With a friend of the fellow in town, we enjoyed a nice Sunday evening in Wicker Park. After a feast at… Feast nearby, we wandered over to the prime spot of the evening: The Violet Hour. A certain someone (the fellow, oh course) had been raving about this place for ages, but we’d still yet to fit it in. Friends and a free Sunday evening were the right way to make it happen.

With no sign, one has to spot the door handle barely visible on the muraled wall, though on busier nights a valet stand also appears to light the way. Still early on a work night, we were quickly passed through the heavy velvet curtains and seated in one of VH’s highbacked and intimate booths. The fellow has made several pilgrimages here, but for the lady and our friend, this was their first glimpse. Low lit by candles, the space is a quiet haven in an otherwise hectic neighborhood and the combination of high ceilings with private seating makes the space feel warm, yet spacious. A coveted seat at the bar was not in the cards this time, but for prime cocktail voyeurism, nary a better spot exists.

Violet Hour’s cozy interior. (Photographed in considerably more light than we saw it.) (Source)

We are cocktail folks, no doubt; part one is a mixologist and part two cherishes a simple, well balanced libation. Violet Hour is always the talk of the town and the fellow encouraged all to be adventurous. For the lady, though, going adventurous meant she ultimately struggled with her choices. She found the Iron Cross - pisco, lemon, Angostura, orange flower water and egg white - to be way too lemony while the Arrows of Outrageous Fortune -- Old Weller 107 bourbon, Cherry Heering, lemon and hibiscus syrup — was too citrusy and (sadly!) completely lost its bourbon and hibiscus flavors. The fellow (who loves the complex and rich punches to the face) was more satisfied, first with the sappy, thick and curious Lamplighter — Punt e Mes, Beefeater gin, Zwack and douglas fir eau de vie — and then the (perhaps too subtle) Star 80 — Santa Teresa 1796 rum, Grapefruit, Crème de Cacao, Grenadine and Chocolate Bitters. Our guest, however, probably picked the best drink of the night with Fang’s Out, a delicious and slightly bitter drink served with a single round ice cube made of Death’s Door gin, Carpano Antica, green Chartreuse and Cynar.

The Iron Cross (Source)

We love the purism of Violet Hour and their unabashed and original take on a cocktail, but at the end of the day, the fellow and the lady remain split. For her, the flavors of some tried-and-true drinks — like those served at her favorite spot Gilt Bar — win her over more often while the fellow empathizes with the creative spirit of the place.

Luckily, the pair is thirsty enough to visit watering holes of all colors. And many times over!