Southern Comfort Brings New Orleans Flavor to Celebrations Across Country

 

February 3, 2010, New Orleans, LA - Mardi Gras is one of the world’s biggest parties this time of year. What other party starts at 6:30 a.m. instead of p.m.?  What other party is over 200 years old?  What other party could any celebrity be hiding in plain sight? What other party features over 30 parades and 58 billion beads?

 

Mardi Gras preparations are under way now, and Southern Comfort will be an integral part of Mardi Gras everywhere, especially in New Orleans as always.  Southern Comfort is best enjoyed with good friends, great cocktails and the come one come all spirit of Mardi Gras.

 

This year, Southern Comfort held a global search for a Mardi Gras correspondent to capture all the fun of Mardi Gras and share it with Southern Comfort’s Facebook fans. Southern Comfort Facebook fans submitted a 30-second to 2-minute video on why they would make the perfect Southern Comfort Mardi Gras correspondent. Three finalists were selected by a Southern Comfort panel of judges based on creativity, comedic value and on-screen charisma and posted on Facebook, where Southern Comfort fans voted Catherine Newington and Amy Black to head to New Orleans to take on Mardi Gras challenges and share the fun online.

Two of the many traditions of Mardi Gras are New Orleans’ favorites – the Hurricane cocktail and Southern Comfort.  Just as the Hurricane was invented in New Orleans, Southern Comfort was created in New Orleans by local bartender Martin Wilkes (M.W.) Heron, and has gone on to become a favorite across the globe. 

 

“Mardi Gras isn’t Mardi Gras without a Hurricane cocktail,” said Phil Cusimano, Southern Comfort Global Brand Ambassador and native New Orleanian.  “While we know everyone can’t make it to New Orleans, they can still add some of the Crescent City spirit to their celebration with a Southern Comfort Hurricane.”

 

Lagniappe – A Little Something Extra

 

Mardi Gras is traditionally toasted with a beverage first created in New Orleans called the Hurricane. The SoCo® Hurricane, a combination of two New Orleans originals, is a refreshing Southern Comfort and fruit-flavored cocktail served in a unique glass.

 

SoCo® Hurricane
1 ½ oz. Southern Comfort
1 ½ oz. sweet and sour mix
1 ½ oz. orange juice
1 ½ oz. pineapple juice
Splash of grenadine

Fill a hurricane glass, or whatever glass you have on hand, with ice. Add all ingredients to glass and stir. Garnish with an orange wedge and cherry. If you are making it for your group of friends, mix a batch in a pitcher in advance. Pour over an ice-filled glass and serve responsibly immediately.

 

Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Fat Tuesday always precedes Ash Wednesday, but can fall anywhere from February 3 to March 9. The floating date is always 47 days before Easter, which falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. This year, Mardi Gras will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 16.

 

Southern Comfort®, a fruit, spice, and whiskey flavored liqueur, was founded in New Orleans by bartender M.W. Heron in 1874. Today, it is sold in 100 countries around the world and continues to grow as an icon brand. Visit us at www.SouthernComfort.com and facebook.com/southerncomfort.

 

Don’t Let Your Krewe* Overdo!  Please Drink Responsibly!

Liqueur, 21-50% Alc. by Volume, Southern Comfort Company, Louisville, KY ©2010

 

*A krewe (pronounced “crew”) is a group or organization that sponsors a ball, parade or similar activity related to Mardi Gras festivities.  Krewes often have a hereditary membership.

 

 

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