Jameson vs Southern Comfort: Head to Head!

Discover the differences between Jameson vs Southern Comfort in this head to head comparison and decide which whiskey is better for You!

Jameson

Nose	Floral, marmalade, caramel
Palate	Ripe fruit, vanilla
Finish	Medium, caramel, spice
Alcohol content	80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink	Cocktails
Similar to	Bushmills, Dewar’s, Black Barrel

Nose is floral with sweet notes of orange marmalade and caramel with a bit of alcohol coming behind but nothing too severe.

On the palate the Jameson shows a good body, is sweet and fruity, with a high vanilla note. There is a pesky metallic note coming late to the party, not something terrible but weird.

The finish has a medium length, mostly sweet with a dash of black pepper on the tail.

Jameson (Alternatives) smooth and versatile whiskey that mixes nicely in any cocktail with no bad bite, well rounded and gets better when adding a splash of water, ginger ale or ice.

A few drops of water are enough to tune down alcoholic, peppery notes and that annoying metallic note.

Jameson Irish Whiskey is the top-selling Irish whiskey across the globe for two solid reasons: It is smooth and affordable offering good value for the money; solid option for casual drinking or something not too pricey.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Jameson Whiskey:

• Jameson is a blend of malted and unmalted barley aged for at least 4 years in ex-bourbon casks from Kentucky and ex-sherry casks from Spain.

• This whisky is triple-distilled which is the norm in the Irish whiskey industry. Most spirits in are double-distilled but the Irish add a distillation as they like smooth liquors.

• Jameson is no longer Irish but French as it was acquired by Pernod Ricard who also owns big brands such as Chivas Regal and Glenlivet.

• Crafted at the Jameson Distillery in Old Midleton, Ireland.

Southern Comfort

Nose	Apple, fruit, baking spice, alcohol
Palate	Gummy Bears, apple, ripe fruit, baking spice
Finish	Short, fruity
Alcohol content	70 proof (35% ABV)
How to drink	Cocktails
Similar to	Jim Beam, Fireball

The nose brings aromas of apple and ripe fruit, with a tad of baking spice and light whiff of alcohol.

On the palate, Southern Comfort feels thin with very little body. It tastes like Gummy Bears up-front, with a strong hint of artificial sweetness, followed by hints of apple, ripe fruit and a bit of baking spice.

There is practically no finish and is somewhat dry with a modest fruity medicinal note.

Overall, this is a smooth liqueur, sweet, with no heat and very easy to drink. Is never going to win an award but makes a good option for those who want a sweet and uncomplicated dram.

The best way of drinking it is either with Coke or cocktails such as the Alabama Slammer or the Southern Hurricane.

Southern Comfort is not a whiskey but a liqueur using whiskey as its base, artificially flavored and bottled at a lower proof than a traditional whiskey or bourbon.

The whiskey base is an undisclosed blend made by the Sazerac Company that produces some of the best bourbons.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Southern Comfort:

• First created in 1874 by M.W. Herron, a bartender.

• The company was owned by Brown-Forman (Old Forester Whiskey, Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniel’s) and later acquired by the Sazerac Company.

Jameson vs Southern Comfort: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price	Bottle Size
Jameson	$56	1.75L
Southern Comfort	$29	1.75L

Jameson vs Southern Comfort: Which is better?

Jameson is a more versatile pour than Southern Comfort

Whiskey	Jameson	Southern Comfort
Nose	✅
Body	✅
Palate	✅
Finish	✅
Value	✅

• Jameson is a proper whiskey that can be drunk neat (not the best), rocks or in cocktails and serves as an introductory dram to Irish Whiskey or liquors in general.

• Southern Comfort is a sweet liqueur that serves primarily as a mixer to be used in low-proof cocktails. It has a a high artificial sweetener note that might be off-putting for some.

What’s the difference between Jameson and Southern Comfort?

Jameson is a liquor and Southern Comfort a liqueur

• A liquor or spirit is an alcoholic product that’s made from a grain or fruit/vegetable-derived sugar that’s fermented and distilled, yielding a lower water content and higher proof.

• A Liqueur: uses a liquor as its base and adds sweeteners and flavors to it.