Southern Comfort

For other uses, see Southern Comfort (disambiguation).

Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort whiskey-flavoured liqueur
Type	Liqueur
Manufacturer	Brown-Forman Corporation
Country of origin	United States
Introduced	1874
Proof	100, 80, 70, 30, 10

Southern Comfort (often abbreviated in English to SoCo^{[citation needed]}) is an American liqueur made from neutral spirits with fruit, spice and whiskey flavourings. The brand was originally created by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron in New Orleans in 1874,^{[citation needed]} and is now owned by the Brown-Forman Corporation. Although the original product contained whiskey, the current formula for Southern Comfort only contains whiskey-tasting flavouring rather than actual whiskey (except for the premium version called "Special Reserve").

In the US Southern Comfort is available as 100 US proof (50% alcohol by volume), and 70 US proof (35% alcohol by volume). Southern Comfort Special Reserve, found in duty-free shops, is a blend of Southern Comfort and bourbon, and is 80 US proof. Southern Comfort Lime, released in the Summer of 2010, is 55 proof (27.5% alcohol by volume) and Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper, released in the Fall of 2011, is 70 proof (35% alcohol by volume).

Southern Comfort also produces Ready-To-Pour cocktails available in the US including Southern Comfort Sweet Tea, Southern Comfort Hurricane and Southern Comfort Lemonade, which are all 30 proof (15% alcohol by volume).

Southern Comfort has expanded over the years and has several product offerings globally. Outside the US, Southern Comfort produces single-serve cocktails, including Southern Comfort Lemonade and Lime in the UK and Southern Comfort and Cola in Australia.

Outside of the Americas, Southern Comfort is produced and bottled in Dublin, Ireland.

History

Southern Comfort Logo

Southern Comfort was first produced by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron (1850–1920), the son of a boat-builder. Legend says it was created and sold at McCauley’s Tavern at the corner of Richard and St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.^{[citation needed]} However, St. Peter Street and Richard Street do not intersect, though Richard Street does intersect with S. Peters Street in the Lower Garden District near the Mississippi River. According to the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, McCauley's Tavern was "just off Bourbon Street," and the original form of the drink was called "Cuffs and Buttons."

Heron moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1889, patented his creation, and began selling it in sealed bottles with the slogan "None Genuine But Mine" and "Two per customer. No Gentleman would ask for more." Southern Comfort won the gold medal at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

In an episode of The Thirsty Traveler entitled "A River of Whiskey," spirits historian Chris Morris describes the original recipe of Southern Comfort. Heron began with good-quality bourbon and would add: "An inch of vanilla bean, about a quarter of a lemon, half of a cinnamon stick, four cloves, a few cherries, and an orange bit or two. He would let this soak for days. And right when he was ready to finish, he would add his sweetener: he liked to use honey."

Since the 1930s, the image on the label of Southern Comfort has been A Home on the Mississippi, a rendering by Alfred Waud depicting Woodland Plantation, an antebellum mansion in West Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana. Woodland Plantation, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, now provides bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

In cocktails

Southern Comfort is used in the creation of many popular cocktails, including Alabama Slammer, Red Death, Red Devil, Crash & Burn, '57 Chevy, Sloe Comfortable Screw, SoCo Hurricane, The Princess Peach, Slo Sunrise, Rickstasy, SocoCola, SoCoCello, SoCo-LoCo, SoCo Manhattan, Blind Andy, SoCo Andy, Steamboat, SoCo & Eggnog and Funky Cold Medina.^{[citation needed]} Southern Comfort and club soda make a drink called An Old Woody.^{[citation needed]}

One of the earliest Southern Comfort-based cocktails to be marketed was the Scarlett O'Hara, concocted in tribute to the release of the film adaptation of Gone with the Wind in 1939. The mixture includes Southern Comfort, cranberry juice, and fresh lime.

In a recent advertising campaign, the company suggests mixing it with lime juice to make a Soco and lime.

When Southern Comfort is taken as a shot and chased with orange soda, it gives the distinct taste of an Orange Creamsicle.^{[citation needed]} Another popular mix that incorporates juice is the Adam's Apple, a combination of Southern Comfort and apple juice.^{[citation needed]} Cider can also be used in this drink.^{[citation needed]}

In New Zealand, Southern Comfort is often mixed with Lemon & Paeroa.^{[citation needed]}

In Ireland, Southern Comfort is often mixed with Red Lemonade (a type of soft drink popular in Ireland).^{[citation needed]} This is known as a Southy and Red.^{[citation needed]}

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  Southern Comfort

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  Southern Comfort Sweet Tea

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  Southern Comfort Lime

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  Southern Comfort Reserve

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  Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper

In popular culture

• Also the name of a 1981 action movie set in Louisiana.
• The Books of Magic comic book miniseries by Neil Gaiman features a running gag of the teenage protagonist Timothy Hunter, continually asking for, and being denied, a Southern Comfort by the adult characters.

External links

• The Southern Comfort official site