If you grew up in Oklahoma, odds are good you’ve read S.E. Hinton’s classic The Outsiders, but you don’t have to be familiar with the coming-of-age tale of Greasers and Socs in order to visit Ponyboy at 423 NW 23rd. You just have to love expertly mixed drinks, killer coffee or both.
The staff is working on whipping up a new menu for fall – if you hustle, you should still be able to toast the last days of summer with a Keys to the Lake House, which is like a sherry-bonded-bourbon mint julep with blackberry syrup. But as the nights get a little longer, their specialization in cocktails using local small-batch KLLR Coffee will start paying extra dividends.
While it’s still warm, try a beautifully balanced Black Eagle made with spiced rum, walnut bitters, brown sugar, Cynar liqueur and a double shot of cold espresso. And once the temperature starts dropping, the robust Irish Coffee (Paddy’s whiskey, KLLR java and cream topped with a freshly toasted marshmallow) will prove ideal for heating up your insides.
Josiah Reeder, Erin Heatly and bar manager Micah Anderson are all adept mixers, so whatever weather the Oklahoma autumn is preparing to throw at you, Ponyboy makes it easy to stay gold.
