Today, women represent 30% of American whiskey drinkers, which means this liquor is a staple in many households’ cabinets. It was previously viewed as a man’s drink, but not anymore.
With this shift in attitude toward whiskey, we’re also seeing a change in how and when it’s consumed. For example, you’d typically drink whiskey on its own after dinner as a way to kick back and relax. But nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see it served with food too!
Do you now want to do your own food pairings with whiskey? Then read on to find out more about what you should (and shouldn’t) do.
Stay on the Beaten Path
When you’re first starting out, the best pairings are the ones people have done time and time again. To start you off, here are some foods you can serve with your whiskeys.
Cheese
You usually hear of people having wine with cheese, but these savory snacks go well with whiskey too. There’s a whole world of cheese out there, meaning the flavor and texture profiles are endless.
Another benefit of choosing cheese is that you can find a wealth of information about every type easily. Simply go online, and you’ll find lengthy descriptions of the cheeses you’re interested in. From there, you can pair the perfect one with the type of whiskey you’ve got on hand.
Desserts
Considering whiskey’s high alcohol content, it doesn’t seem like desserts would be a good pairing. However, you’d be surprised at how well they go together!
This is because whiskey’s sweeter nature complements a slice of cake or pie. This is especially true if you go with a dryer whiskey, such as a peated Scotch or American rye. All the flavors will come together to create a symphony in your mouth!
Smoked Meat
If you’re creating a cheese platter, why not throw some smoked meats on there as well? Taking a sip of a high-quality whiskey will bring out the smokiness, especially if you go with a peated choice. But any full-bodied whiskey will marry well with smoked meats.
On that note, smoked salmon goes well with whiskey too; you’ll want to opt for a rye here.
Oysters and Tartares
People often eat luxurious meat and seafood with top-shelf alcohol, and whiskey fits in perfectly here. Pick any of the top 20 smoothest Scotch whiskeys, and it’ll be an exquisite experience when you slurp down an oyster (or two), then sip some smooth whiskey after.
You can do this with tartares too. You should savor every bite anyway, so introduce your whiskey’s flavor as a bonus in between each one.
What You Should Avoid
If you don’t want to stay on the beaten path, then it’s ok to be adventurous. While everyone’s palate is different, and there’s no wrong way to serve your food pairings, there are still some things you should avoid to make the most of your culinary experience.
Don’t Completely Overlap Flavors
Complementing notes are key to matching foods with whiskey, but don’t overdo things. If the flavors totally overlap one another, then you’ll barely taste the difference between the two.
This can be a waste of your whiskey. You want the food to enhance the whiskey’s flavor (and vice versa), not mirror one another.
Serving the Whiskey Neat or on the Rocks
Drinking whiskey neat or on the rocks allows you to fully enjoy the alcohol’s notes and flavors. However, if you’re having food with it, you don’t always need such a strong drink, especially if the type overpowers the food.
A good alternative is having a whiskey cocktail, such as a highball. This brings the alcohol content down so you can indulge in everything without getting too tipsy quickly. The bubbles in some cocktails add a nice touch too!
Other Things to Consider
The above sections give you a basic understanding of what you should and shouldn’t pair with whiskey. However, there are many types of whiskey, so there’s bound to be exceptions to the rules.
Below are some other things to keep in mind.
Regions
Not only is it fun to pair whiskeys and foods with one another based on their regions, but it also makes sense.
For instance, if you’ve got Scotch whiskey, then serve it with smoked salmon that comes from the area. Or if you have American bourbon, it’ll be satisfying to drink with good old barbecued meat.
Textures
Many people focus on the flavor profiles of whiskey and food, but forget about the textures.
In general, pair richer and creamier whiskeys with dishes that have cream or butter in them. On the flip side, save your lighter whiskies for lighter and more refreshing dishes.
Small Pours
If you’re not sure which is the best food that’ll go with your whiskey, then start with small pours. That way, if the pairing doesn’t go as you thought it would, you can try another without wasting the already-poured liquor or getting drunk too fast.
If you have guests over, you can even have them bring their favorite whiskeys so you can have little tasters to experiment with the dishes you whip up.
Try These Whiskey Food Pairings
Experimenting with whiskey food pairings can be fun, especially if you’ve never done it before.
Now that you know a little more, you won’t have to go to a restaurant or swanky bar to experience outstanding pairings either. Instead, you can play around with your whiskey bottles and items in your fridge. Once you’ve figured things out, you can be an excellent host when you have people over for drinks!
For more about alcohol pairings, take a look at the rest of our blog page now.
