Violet and Venom, a Stinging Cocktail from Farmerbrown

Tamara Palmer

​We pulled up to the bar at Farmerbrown the other night in the mood for a Slurricane, basically a take on the New Orleans Hurricane with a Yay Area twist. The name is a tribute to a 1995 song by legendary local rapper E-40 and his group The Click. Because we like to drink our hip-hop, we were nearly distraught to learn that the Slurricane is a seasonal offering that had been replaced by a collection of summer-ripe libations. So we quickly drowned our sorrows in Violet and Venom.

The first part comes from crushed dried violets that swim in the glass. The venom is a blend of plum and lemon juices, with Encanto pisco and Cabernet. There's only the barest hint of sweetness to tame the tart before it makes your tongue tingle. Honestly? It slurred us up just fine.

Farmerbrown: 25 Mason (at Market), 409-3276.