Southern Comfort

Infobox Beverage
name= Southern Comfort


type= Liqueur
manufacturer= Brown-Forman Corporation
origin= Flagicon|United States United States
introduced= 1889
discontinued=
proof= 100,76,70, 60, 42
related= List of rum producers

Southern Comfort is a fruit, spice, and whiskey flavored liqueur produced since 1874. It is made from a blend of whiskey, peach, orange, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon flavors. The Brown-Forman Corporation owns the Southern Comfort brand.

Southern Comfort is available as 100 US proof (50% alcohol by volume), 76 US proof (38% alcohol by volume), 70 US proof (35% alcohol by volume) and 42 US proof (21% alcohol by volume). In Australia and New Zealand, it is only available as 60 proof. It is often erroneously thought to be bourbon whiskey based—it is actually neutral grain spirits-based, [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/13/WIGHDLM92J1.DTL Cut the fog with a well-balanced cocktail ] ] and the brown look comes from caramel coloring. [ [http://www.queenannewine.com/soutcomcoran.html Southern Comfort Whisky Liqueur 70 proof, Cordials and Liqueurs, 750ml ] ] Southern Comfort Reserve, however, is a blend of Southern Comfort and 6-year-old bourbon and is 80 proof.

History

Southern Comfort was first produced by Irish bartender Martin Wilkes Heron (b. 1850 – c. 1920), the son of a boat-builder. Legend says it was 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, but Richard Street does intersect with S. Peters Street in the Lower Garden District near the Mississippi River.

He later 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.

In an episode of The Thirsty Traveler entitled "A River of Whiskey" spirits historian Chris Morris describes the original recipe of Southern Comfort. Heron would begin with the best bourbon he could find 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 this sweetener, he liked to use honey."cite episode |title= A River of Whiskey |url= http://www.fineliving.com/fine/thirsty_traveler/episode/0,1663,FINE_10176_41042,00.html|series= The Thirsty Traveler |serieslink= The Thirsty Traveler |credits= Kevin Brauch |network= Fine Living |season= 4 |number= 402]

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 "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", "SocaCola","SoCoCello" and "SoCo-LoCo" (created by R.Capaldi), "SoCo Manhattan", "Blind Andy", "SoCo Andy" and "Funky Cold Medina."

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. [ [http://www.cocktailtimes.com/history/southern_comfort.shtml CocktailTimes.com > History of Southern Comfort ] ]

In a more 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. Apple cider can also be used in this drink.

In popular culture

* In Family Guy's episode entitled "I Dream Of Jesus", Peter Griffin recalls when he and some friends were "wrecked on Southern Comfort."
* In Oliver Stone's film The Doors Southern Comfort is referenced in relation to Jim Morrison's addiction problems
* 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 various movies about Janis Joplin and based on biographies about the rock singer, it is revealed that her beverage of choice was Southern Comfort.
* In the Stephen King novella "Road Work", the secret favorite drink of the protagonist, Barton George Dawes, is Southern Comfort and 7 Up.
*Southern Comfort was an official sponsor of the web-based show Diggnation up until, and including, episode 119.
* Southern Comfort is mentioned in an Adam Sandler comedy sketch "I'm So Wasted" from the "They're All Gonna Laugh At You!" CD released in 1993.
* It is popular in North Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth area) to refer to Southern Comfort 100-proof by the name "Honey Poo". This is derived from the way "Hundred-Proof" sounds when it is said while intoxicated.
* In Tennessee Williams's play "A Streetcar Named Desire", Blanch finds a bottle of Southern Comfort in the pantry.
* Southern Comfort is often associated with traditional saloon-style bars in America

Music

*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."
* 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 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.
* 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."
* 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 also the title of different songs by:
** Johnny Cash (album Ragged Old Flag, 1974)
** Southern rock band Fight Paris
** Nashville Country musician Jimmy Aldridge
** Portland-based indie rock band The Gossip (album That's Not What I Heard, 2001)
** Shooter Jennings (album Put the "O" Back in Country, 2005)
* In Amanda Palmer's Solo Debut Album "Who Killed Amanda Palmer" Southern Comfort is referenced in the line "Who needs love; when there's southern comfort."

References

Anthony Hamilton's Album of 2008

External links

* [http://www.southerncomfort.com/ The Southern Comfort official site] (Flash 8 Player required)
* [http://www.soconightinstitute.com/ Soco Night Institute]
* [http://www.jimmyaldridge.com/ Southern Comfort song]