English Professor Mark Maynard has completed his documentary project, Piconland: The Quest for the Perfect Picon Punch, during his sabbatical this semester. The film examines the cultural and historical significance of the Picon Punch cocktail. It will air on PBS Reno on December 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., with a second broadcast on December 14 at 5:30 p.m. A trailer is available online.
After the first broadcast, Maynard will be interviewed on the Wild Nevada Cast at 8 p.m. The podcast, hosted by Dave Santina, received a Signal Award in 2025 for podcasting. Maynard’s documentary has been in development for several years and has been shown at film festivals in France, Albania, Austin, Texas, and Louisiana. In Nevada, it was featured at the Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno and the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, where it won Best Nevada Film in 2023.
The documentary covers changes in the Picon Punch landscape, such as Ferino Distillery in Reno starting production of the base spirit, now called Ferino Amer. This marks the first time the main ingredient is made in Nevada. The film also discusses the legislative process that led to Picon Punch being named Nevada’s official state drink. Maynard and his team interviewed Bert Gurr, the Elko assembly member who introduced the bill, and the founders of Western Public Affairs, William Horne and Edith Duarte, who contributed to the bill’s passage during the 2025 Nevada legislative session…