I know that you aren’t supposed to start a review by saying that you’re starting a review, and yet here I am doing that. I also know that as a new writer, the worst thing I can do is mention that this is my first review, so I’m two for two.
Lastly, I will endeavor to not use improper English, cliches, or catchphrases, since that cheapens any good writing project right off the bat. But, I’ve gotta tell ya, the Insta-worthy cocktail you see before you is the bomb diggity, and is totes adorbs with the bangin’ ganish and, like, frilz, those yummies are OMG kick-ass flaves.
*whew* I sure am glad I paid for those off-shore writing lessons from the “Off-Shore Writing Lesson School of Writing Lessons.”
Meet The Bartender
Josiah Reeder is a seasoned bartender, currently throwing delicious cocktails down the throats of any and all takers who cross the threshold of Ponyboy—located on 23rd Street in Oklahoma City, right next door to the historic and awesome Tower Theater.
His incredible knack for cocktails is second only to his desire for people to have a great experience at his, or any, bar. These two qualities shine bright in his current masterpiece: Ghost Dance (inspired in part by the song of the same name by Bright Lights Social Hour).
Meet The Cocktail
When you see the description in the menu, you might get a certain image in your mind of what you expect the drink to look like. Throw that idea right out the window.
Sitting before you is a rocks glass, filled with a beautiful light purple and nearly clear swirl of color, and one large ice cube. There’s no garnish. There’s no picks or hunks of fruit. None needed. As an educated drinker, of course you pick the glass up to get a whiff of the overall scent of the drink, and it is bright, floral, refreshing… which is all confirmed upon first sip. Suddenly, you wish you had a porch swing, and lots of time to kill sitting and sipping.
There’s a secret ingredient that lurks in the glass along with the other build items, and it is the culmination of a dream of a young man from the wrong side of the tracks who saw his future in a field…a field, full of okra. That’s right—OKRA! Josey made his own amaro for this and many other potable concoctions, and its core is the venerable state snack: okra.
Terms like “vegetal” and “earthy” and “depth of flavor” are all the rage in culinary circles, and there’s a reason. They fit. Same holds true for this nectar that has found its way into my belly and my heart. In that order.
You might be thinking “EW! OKRA IN A COCKTAIL??!?!” and, admittedly, that’s a fair summation—until you try the drink, and then very nicely offer your apologies to the bar staff while asking to taste the Okrahoma by itself.
Oh yeah, did I not mention the name? “Okrahoma” is what Josiah named the yum-azing potion that graces the inside of any glass it comes in contact with.
For Ghost Dance, the Okrahoma joins Tom’s Town Gin, Pivion Blanc, and Fino Sherry, topped with a dropper full of Butterfly Pea Tea, which adds nuance to the flavor and aroma of the drink, but really pushes the visual artistry up a notch.
Kudos for the use of a great sherry in a cocktail, and even bigger thumbs up for the fact that it neither overpowers the rest of the drink nor hides in the back. The choice to pair all these incredible flavors with Tom’s Town Gin shows the true complexity of the drink, and the commitment on the crafters part to bring balance, deliciousness and true indulgence to the glass and eventually to the guest.
I always get asked to compare a cocktail against other cocktails, as far as flavors and what to expect, so let me tell you this—if you like a Bee’s Knees, you will like this drink.
It’s not a close enough riff to put it on the exact same flavor profile, but it is in the neighborhood. Bright, refreshing, easy to drink, and packed with layers of great flavors. At a price point of just $10, this is a crazy good value for a crazy good drink.
My hearty recommendation is that you scoot on down to 23rd Street, find a good spot, and park your keister on a barstool at Ponyboy for what will surely be a delight to your taste buds and your outlook on life in general.
