History [ edit ] A pre-2010 Southern Comfort bottle with its label showing an illustration of Louisiana's Woodland Plantation. The label was redesigned in 2010. [6] Not many drinks can match the feeling when you’re enjoying Southern Comfort but if you need another whiskey liqueur or bourbon there are some options available. 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:

The origin story of the brand, like all good origin stories, is shrouded in the mists of time, and as will become apparent, somewhat contradictory. For many years Martin Wilkes Heron was believed to have created Southern Comfort in Memphis in or around 1890. Census records and directories appear to show that Heron had lived and worked in St Louis, possibly as a store porter and later clerk, and definitely from 1883 in the liquor business working for A M Hellman & Co, one of the largest companies in the Southern states, “renowned” according to the press, “for its best brands of whiskey” (Heron was an old friend of Lewis Hellman, and would return to St Louis from Memphis to act as a pall bearer at his funeral in 1901).a b c Simonson, Robert (May 8, 2017). "Surprise! Southern Comfort Has No Whiskey. But Soon It Will". The New York Times . Retrieved May 8, 2017.

According to evidence filed in a tax dispute in 1945 Fowler (quite likely with the chemist Holzmark) had discovered a ‘secret formula’ in 1934 for a flavouring that could be used to produce Southern Comfort. Whisky for the compound was provided by the Merchants Distilling Corporation of Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1941 a new flavouring concentrate, “a superior one in that it could be mixed by anyone and did not require ingredients made non-obtainable by the war” was created following a year’s research and development, by Fowler’s eldest son, Francis Fowler III, whilst working for Caligrapo. Caligrapo (now owned jointly by Fowler’s three sons) retained the rights to the recipe and was contracted to supply the concentrate to what was now the Southern Comfort Corporation, the name ‘Midland Distilleries’ having fallen foul of the law. Caligrapo continued to supply the concentrate up until the acquisition of the brand by the Brown-Forman Corporation in 1979, who also acquired Fowler’s secret formula. The brand changed hands multiple times after Heron died in 1920 (three months after the start of Prohibition, no less). For much of this time, the liqueur’s whiskey base was replaced with cheaper, neutral grain spirit, such as vodka. It wasn’t until Sazerac bought the brand in 2016 that production started using a whiskey base again. When creator Heron patented his drink in 1889, he labeled bottles with the tagline “None Genuine But Mine.” The brand continued to use the line for more than 70 years, even after changing one of its “genuine” core ingredients, whiskey. Is there a more perfect name out there in the beverage world than Southern Comfort? Those two words alone conjure up strong feelings of southern hospitality, good times, and friendship.

Is Southern Comfort a whiskey?

In the United States, Southern Comfort is available as 42 US proof (21% ABV), 70 US proof (35% ABV), 100 US proof (50% ABV), and in Australia it is 60 US proof (30% ABV). Varieties including additional flavorings, such as lime and caramel, were introduced by Brown–Forman in the latter years of their ownership, but were discontinued by Sazerac. [5] Eggnog products [ edit ] Drink: Southern Comfort 100 Proof uses its higher proof to bring out some new layers of flavor. Cleaner, and a bit more like whiskey that its cousin Southern Comfort Original. Kevin Brauch. "A River of Whiskey". The Thirsty Traveler. Season 4. Episode 402. Fine Living. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. When the World Came to Westwood: The Fowler Museum at 50". UCLA Magazine . Retrieved March 21, 2020.

Southern Comfort is actually considered a whiskey liqueur, which is a blend of whiskey, fruits, and spices. A Brief History of Southern Comfort Yes, Southern Comfort is gluten free. Most pure distilled spirits are naturally gluten-free even if their base component has gluten. I remember that Southern Comfort appeared like a shining beam of light in my largely monochrome teenage years in the late 1960s and 1970s. Don’t believe all that ‘swinging sixties’ stuff. Life was still drab; colour TV was only an occasional treat for those who could (which my parents certainly couldn’t) afford the expensive rented receivers. Explorations of alcohol were mostly confined to surreptitious half-pints of mild and bitter in otherwise deserted village pubs, and perhaps stolen sips of spirits at house parties. Tasting note: Deep amber. Issues aromas of peach tart, ripe cantaloupe, candied orange and sugared cough syrup. Rich, broad, semi-sweet delivery with flavours of candied fruits and cough syrup. Avoids the too sweet trap. Subtle candied fruits in the aftertaste. Quite a rush at this ABV. Pour Southern Comfort into a glass filled with ice and then add ginger beer. Stir and garnish with the lime wedge and mint leaves. Frozen Hurricane

However, once you start getting into liqueurs and flavored alcohols the question is more complex. It’s best to do your research on anything you consume if you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy. How many calories are in Southern Comfort? Previously, there were also ground coffees available with both of these eggnog flavorings, but the coffee products have since been discontinued.

Southern Comfort 100 Proof is a perfect end to the Nashville Tailgate Taste Test. You’ll always drink it to taste it, but you’ll never want to drink more than you can handle. Mason, Ashley (December 20, 2016). "The Great Eggnog Taste Test That Almost Killed Us". Bon Appétit. This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.

Its tagline is slightly misleading.

No. Southern Comfort isn’t a whiskey or bourbon. It is a liqueur, a distilled spirit that is sweetened with various flavors and extracts. The original formula and the current formula use whiskey as the base for this whiskey liqueur, but for some years a neutral spirit was used. What do you mix with Southern Comfort? Southern Comfort was created by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron (1850–1920), the son of a boat-builder, in 1874 at McCauley's Tavern in the Lower Garden District, two miles (3km) south of the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. [7] 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. [8] Pour Southern Comfort Original, sweet and sour mix, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and ice into a blender. Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, and garnish with the orange wedge and cherry. Is Southern Comfort gluten free?