Is Southern Comfort a Whiskey, Bourbon or a Liquor?

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I’ve had to ask myself this question with a couple of friends (and we did have a very ‘spirited’ debate indeed), but we could neverget it ‘down pat’.

Now, I do know what Wiki would say, “Southern Comfort is an American liquor made from neutral spirits withfruit, spice and whiskey flavourings” and I haven’t seenit talked much on this sub-forum?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Comfort

http://www.southerncomfort.com/history.aspx

That said, I find it's OK for sipping & mixing (and you might be tempted to 'skin me alive' for saying so), but others might say it's a 'sissy' drink, but what do you think...any comments?

"[Having a drink]… is a [great] way of ending the day". Ernest Hemingway

 

[feralhog]

Considering Southern Comfort's own site links to their Wiki page, I'd say it's pretty clear it's a liquor made from a neutral spirit base.

 

[xraygun]

I always thought it was something girls drank mixed with coke. Which always ends as a purgative.

Personally I think it's a horrible thing I wouldn't clean my bilge with.

 

[Stevew443]

It is a vocal and career enhancer... just ask Janis Joplin.

 

[Argonaut]

I always felt it was more of a liquer, way too sweet for me. Any time I've made the mistake of having some, I'm rewarded with horrible heartburn.

 

[buffdaddy]

That's a good question. I'm not a fan of SOCO but I know women drink it (including my Mom LOL!). It's not quite a Liquor but not quite a full blooded Bourbon. Maybe a hybrid of the two I guess. Just throwing spitballs here....

 

[inkcoffee]

its a liquer, one that gives me dry heaves just thinking about it.

 

[OldAF]

its a liquer, one that gives me dry heaves just thinking about it.

Big +1

 

[BladeDE40]

A "neutral spirit" is pure grain alcohol with a very high ethanol content, usually (95% or higher)...making SoCo basically Moonshine with added flavor.

 

[Gruder]

SoCo and Bourbon in the same thread title? Burn the heretic!

 

[Rughi]

Apparently Southern Comfort now has a component of bourbon, where at one time the spirit was solely grain neutral spirit ("undiluted-vodka"). I found Cowdery talking about it, and he's more trustworthy than a wiki.

Roger

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Apparently Southern Comfort now has a component of bourbon, where at one time the spirit was solely grain neutral spirit ("undiluted-vodka"). I found Cowdery talking about it, and he's more trustworthy than a wiki.

Roger

Thanx for Cowdery's cool & interesting link. Now we all can be just a lttle more ‘spirited’ and educated.

"[Having a drink]… is a [great] way of ending the day". Ernest Hemingway

 

[malocchio]

so where does this leave YUKON JACK ?

 

[Mike H]

so where does this leave YUKON JACK ?

YJ is SC's big brother. Many, many years ago I would drink yukon jack and ginger ale.

 

[stobes21]

It's an alcoholic beverage made from distilled alcohol, flavored with fruits, spices, and herbs, and sweetened, almost to a syrup consistency. That is the very definition of "liqueur". At least here in the states the term "cordial" would also apply. It may contain some amount of actual bourbon but most of the alcohol comes from neutral grain spirit (aka vodka).

Depending on exactly how much (if any) actual bourbon ends up in the mix it could conceivably be called either a blended whiskey or a spirit whiskey. But since the defining characteristics of SOCO are, for better or worse, the syrupy sweetness and the added flavorings I think "liqueur" is the only appropriate term.

 

[knlgskr]

If it tastes as bad as it smells; glad I never drank it, never heard much if anything good about it.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

I only remember reading the side of the Southern Comfort bottle whilst a Freshman at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and observing a recipe for a drink called a "Cool Tool".... never tried the stuff myself. Maker's Mark was the drink of choice for young Gents on campus.

 

[Phog Allen]

I have never drank it but a few of my friends did back in the day. Mostly with their girlfriends. The closest description I could make out from their exploits was "headache in a bottle". Scared me.

Cheers, Todd

 

[Walter Sobchak]

SoCo and Bourbon in the same thread title? Burn the heretic!

LOL

It's its own liquor...and with apologies to the late Janis Joplin, I find it much too hideous to drink.

 

[the_edski]

SWMBO's uncle makes a decent Manhattan with SoCo, its the only way I can stand to have the stuff on my palate. A glowing endorsement if I've ever heard one!