ASDA Southern Comfort: NOT!

Bradfield

Friend bought me a small bottle (35cl) of Southern Comfort from Asda as a birthday drink. I have not drank it for years but had fond memories of a smooth refined and very pleasant tasting drink.

Decided to have a night-cap last night and poured myself a large one and then sat back in eager anticipation. What a shock! It was just raw unrefined alcohol, and that was evident from the smell before I even tasted it. In a word "plonk".

I dont mind Supermarkets selling their own brands so long as the quality matches the original but there was absolutely no correlation between the Southern Comfort that I once knew and the stuff that Asda are selling now.

I dont think it is right to "trade" upon a brand name and charge a higher price for what is a very much inferior product.

I do not know what she paid but I am assuming it was about £10 that is advertised on-line. This is just over £28 a litre. You can get a bottle of Bells whiskey for about £18.

I was tempted to just empty the rest of the bottle down the sink and tell her it was nice just to save embarrassment but I am worried that she may unwittingly purchase another bottle some time in the future.

So what do you think the reaction will be when she takes it back to Asda and demands her money back? Yes! It has been opened and yes there is some missing but how do you ever know what something is like unless you have opened the package and tried it?

Regardless: I hope I can save some poor soul the disappointment of purchasing a bottle of "Southern Comfort" from Asda. If it is just raw unrefined alcohol that you want you can get it much cheaper elsewhere.

shaun_from_Africa

Bradfield wrote: »

I dont mind Supermarkets selling their own brands so long as the quality matches the original but there was absolutely no correlation between the Southern Comfort that I once knew and the stuff that Asda are selling now

"Southern Comfort" is a registered brand so Asda wouldn't be able to sell their own product under that name.

What you appear to have bought is a bottle of genuine SC. (£10 for 35ml)

http://groceries.asda.com/asda-webstore/landing/home.shtml?cmpid=ahc-_-ghs-d1-_-asdacom-dsk-_-hp#/product/43080

bap98189

What exactly did your friend buy?

Southern Comfort is a trademarked name. Asda don't sell an own label version - they can't - it would be contravening the trademark. They do sell something they call Deep South Whiskey, which is supposed to be similar, but it in no way claims to be the same as Southern Comfort. Was that what your friend bought you?

There is nothing you can do if you don't like it. Just give it away and don't buy it again.

DCFC79

Maybe ask your friend who someone else to try it and see what they think of it, might be just you OP.

Or take it up with Southern Comfort but you need to confirm that was SoCo and not Asdas own version.

adouglasmhor

It could just be that your tastes have matured. I shudder to think about some of the pish I drank in the 80s and Southern Comfort was on that list.

peachyprice

Bradfield wrote: »

Friend bought me a small bottle (35cl) of Southern Comfort from Asda

I dont mind Supermarkets selling their own brands so long as the quality matches the original

Which was it, Southern Comfort, or Asda own brand with a vaguely similar name?

It can't be both. Southern Comfort is Southern Comfort, regardless of whether it's bought from Asda or Fortnum's and will be the same the whole country over.

LilElvis

Use it to make a cocktail

Memphis Belle
1 1/2 measures cognac
3/4 measure Southern Comfort
1/2 measure lemon juice
1/4 measure orange bitters (or curacao, but not the blue one)
shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass

visidigi

peachyprice wrote: »

Which was it, Southern Comfort, or Asda own brand with a vaguely similar name?

It can't be both. Southern Comfort is Southern Comfort, regardless of whether it's bought from Asda or Fortnum's and will be the same the whole country over.

If only it was called Asda Westerly Uncomfortable

agrinnall

There does appear to be an ASDA own brand producted named Deep South Whiskey (country of origin, that well known whisk(e)y producer, The Netherlands!) that could perhaps be a Southern Comfort clone, here's the description:

Deep south - bitter orange spiced flavoured liqueur What does it taste like?: A natural liqueur spirit with bitter orange and mandarin flavours with subtle hints of spice, vanilla and liquorice on the finish. How is it made?: Distilled from Molasses alcohol and blended with orange flavourings and spices typical of the southern states.

I can only see 75cl bottles online but perhaps there's a half bottle option in store.

Enfieldian

In a nutshell...

It was either original Southern Comfort or it was an ASDA own brand copy.

Once we know this we can advise on the best course of action.

Bradfield

Thanks for replies folks.

It says "Southern Comfort - New Orleans Original" "For the UK market". So I take your point that it is not an Asda brand. Having said that it is bottled over here somewhere and not in the USA as far as I can tell.

Could very well be that my tastes have changed or perhaps "matured" as peachyprice nicely put it. I will ask my friend, the purchaser, to try it. I wont tell her my views until she gives her opinion.

My experience tells me that cheap booze means head-aches and hangovers and I am always willing to pay a bit more for my booze now to save the head-aches.

One thing I have learned is that because something is higher priced does not mean it is the best quality.

BTW my friend also bought me a bottle of Gordons Sloe Gin from Asda.

Absolutely exquisite!