The last time I wrote a drink feature, I received a bit of flack on Facebook for not including Power House on the list. My bad, I know, but jump back because I’m here to inform you that I’m ready to rectify that unfortunate situation.
I sat down with hospitable Power House owner Clay Berkes over the weekend so he could give me the 411 on some of the bar’s best summertime drinks. He mixed (stopping every now and then to do a taste test with the end of a straw), I chilled at the bar while drooling over the beverages, and what resulted from this veritable meeting of the minds were three delicious drinks that can only be described as refreshing with a kick.
First up was the Spicy Sexton Margarita, and by spicy I do mean spicy. Luckily I’m into that kind of stuff, so I gladly gave it a go. Berkes started by muddling two slices of fresh jalapeño pepper and then poured in Cazadores, Cointreau, Grand Marnier and lime juice. But what really packs the punch is the simple syrup — for this margarita, Power House opts to blend theirs with ancho chile and habanero pepper. Shake, strain, and salt that pint glass, top it with a jalapeño lollipop and a lime wedge, and you’ve got the Spicy Sexton Margarita.
Next was the Cherokee 75, an amped-up take on the classic French 75 and definitely my favorite of the bunch. Sweet, tangy and thirst-quenching all at the same time, this one was elegant in its simplicity. Start with Prairie Organic Gin and lemon juice, and then add the kicker: sorghum simple syrup, a special take on sugar water made with sage and sorghum straight from the Seminole Nation. Top the mixture with champagne, a sage leaf and a lemon expression (run a lemon peel around the rim of a chilled cocktail glass and then add it to the drink), and you’re left with the delicious Cherokee 75.
The final concoction on the menu was Julia’s Friendly Punch. Berkes described it as one of Power House’s most popular drinks, and since it kind of tasted like a grown-up pink lemonade, it’s easy to see why. This one began with Svedka Citrus, lemon juice, plain ol’ simple syrup and Luxardo Liqueur. After shaking and straining it into a salted pint glass, it was splashed with soda and filled the rest of the way with — wait for it — Guayakí Yerba Mate. Garnished with a line of blueberries and a lemon wedge, Julia’s Friendly Punch is definitely something you’d want in your hand on a sizzling Oklahoma afternoon.
Spicy Sexton Margarita
Muddle 2 slices jalapeño
1 ½ oz. Cazadores
¾ oz. Cointreau
¾ oz. Grand Mariner
¾ oz. lime juice
¾ oz. ancho habanero simple syrup
Shake/Strain/Salted Pint
Jalapeño lollipop and lime wedge
Cherokee 75
2 oz. Prairie Organic Gin
¾ oz. lemon juice
¾ oz. sorghum sage simple syrup
Shake/Strain/Chilled Cocktail Glass
Top w/ champagne
Sage leaf and lemon expression
Julia’s Friendly Punch
1 ¼ oz. Svedka Citrus
¾ oz. lemon juice
½ oz. simple syrup
¼ oz. Luxardo Liqueur
Shake/Strain/Salted Pint
Splash of soda
Fill w/ Yerba Mate
Blueberries and lemon essence
