Southern Comfort was first created by M.W. Heron in 1874. Though originally made with a whiskey base, for many years the spirit was omitted from the recipe. But after the Sazerac Company acquired the brand in 216, the 7-proof liqueur returned to its roots. Now, Southern Comfort is made from an undisclosed blend of Sazerac-owned whiskeys and accented with fruit and spice flavors. Notably, the liqueur was beloved by rock and roll legend Janis Joplin at the height of her career in the 196s