Southern Comfort is a unique liqueur with a unique whiskey flavor that was originally created to be a “cocktail in a bottle.” However, this doesn’t mean we can’t find something extra to add to make it even better.
In this article, I’ll provide multiple awesome choices that compliment Southern Comfort well. I’ll also answer common questions like ‘can I drink Southern Comfort neat?’ and ‘is Southern Comfort whiskey or bourbon?’
1. Orange Soda
If you like a nice fizzy drink with some kick, then you can’t go wrong with this combination. Any brand of orange soda will do, as long as it packs a nice citrus punch.
The key to this and nearly every mixer on this list is the citrus flavor they bring to the table. That flavor complements the Southern Comfort, making for a smooth, tasty drink.
The drawback to orange soda is that the citrus flavor is artificial. This Southern Comfort and orange soda cocktail is really for those who enjoy a carbonated alcoholic beverage
2. Pineapple Juice
If the freshly-squeezed organic orange juice cocktail has left you seeking something a little sweeter, look no further; you’ve found your new best friend here in this pineapple juice and Southern Comfort cocktail.
Pineapple juice contains those essential citric acids to mitigate the taste of the alcohol and compliment the spices in Southern Comfort without being sour like the other citrus fruit family members.
Pineapple is naturally more sweet than oranges, and that sweet citrus flavor pairs amazingly with Southern Comfort, precisely because of its ability to walk the line between sweet and sour. It’s the best mixer for Southern Comfort, in my opinion.
Related The 3 Best Chasers for Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey.
3. Cranberry Juice
Another slightly sweet, slightly sour option is cranberry juice. Though cranberries belong to the same family as blueberries and rhododendron flowers and are not technically citrus fruit, they still contain the same citric acid as fruits like pineapples and oranges.
Because cranberries contain those citric acids, they are a great choice to mix with Southern Comfort. It allows the citrus flavor to do its job while bringing a unique grape or berry-type flavor to the cocktail.
This undertone of sweet berry combined with the tartness of cranberry juice makes it the perfect mixer to bring a lovely, natural sweet and sour flavor. Southern Comfort is slightly sweet and works to offset the tart flavor of the cranberry.
4. Amaretto Liqueur
A trendy mixer for Southern Comfort is amaretto liqueur. It is a slightly almond-flavored liquor that compliments the sweetness of Southern Comfort well.
Some people will have Southern Comfort and amaretto by themselves. The result is a pleasantly sweet and slightly nutty cocktail. While this is enough for some, most usually add in other flavors to add complexity to the taste of the cocktail.
A sour mix is an excellent addition to a Southern Comfort and amaretto cocktail. This will add some balance to the flavor of this drink, making it less overpoweringly sweet.
5. Orange Juice
If you want the citrusy flavor of orange soda without the carbonation, artificial flavors, and preservatives, then you can go with a more natural Southern Comfort and orange juice cocktail.
When I say “more natural,” I mean that you can go as far as to buy organic oranges and freshly squeeze your organic orange juice for this cocktail. All the sugars and citric acids that form the flavors of this cocktail are natural and authentic.
The only downside of this cocktail is that the sour citrus flavor may wear on some people’s taste buds and leave them craving something a little sweeter.
Can You Drink Southern Comfort Neat?
Southern Comfort is made to be enjoyed in a mixed drink or all alone on its own. Even for those not used to enjoying a drink neat with no mixer, Southern Comfort brings such a complex and sweet flavor that you can enjoy unabated when you have it neat.
Even on the Southern Comfort website, they note a 3-step recipe that instructs you to gather a glass, drop some ice cubes inside, and pour in some Southern Comfort. Even the people that make it say you should try it neat!
Is Southern Comfort a Whiskey Or Bourbon?
Because of the complex and sweet flavor of Southern Comfort, many people wonder if it is a whiskey or a bourbon. The answer may surprise you.
Southern Comfort is not a whiskey. It’s not a bourbon, either. It is a whiskey-based liqueur. While it is similar to whiskey and draws some flavor notes from the whiskey base, it is not technically a whiskey.
The spices and sweeter Southern Comfort flavors make it a liqueur and not a whiskey or bourbon. Though it is whiskey-based, it is disingenuous to call it a whiskey because it contains no actual whiskey.
Recap
The 5 best mixers for Southern Comfort are:
- Orange soda
- Pineapple juice
- Orange juice
- Cranberry juice
- Amaretto liqueur
Thanks for stoppin’ by!
For more, don’t miss The 20 Best Ways To Drink Jim Beam Bourbon.
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.