Punch Bowl Social, the leading destination for scratch-kitchen menus, craft cocktails, and social gaming, debuts The Agave Room, a 90-seat mezcal and tequila lounge that’s exclusive to the Rancho Cucamonga location. The Punch Bowl Social team tapped award-winning Master Mixologist Lauren Paylor O’Brien to create the lounge’s inventive craft cocktail menu. To complete the immersive experience at this modern take on a mezcalería, The Agave Room also offers a dynamic 100-bottle collection of agave-based spirits and modern interpretations of classic Mexican dishes.
The Agave Room is the first PBS Joint, a unique experience inside of Punch Bowl Social that utilizes a dedicated space to deliver an elevated food and beverage experience. Punch Bowl Social will launch PBS Joints across the country in the coming months, introducing reimagined spaces within its existing locations. Each PBS Joint will have a unique theme, intimate seating options and upscale menus to further showcase Punch Bowl Social’s commitment to being the proud host of the unexpected.
EXPLORE AGAVE SPIRITS LIKE NEVER BEFORE
With a beverage program that features fresh juices, fruits, herbs and spices, LP creates cocktails that are liquid art. Standouts include the Strawberry Agua Fresca featuring raicilla, strawberry cordial, tropically-infused coconut water, fresh lime juice and expressed mint; Prickly Pear Margarita created with blanco tequila, prickly pear syrup, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, mezcal foam and micro mint; and Fizzy Pineapple featuring blanco tequila, pineapple peppercorn oleo, fresh lime and sparkling water.
The Agave Room’s Agave Flights encourage guest exploration. The three flight options—two mezcal and one tequila—contain three one-ounce pours, alongside house-made sangrita, oranges and cumin Gusano salt. For guests looking to dive deeper, the talented bar team is available to offer expert guidance through the extensive spirits list. Beyond the agave-based drinks, the lounge also serves Mejora, a selection of Mexican beers, and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages.
INSPIRED PAIRINGS: A MENU TO REMEMBER
The Agave Room’s food menu features reinvented renditions of Mexican classics to compliment the cocktails. Items include made-to-order Chips and Salsa; Queso Flameado with asadero and Monterey jack, jalapeno rajas and chorizo; Ahi Tuna Aguachile with charred jalapeno, cucumbers, red onion, lime juice and mint; and Yerba Santa Relleno with queso Oaxaca, pico de gallo and roasted corn puree. The menu also features four different Tostada options, including mushroom mole, tinga de pollo, lobster, and traditional chichilo negro. End on a decadently sweet note with Abuelita’s Trufas de Chocolate for dessert.
THE EXPERT AT WORK
Fresh off her win of Netflix’s Ultimate Drink Master, LP brought her extensive experience in creating dynamic bar programs to The Agave Room. Throughout her career, LP has held many roles in the food and beverage industry, including lead bartender of Drink Company, food and beverage manager for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants in Washington, DC, and research and development production chef at Silver Lyan at the Riggs DC Hotel. She now owns and operates her own beverage consulting business, LP Drinks Co., which enables her to create dynamic bar programs for various concepts. This is LP’s first collaboration with Punch Bowl Social and in addition to The Agave Room cocktail menu, LP has also created seven new seasonal cocktails for the Punch Bowl Social locations across the county, which will launch early 2023.
