Picon Punch

The Basque-American highball that became the unofficial house drink of Reno and the Bay Area's Basque hotels for over a century. Bitter-orange backbone from Amer Picon, softened by grenadine, lengthened with soda, finished with a brandy float that delivers the first warming sip. Modern Amer Picon is significantly lower-proof and less bitter than the historical version used in pre-1970s recipes — Bigallet China-China amer and Torani Amer are common modern bar substitutes that get closer to the original profile.