SOUTHERN COMFORT

'Southern Comfort' is a fruit, spice, and whiskey flavored liqueur produced since 1874. It is made from a secret blend of whiskey, peach brandy, orange, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon flavors.
Southern Comfort is available as 100 US proof, 76 US proof, 70 US proof and 42 US proof; 50%, 38%, 35% & 21% alcohol by volume respectively. In Australia & New Zealand, it is only available as 30%. It is often erroneously thought to be bourbon whiskey based—it is actually neutral grain spirits-based.[1] Southern Comfort Reserve, however, is a blend of Southern Comfort and 6-year-old bourbon and is 40 percent alcohol.

Contents

History

In cocktails

In popular culture

External links

History

Southern Comfort was first produced by Irish bartender Martin Wilkes Heron (b. 1850 c. 1920), the son of a boat-builder, at McCauley’s tavern at the corner of Richard and St. Peter Street, in French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1889, patented his famous 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.
The plantation depicted on the label of Southern Comfort since the 1930s is Woodland Plantation, an mansion in West Pointe a la Hache, a small town in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Woodland Plantation, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, now operates as a bed and breakfast.

In cocktails

Southern Comfort is used in the creation of many popular cocktails, including "SoCo Lime", "Alabama Slammer", "Red Death", "A Piece of Ass", "Red Devil", "Greek Sex on the Beach", "Crash & Burn", "57 Chevy", "Sloe Comfortable Screw", "SloScrew", "Slo Sunrise", "Rickstasy", "Scarlett O'Hara", "SoCoke", "SoCo Manhattan", "Blind Andy" and "Funky Cold Medina."
In an advertising campaign, the company suggests mixing it with lime juice to make a 'SoCo Lime'. The "Soco and lime" shot is Southern Comfort mixed with lime juice. The origins of the shot began in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the once popular restaurant Duck-In. People began drinking the mixture there and it has spread nationwide.
A variation on this theme is the "Bo Bice," a mix of Southern Comfort and Rockstar Energy Drink. "Ultimate Southern", a mix of Southern Comfort and Mountain Dew has become popular with the several subcultures, including extreme sports fans, NASCAR fans and video & RPG gamers for its potent combination of alcohol, sugar & caffeine. Another very popular drink is a mixture of Southern Comfort and Coke, also known as "SoCoke." A singularly northwest cocktail, the "Boot Rear" is comprised of a single 1oz shot of Southern Comfort poured into a 12oz mug of Thomas Kemper's Root Beer.
Very popular in Ireland is the "suddie and red", a mix of Southern Comfort and the uniquely Irish soft drink red lemonade. This is especially popular amongst students and younger generations. Another way to enjoy Southern Comfort is simply with lemonade "on the rocks".

In popular culture

★ Southern Comfort gained popularity for being the drink of choice of singer Janis Joplin, as she often kept a bottle on stage during performances. It continues to have a strong connection with music through sponsorships of the Voodoo Music Experience, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the Southern Comfort Music Experience, a free two-day concert event that occurs throughout the US.

★ The brand has also sponsored New Orleans rock band Cowboy Mouth for the last several years, specifically their Mardi Gras themed tour bus.

★ The Atlanta band Rehab has an album titled ''Southern Discomfort''. This title is shared by an album of the same name by the New Orleans band Eyehategod.

★ The Long Island-based rock band Brand New released a song entitled "Soco Amaretto Lime" on their first album called Your Favourite Weapon released in 2001.

★ "Sweet Southern Comfort" is the title of a song by country singer Buddy Jewell.

★ Dismemberment Plan's song "Ellen and Ben" (off Change) contains the line "SoCo in bed."

★ In the FX network's crime drama ''The Shield'', members of the anti-gang task force known as ''The Strike Team'' make a reference when, after having pulled off a big job, they say that "it's a good time for some Southern Comfort."

★ In the Philip K. Dick novel ''A Scanner Darkly'', Donna asks Bob Arctor to buy her a bottle of Southern Comfort to share; in the movie version, she asks for tequila.

★ In the Neil Gaiman novel ''American Gods'', the leprechaun Mad Sweeney orders Southern Comfort and Coke several times instead of the Guinness that he was expected to.

★ In the Stephen King novella ''Road Work'', the secret favorite drink of the protagonist, Barton George Dawes, is Southern Comfort and 7 Up.

★ Kid Rock references Southern Comfort in his single, "Bawitdaba".

★ "A Southern Comfort" is the title of a song on New York City based folk duo The Passenger Pigeons debut album.

★ The Portland-based indie rock band the Gossip released a song on their 2001 album, ''That's Not What I Heard'' entitled "Southern Comfort."

★ "Southern Comfort" is also a song title by southern rock band Fight Paris.

★ The guitarist of He Is Legend has a tattoo on his left arm that says Southern Comfort.

★ Kiss The Gunner have a song entitled "Southern Comfort Ain't No Comfort" on their album.

★ Children of Bodom have a song referencing Southern Comfort called "Northern Comfort" on ''Follow the Reaper''.

★ Jonathan Coulton's song "The Town Crotch" mentions in passing to having a pint of SoCo in his pocket, noting "You can hardly taste the alcohol."

★ Southern Comfort was the sponsor of the first ever series of ''Big Brother UK''.

★ Sheffield-based band Little Man Tate make a reference to Southern Comfort in the song "3 Day Rule": ''She drinks southern comfort in a northern style.''

★ French singer and songwriter Francis Cabrel references Southern Comfort in the song "Question d'équilibre": ''Je ne vois que toi dans les grandes glaces entre les bouteilles de "Southern Comfort."''

★ Southern Comfort is now an official sponsor of the web-based show Diggnation.

External links

★ The Southern Comfort official site (Flash 8 Player required)

★ Soco Night Institute