Basque in the Glory

Nevada honors cultural heritage by naming the Picon Punch its state drink.

Spring/Summer 2026 Issue

BY MIKALEE BYERMAN

Across the U.S., 22 states have chosen milk as their official state drink—a nod to tradition with a safe, though decidedly lactose-forward, lean.

But Nevada? In 2025, it doubled down on its reputation for boldness and declared, “Here, hold my Punch.”

With roots as strong as its pour, the classic Basque-American cocktail known as the Picon Punch is now the official state drink. The designation is a tribute to Nevada’s immigrant history and cements a cultural ritual into state law.

A Legislative Toast

Nevada Assemblyman Bert Gurr grew up in Elko, where Basque heritage runs deep. When asked to carry the bill, he agreed without hesitation.

“The Basques are an integral part of the northern Nevada culture,” he says. “This is a way to say, ‘we see you, we appreciate you’.”

The proposal had been floated unsuccessfully in past sessions. This time, Gurr and Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager teamed up. Gurr’s one-sentence Picon Punch bill was folded into Yeager’s broader “cocktails-to-go” legislation, with a goal of adding momentum to win support.

“A single-issue bill probably wouldn’t have gotten through,” Gurr explains, acknowledging Yeager’s role in carrying it across the finish line. “By combining it, we made it work.”

Yeager saw the measure as both symbolic and practical.

“The Picon Punch is such an important part of Nevada history. It’s impossible to welcome visitors and new residents, particularly in northern and rural Nevada, without talking about it,” he says.

In the early stages of the process, J.B. Lekumberry—owner of the J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room in Gardnerville, one of Nevada’s original Basque boardinghouses and restaurants—met with Gurr to make his case the Basque way.

“When we first met, I happened to bring the fixings for a Picon Punch—I wasn’t going in naked,” Lekumberry says with a laugh. “So I served a few up in Bert’s office, and we talked about how he had been wanting to recognize Basque efforts in the state of Nevada.”

JT Basque bartender making a picon punch

Basque Roots, Nevada Pride

Basques immigrated to Nevada beginning in the early-19th century in search of gold, like many others. Most worked as sheepherders while others established boardinghouses that became cultural hubs for the families. From Ely to Elko, Gardnerville to Reno, these establishments carried traditions across generations. And the Picon Punch became their signature.

Etienne Lekumberry, J.B.’s son and bar manager at the J.T., said the drink is a rite of passage.

“We’ve been making Picons for more than 65 years here,” he says. “And now, making it the state drink somehow consecrates the Basque population of Nevada with the literal constitution of Nevada. For that, we’re eternally grateful.”

How to Drink Like a Nevadan

An authentic Picon Punch follows a specific recipe. But like Nevada itself, it’s got range. At the J.T., Etienne Lekumberry insists on tradition.

“A dash of grenadine, a shot of Amer, a splash of club soda, and a brandy float—that doesn’t change unless a customer requests it,” he says. “The Picon Punch demands respect.”

Elsewhere, you’ll find slight variations. Yeager counts his favorites at the J.T., The Star Hotel in Elko, and Louis’ Basque Corner in Reno. In Elko, Gurr swears by The Star, where the Picon Club maintains a wall of personalized glasses for its members.

An Amer Tradition

“Torani wanted to ensure the recipe landed with a distillery that would treat it with respect and carry forward the legacy,” says Ferino Distillery founder and master distiller Joe Cannella. “They reached out to us out of the blue, we had a series of meetings, and they signed over to us the rights to the recipe for no charge.”

The punch depends on Amer, a bitter orange liqueur originally from France. When Amer Picon disappeared from U.S. shelves due to an FDA ban of a key ingredient, Basque restaurants relied on American-made Torani Amer. But in 2020, Torani stepped away from spirits. Enter Reno’s Ferino Distillery.

Cannella initially kept to the recipe, but after early feedback, he adjusted to better balance the flavors.

“We consider ourselves stewards of this thing,” he says. “It’s cultural and much bigger than Torani or Ferino Distillery. We’ll continue to give it the love and attention it deserves.”

Dodging a Milquetoast Milk Toast

While many states raise glasses of milk, Nevada picked something stronger. Gurr laughs at the comparison:

“They can have it if they want, but we’re not a milk state in my mind.”

J.B. Lekumberry sees the designation as a tribute.

“The state recognizes its own history,” he says. “It’s real, it’s organic, and I think that’s truly important.”

And according to his son, the cocktail mirrors the Nevada landscape itself.

“It’s strong, it can be unforgiving, but it has everything you could possibly want,” Etienne reflects. “If you were to describe Nevada in a drink, it would be the Picon Punch.”

Sip slowly, and remember:
Nevada’s state drink is as bold as the state itself. The late Louis Erreguible, founder of Louis’ Basque Corner, always advised that you stop at two, famously warning, “The first two are the Picon. The third is the punch.”