Southern Comfort
Encyclopedia
Southern Comfort 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, 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.
(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. 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.
s, 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. Southern Comfort and club soda make a drink called An Old Woody.
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. Another popular mix that incorporates juice is the Adam's Apple, a combination of Southern Comfort and apple juice. Cider can also be used in this drink.
In New Zealand
, Southern Comfort is often mixed with Lemon & Paeroa
.
In Ireland
, Southern Comfort is often mixed with Red Lemonade
(a type of soft drink popular in Ireland). This is known as a Southy and Red (or Suddy 'n' Red in Dublin).
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
made from neutral spirits
Neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...
with fruit, spice and whiskey flavourings. The brand was originally created by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron
Martin Wilkes Heron
Martin Wilkes Heron was an Irish American bartender, saloon-keeper, and liquor manufacturer best known for creating the liqueur known as Southern Comfort.Heron was, born in St...
in New Orleans in 1874, and is now owned by the Brown-Forman Corporation
Brown-Forman Corporation
The Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business.Some well-known brands of the corporation include Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Canadian Mist, Early Times, Old Forester, and Korbel champagne.-...
. 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
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
), 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
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
, 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
Sweet tea
Sweet tea is a style of iced tea commonly consumed in the Southern United States. Sweet tea is made by adding sugar to bags of black tea brewing in hot water while the mixture is still hot, which allows for supersaturation of the solution, enabling the tea to hold more dissolved sweetener than...
, 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 was first produced by bartender Martin Wilkes HeronMartin Wilkes Heron
Martin Wilkes Heron was an Irish American bartender, saloon-keeper, and liquor manufacturer best known for creating the liqueur known as Southern Comfort.Heron was, born in St...
(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
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans, Louisiana. 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
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. 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
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
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
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri.
In an episode of The Thirsty Traveler
The Thirsty Traveler
The Thirsty Traveler, hosted by Kevin Brauch, is a weekly journey into the heart of the world's greatest wine, beer, and spirit producing regions...
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 Home on the Mississippi
An 1871 rendering commissioned by the U.S. government as part of a documentary program on the Mississippi River. The scene is an original work by Alfred Waud depicting Woodland Plantation in West Pointe à la Hache, Louisiana....
, a rendering by Alfred Waud
Alfred Waud
Alfred Rudolph Waud was an American artist and illustrator, born in London, England. He is most notable for the sketches he made as an artist correspondent during the American Civil War.-Early career:...
depicting Woodland Plantation
Woodland Plantation (West Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana)
Woodland Plantation, in West Pointe à la Hache, Louisiana, is the mansion depicted in A Home on the Mississippi, an 1871 lithograph which later was licensed for use on the label of Southern Comfort after prohibition ended...
, an antebellum mansion in West Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana
West Pointe à la Hache, Louisiana
West Pointe à la Hache is an unincorporated community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the west bank of the Mississippi River...
. Woodland Plantation, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, now provides bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
In cocktails
Southern Comfort is used in the creation of many popular cocktailCocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s, including Alabama Slammer
Alabama Slammer
An Alabama Slammer is a cocktail made with Amaretto, Southern Comfort, Sloe gin, and orange juice. It is served in a tall glass. It is also sometimes known as a Southern 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
Manhattan (cocktail)
A Manhattan is a cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Commonly used whiskeys include rye , Canadian whisky , bourbon, blended whiskey and Tennessee whiskey. The cocktail is often stirred with ice and strained into a cocktail glass, where it is garnished with a Maraschino cherry...
, Blind Andy, SoCo Andy, Steamboat, SoCo & Eggnog and Funky Cold Medina. Southern Comfort and club soda make a drink called An Old Woody.
One of the earliest Southern Comfort-based cocktails to be marketed was the Scarlett O'Hara
Scarlett O'Hara
Scarlett O' Hara is the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and in the later film of the same name...
, concocted in tribute to the release of the film adaptation
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
of Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
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. Another popular mix that incorporates juice is the Adam's Apple, a combination of Southern Comfort and apple juice. Cider can also be used in this drink.
In New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Southern Comfort is often mixed with Lemon & Paeroa
Lemon & Paeroa
Lemon & Paeroa, also known as L&P, is a sweet soft drink manufactured in New Zealand. Traditionally made by combining lemon juice with carbonated mineral water from the town of Paeroa, it is now manufactured by multi-national Coca-Cola....
.
In Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Southern Comfort is often mixed with Red Lemonade
Red lemonade
Red lemonade is a popular soft drink in Ireland. Lemonade in Ireland comes in three varieties - red, brown and white. All three are lemon-flavoured, but there is a marked difference in taste between the varieties. Red lemonade is one of the most popular mixers used with spirits in Ireland,...
(a type of soft drink popular in Ireland). This is known as a Southy and Red (or Suddy 'n' Red in Dublin).
In popular culture
- Also the name of a 1981 action movieSouthern Comfort (film)Southern Comfort is an American action/thriller film directed by Walter Hill, working from a script by Hill, longtime collaborator David Giler, and Michael Kane. It featured Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Alan Autry, Les Lannom, Peter Coyote, T. K...
set in Louisiana.