Pinkerton’s Barbecue is selling a limited edition purple cocktail inspired by the infamous addictive “lean” drink to honor two important days in Houston as well as its hip-hop culture.
Grant Pinkerton announced the new item on June 27, a reference to the nearly 36 minute-long freestyle rap “June 27th” created by Houston’s own Screwed Up Click rap collective in 1996. The drink that Pinkerton has dubbed “Purple Stuff” will be available until July 13, known as 713 Day in Houston.
In his X announcement, Pinkerton said the color purple has always “meant something a little deeper” in Houston. The owner of the barbecue restaurant is referencing the color of “lean,” aka purple drank, sizzurp, dirty Sprite or Purple Stuff in this case. The illegal concoction originated in Houston and is a combination of prescription cough syrup, soda and often hard candy.
“I feel like I was born and raised in inner-city Houston and June 27th was something I feel like I’ve always known about,” Pinkerton told the Chronicle. “It was definitely something that was culturally iconic, so this year we decided we kind of wanted to do something in the stretch between June 27 and 713 Day.”
Pinkerton’s will sell both non-alcoholic and alcoholic versions, neither of which will contain what the lean is known for: codeine. Instead, the alcoholic drink will have cognac, vodka, lemon juice, blueberry syrup, Jolly Ranchers and sprite. The other version will replace the cognac and vodka with a non-alcoholic spirit.
Lean was popular in Houston’s hip-hop scene, and “June 27th” is known for its “chopped and screwed” music style, a style created by Houston rapper DJ Screw mirroring the slowed-down sensation induced by lean. Just four years after the release of “June 27th”, DJ Screw’s death with attributed to an overdose of codeine promethazine cough syrup and other drugs.
Some X users were not pleased about Pinkerton’s new menu item, and criticized his failure to mention DJ Screw in his post.
“June 27th was a dj screw tape. DJ screw died from an overdose of that “purple stuff”. So did pimp c … But celebrate it anyway it’s fine,” one user sarcastically wrote referring to Bun B’s partner in Port Arthur hip-hop group UGK.
Pinkerton, who said he is 12 years sober from opiates, said the non-alcoholic version of the beverage is a good way to offer a drink for sober patrons.
“It’s a good way to have fun, and have a fun drink that tastes great and have a reminisce about the past,” he said.
Pinkerton said he is well aware of DJ Screw and his importance to the city, and said the drink is meant to celebrate a style of music that was unique to Houston.
“Still, to this day, you’re seeing the ramifications of DJ Screw and that style of music, their influence in all sorts of music today,” Pinkerton said.