Picon Punch
By Lee Jackson ↣ Published on: October 22, 2023
Picon punch is a refreshing cocktail, full of citrus bitterness with a sweet, fruity finish. Using this beloved French bitter aperitif, Picon Amer with brandy, grenadine and soda water creates one of the tastiest cocktail recipes on the menu. Santé!
What could be more refreshing than a Picon Punch? It's been my go-to drink this entire year after chancing upon this iconic French bitter, Picon Amer, while traveling last year. Picon has a fascinating story, more on that later, but as for its uses (and there are many) one of my favourites is this refreshing long drink Picon Punch.
I'm all for a long cocktail, I tend to drink cocktails like juice and a short drink usually lasts about 30 seconds or so. This can (and does) get a little messy from time to time, so a longer drink is often welcomed to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Picon Punch has a familiar orange bitterness with sweet undertones and a complex but subtle herbal finish. Like many bitter aperitifs, Picon can be a bit harsh on its own, but when mixed with grenadine (pomegranate sweetness) and a nice brandy or cognac, and a top up of soda water, the bitterness fades back a few levels to reveal a refreshing, vibrant tipple.
Picon is quite the favourite in France with many uses beyond this cocktail - sad news for those in the US is that under some ridiculous red-tape jurisdiction, Picon is actually banned! Rest assured, there are great alternatives in the US, so you too can enjoy this iconic French cocktail too. Read below to discover the interesting story of Picon!
What's Ahead?
What is Picon?
Picon is a revered French aperitif, renowned for its distinct bittersweet taste and amber hue. Originating in the 19th century (1832), it blends bitter orange peels, caramel, and gentian root, offering a unique flavour profile that is bitter, herbal and lightly sweet.
Picon is a versatile liqueur, and used as flavourings to white wine and beer. Let me tell you, a splash of Picon in a cold beer is a revelation! It is popular amongst the Basque community and it is here that the Picon Punch was created and also initially introduced to the US.
Banned in the USA?
The FDA chose to ban Picon some time in the 60s as it contains 'calamus root'. Even though Picon is available in most of the sane thinking world, and ubiquitous in France, in the US it remains unavailable commercially.
Picon Alternatives
Thankfully, those in the US ARE able to experience some of the joy of this aperitif as there are a handful of distilleries creating alternatives. I would suggest the Amer Depot from Depot Craft Distillery in Reno NV. I was lucky enough to sample this on several visits and it's pretty delicious!
Nevada, and particularly the Reno area, was the settling place for many Basque immigrants, so it is only natural that Picon, and now its replacement drink, found its US roots here.
Why it works?
It's refreshing - if you're looking for a bitter/sweet aperitif then Picon Punch is a must. It has all the wonderful notes of a herbal amer like Campari, and with the addition of brandy, grenadine and soda water, it makes for a more substantial tipple that will satiate any thirst.
Stuff You'll Need
Making your Picon punch is easy. How much boozy 'punch' you're looking for is up to you, but my recipe is a nice balance of flavour that creates a harmonious bitter-sweetness, without a knock-out slap of alcohol.
- Picon - depending on where you are in the World, this may be a simple or impossible task. See above for why... either way, use Picon or a Picon substitute.
- Brandy or Cognac - for a fruity, caramel hint to the cocktail.
- Grenadine - for a welcome sweet tartness (and vibrant pink hue)
- Soda water - to top up the tipple.
- Lemon - a little peel for garnish. I'll also sometimes, squeeze in a little juice too.
- Ice - serve in a tall highball with lots of ice to keep things refreshing.
Just mix everything together and serve! Some recipes call for floating the brandy on top after mixing the other ingredients, but I like a mixed version personally. The full recipe with quantities is below
Ready to get your Pic-on? More Picon uses.
So, that was my abbreviated introduction to the wonderful Picon Punch. I urge you to get hold of a bottle of Picon (they're nice big bottles) and you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how delicious it can be. And the joy doesn't stop at a Picon Punch - I like to enjoy it in a few alternative mixes, here are a few suggestions:
- Picon Biere - Add a scant shot of Picon to a cold beer or lager for a delicious 'shandy-esque' Picon Biere - excellent for a summer drink.
- Picon wine - Add a tbsp of Picon to a glass of dry white or sparkling white.
- Picon Negroni - where France and Italy meet, with equal 1 oz measures of Picon Amer, Dry Vermouth and Gin.
- Sanctuary - Mix 2 oz of sweet white wine, 1 oz Picon Amer and 0.5 oz Cointreau.
More cocktail recipes
If you liked this Picon Punch recipe, try more of my favourite cocktails.
Any Questions? (FAQ)
Have a question about this Picon Punch cocktail recipe? Let me know in the comments.
A classic Picon Punch typically includes Amer Picon (a bitter orange-flavored liqueur), brandy, club soda, and a twist of lemon. Some variations might incorporate grenadine or a cherry garnish.
Picon Amer is banned from importation by the FDA because it includes a similar compound to coumarin found in one of the ingredients calamus root. Coumarin is a banned compound based on 'potential health risks'. There are a handful of legal alternatives to Picon Amer created in the US, particularly by the Basque communities in Northern Nevada.
Other than in this delicious Picon Punch, Picon Amer is a versatile liqueur. In France it is added to white wine and also beer for a sweet, herbal note. There are many cocktail recipes which use Picon Amer. A good rule of thumb is that you could substitute any amer or amaro (Italian) with Picon in a recipe with pleasing results.
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Ingredients
- 1½ oz Picon Amer See details above for alternatives if you're in the US.
- ½ oz Grenadine
- 1 oz Brandy or Cognac
- club soda or sparkling water
- 1 lemon peel for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Using a tall highball glass with lots of ice, mix together the Picon Amer, Grenadine and Brandy
- Top with club soda and top with a slice of lemon peel and serve.
- Optional: Squeeze over about 1 tsp of lemon juice.
Notes
- Add a splash (about half a shot) to a cold beer of lager for a Picon Biere.
- Add about 1 tbsp of Picon Amer to a dry white wine or dare I suggest a Champagne or sparkling wine.
- I love it replacing Campari alongside dry vermouth and gin for a delicious French Negroni.
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