON PUNCH: The "Basque cocktail" of the West"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150219114805/http://www.nabasque.org/Astero/picon_punch.htm). *nabasque.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.nabasque.org/Astero/picon_punch.htm) on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
- ["Basque Picon Cocktail"](http://www.chezus.com/2010/12/30/basque-picon-cocktail). *chezus.com*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Picon Punch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picon_Punch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picon_Punch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.