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Top 7 Foods that Pair Beautifully with Whiskey

Traditionally, pairing eatables with whiskey was considered unconventional in the United States until now.

Top 7 Foods that Pair Beautifully with Whiskey
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There’s always been a controversy as to whether or not whiskey is an appropriate drink to pair with food, but the popularity of the idea of pairing whiskey with food is growing. Interestingly, traditionally, whiskey was always enjoyed on its own, i.e., without any food, and having it with food was considered uncommon. Though it was standard practice to have something to eat with whiskey in European and Asian countries, it remained a little unconventional in the United States until now.

However, thanks to the connoisseurs pairing foods that go exceptionally well with this divine amber-colored liquid that comes in many forms- whisky, Bourbon, Scotch, or Rye- it is slowly gaining popularity in the United States, too. To pair whiskey with food, you should have a basic idea of the classes and types of this spirit. The whiskey flavor varies from light to full-bodied, from a touch of sweetness and fruit, with citrus notes, to more complex and bold, with strong peat, earthy and smoky notes.

According to the flavors, food is paired with whiskey, so neither the whiskey nor the food dominates or overwhelms the flavors of the other. Instead, they should complement each other’s tastes and help elevate the experience.

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For example, Bourbon has a hint of vanilla and caramelized sweetness, which goes well with foods with this caramelized component. The general rule of thumb is that light whiskeys go well with seafood and spicy meals, medium whiskeys go well with high-protein meals, and full-bodied whiskeys go well with hearty dishes containing high-fat content.

Here are the top 7 foods that go along well with different types of whiskeys
Top-7-Foods-that-Pair-Beautifully-with-Whiskey

Credit: Assembly

Top-7-Foods-that-Pair-Beautifully-with-Whiskey

Credit: Assembly

1. Dark Chocolate

Chocolate and whiskey complement each other. Instead of choosing sweet, sugary chocolate, go for good-quality dark chocolate bars. Experiment with chocolate and its recipes here. Mix and match until you find the perfect match for your spirit. Dark orange-flavored chocolate is an excellent choice to experiment with scotch, as the citrus note in scotch will enhance the chocolate’s orange flavor. Plain dark chocolate goes well with strong whiskey. Milk chocolate, plain or with a hint of ginger or chili, works well with rye whiskey. Salted hazelnut chocolate goes well with single-malt scotch whiskey. Meanwhile, America’s favorite Bourbon goes well with almost all kinds of chocolates.

2. Cheese

Whiskey and cheese share so many things in common. Both are aged and come in so many different flavors, which is why cheese makes such a good pairing with whiskey. Aged cheddar goes well with whiskeys having a smoky flavor, while strong blue cheese goes well with spicier whiskeys, and soft cheese, such as brie or goat cheese, goes well with light fragrant whiskeys with a touch of sweetness.

3. Dried Fruits and Nuts

You can’t ever go wrong with dried fruits and nuts. Be innovative to mix and match. However, it would be best if you carefully combine the flavors. Keep in mind what flavors of nuts and whiskey complement each other. For example, sweeter nuts will go well with strong, peaty whiskeys, whereas sweeter whiskeys go well with bitter ones. Smoky-flavored whiskeys go well with heavily roasted nuts. You can also go in for a premix pack of party nuts.

4. Grilled Steaks

If it’s a dinner party and you are still deciding what to serve with whiskey, go for grilled steaks. This pairing can always go right. Steaks go very well with medium-bodied rich whiskeys. Whiskeys having rich deep, and smoky flavors work well with beef, although you need to experiment according to the tastes you are putting in your steak and its fat content. For instance, if you are going in for a leaner steak, Bourbon goes well.

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5. Meatloaf

Meatloaf goes well with strong, peaty whiskeys. The high alcohol content and spiciness of full-bodied whiskeys, like a flavorful single-malt whiskey or rye whiskey, go well with rich, fatty dishes like meatloaf. Healthy meatloaf served with barbecue sauce goes well with strong whiskeys.

6. Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon marries well with whiskeys with high rye content. The smoky flavor of the salmon gives the Bourbon a spicy, fruity taste. These two flavors complement each other well.

7. Apple Crumble or Apple Pie

This dessert goes amazingly well with light fragrant whiskeys having a touch of sweetness. It can be served with American whiskeys, such as Bourbon and whiskeys having high rye content. The caramel flavors in the Bourbon complement the apple pie exceptionally well.

You don’t have to be a food connoisseur to have whiskey parties at your home, but you should certainly know the essential flavor characteristics of the spirit you intend to serve. Play with ideas, and you’ll soon be an expert in pairing food with your favorite drink.

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