Best Food and Whiskey Pairings
With every passing day, more trends come and go in the wonderful world of alcohol – including pairing whiskey with food. Although not all whiskey enthusiasts are not a fan of this and prefer to drink them straight, a lot of whiskey connoisseurs have found the most divine combinations that could be your next favorite pairings too.
- Dark Chocolate
If there’s one food that’s meant to be paired with whiskeys, it’s dark chocolate. They’re a match made in heaven! The flavors of spiced, intense and full-bodied whiskeys like the Dewar's 12YO get enhanced with the bitter notes of dark chocolate. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try them with dark chocolate mixed with chili!
- Cheese
What’s two things that taste better with age? Well, aside from wine, you’ve got whiskey and cheese! If you’re into medium-bodied whiskeys like the Glenrothes Whisky Maker's Cut, then you’re in it for a treat as they’re versatile in terms of cheese pairings. For starters, you can try it with a French cow’s milk cheese like Comté cheese.
- Dried Fruit and Nuts
If you want to play safe, dried fruits and nuts are your best pals in pairing your whiskeys with food. Especially if you’re into American whiskeys like the Buffalo Trace, its notes of brown sugar and cinnamon guarantees that it can go well with dried figs and dates any time. For smoky whiskeys like the Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth on the other hand, heavily roasted nuts are a must.
- Grilled Meat
Whether you’re the host or a guest of a barbeque night, you can never go wrong with a pairing of juicy grilled meat and smoky whiskeys such as the Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask. The flavors of the red meat harmonize with the smoky and earthy notes of this single malt whisky. A perfectly balanced and quite complex drink is meant to be complimented with the right cut of meat grilled to perfection.
- Smoked Salmon
When you combine the goodness of a smoked salmon and the intense flavors of rye whiskeys, you’d be surprised as you get a delicious spicy, fruity taste from your drink. With dense flavors from whiskeys such as the Benchmark No. 8, you would need rich, smokey and savory flavors from your dish to be able to compliment it with grace.
- Sushi
One trick with light-bodied whiskeys is that they naturally pair well with a lot of seafood! Pair your favorite sushi and sashimi with Hakushu! It’s a light gold Japanese whisky with aromas of peppermint, melon, cucumber and grapefruit – perfectly complementing the mild flavors on your plate. You can even try it with prawns and scallops too!