Picon punch—the sweet, bitter, boozy Basque-bar staple that Nevada’s Legislature declared the official state drink last year—has been beloved in these parts since Basque boarding houses popularized it in the early 1900s.
But did anyone ever expect it to one day swagger out of its lane and become part of a red-hot cocktail trend? Well, that day has come.
On May 2, Ferino Distillery launched its new picon punch in a can with a celebration at the JT Basque Bar and Dining Room in Gardnerville, where the guests included Gov. Joe Lombardo and State Sen. Robin Titus. Now, four-packs of the 29% alcohol-by-volume libation (the actual product name is The Official State Drink of Nevada) are available at the JT, Ferino and Craft Wine & Beer. The cans are a diminutive sized 200 milliliters, but Joe Cannella, Ferino’s owner/distiller, advised that each one contains three servings.
“It’s a partnership with the JT,” he said. “We’re the manufacturer, and they’re the brand partner.”
In December 2024, Ferino Distillery acquired the rights from the Torani company to produce amer, the bitter liquor that provides the backbone of the picon’s flavor.
“That was a huge deal for us,” said Cannella. “It put us on the map a bit in terms of being affiliated with the picon punch.”
Then, in June 2025, in a stroke of what he called “dumb-luck timing,” the momentum swelled when picon punch became the state drink. A few months later, Etienne Lekumberry, the JT’s bartender and part of the family that owns the legendary bar/restaurant, reached out to Cannella to raise the idea of a canned picon.
“A legit representative of the Basque community was reaching out to me and proposing it to me,” said Cannella. “I said, ‘Absolutely, we’ll do it together.’”
This is both establishments’ first foray into canned cocktails. Cannella expects that distribution will increase soon—first throughout Nevada and California, then farther afield.
“We certainly want to get this into all the fine retailers that we can,” he said. “It sort of liberates the picon—outside of the best restaurants and into your backyard barbecues and camping trips and whatnot.”
Ferino Distillery is located at 541 E. Fourth St. Learn more at ferinodistillery.com.
Openings
On April 22, Centro Market, a Mexican grocery store in Carson City with a bakery, carniceria and taco counter, moved from 2974 US Highway 50 East to a new, 23,160-square-foot space at 3312 Highway 50 East, with a grand opening celebration complete with a ribbon cutting and mariachi band. “Owners Herbert Muro and Armando Valencia focused on providing a modernized and accessible space for shoppers, with design choices that enhance navigation, comfort and convenience throughout the store,” according to a press release. The new location also boasts additional parking. Learn more at www.facebook.com/CentroMarketCarson.
Nick the Greek opened its second Reno location on April 21. The franchise was established in 2014 in San Jose by three cousins—all named Nick—and bills itself as “a Greek street food restaurant known for its vertical rotisserie proteins, pitas and more.” The menu features gyros, souvlaki, falafel, salads, hummus and fries, along with “tasty picks for all kinds of eaters, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.” The new location is at 10310 N. McCarran Blvd., Suite 400, at the southwest corner at the Mae Anne Avenue intersection. For details, visit nickthegreek.com.
Classes and events
Most Saturdays, Felicia Keith-Jones, High Mark Distillery’s master distiller, leads a class during which you can make (and then drink) a professional-looking, beautifully garnished cocktail, paired with select snacks and treats. This month’s classes include “Mother’s Day Cherry Chocolate Swizzles” on May 9, “Tiki Passion Pineapple Rum” on May 16, and “Bourbon Mint Lemonades” on May 23. Classes run from 1 to 3 p.m. and cost $50 to attend. High Mark is located at 4690 Longley Lane, No. 28. To reserve, visit www.highmarkdistillery.com.
To celebrate American Craft Beer Week, May 11-17, several Reno breweries are hosting a brewery scavenger hunt. To participate, pick up a clue sheet starting on Monday, May 11, at any of these Reno-Sparks locations: 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing, The Fox Brewery and Pub, Great Basin Brewing Company, Bristlecone Brewing Company, The Brewer’s Cabinet, Pigeon Head Brewery, FiftyFifty Brewing, Schussboom Brewing Company or Slieve Brewing Company. In Carson City or Minden, pick up the clue sheet from Shoe Tree Brewing Company. Visit at least three breweries to play and vie for prizes. To rack up points, be prepared to show off your local brewery history and trivia knowledge; try a specific beverage; get just the right photo; or follow additional clues. Winners will be announced the following week. For more details, click here.
Closings
Old Granite Street Eatery, which opened in the 1940 brick building at 243 S. Sierra St. in 2010, announced its permanent closure on social media on April 7. The posts did not cite a reason for the closure. The following day, the Reno Gazette-Journal posted an article by business reporter Jason Hidalgo detailing the restaurant’s history and chain of ownership. Hidalgo mentioned that the downtown Reno office closures during the COVID-19 closure era had hit the business hard.
Black Rock Dessert, the ice cream shop at 100 California Ave. that opened in July 2020, announced on social media that it will close on Friday, June 5. The post reads, in part, “We are going in a different direction and will be announcing more in the future.”