Wine and cheese pair perfectly with the company. However, not everyone wants to be a wine connoisseur. There is a wide variety of spirits available in the world, and if you’re someone who wants to know more about what pairs well with whisky, you’ve come to the right place. Whisky is a stronger drink than wine. It is often more expensive and aged to a great degree before it’s served. The care that goes into its production tells us that whisky is meant to be savoured. 

It can be wildly fun to expand your palette so you can understand what foods pair well with whisky. For wine, there are charcuteries boards of crackers, cheese and deli meat. For beer, there are crudités and fried finger food that you can munch on while watching the latest sports game at the bar. However, whisky is neither as delicate as wine nor as British as beer; it’s something strong yet sophisticated. 

You can get whisky from The Whisky Club or just order something familiar too; once the drinks are sorted, you can get to the food selection. We will talk about which foods may pair with the whisky of the month and how you can take your love for whisky all the way further.

What Is Whisky?

Whisky is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. It is generally aged in wooden casks so that it can become more full-bodied. Various grains are used to make whisky, and they vary from barley to corn and rye. 

Whisky is generally a drink that people drink by itself, but the trend of pairing alcohol with food is evolving to include heavier alcohols like whisky and rum. 

How Do You Pair Food With Alcohol?

When you’re thinking about pairing food with anything, you must understand some fundamental criteria. The pairing must make sense; if it doesn’t, you’ll be left tasting something that can put you off that food or alcohol for years to come.  

The ideal pairing of food and drink is based on one of two criteria: complementary or contrasting. Within these criteria, you can’t go wrong. Both criteria are valid and stimulating, but you must ensure there’s harmony between the pairing.

Since the alcohol in question is whisky, let’s think about how you can pair it with other foods.

1. Light, fruity whiskies pair best with light seafood. Here a more raw approach is appreciated, so tartare, sushi, or sashimi can be beautiful with less-aged whiskies. You can also use lighter, less funky cheeses with these whiskies. 
2. For medium whiskys, you should opt for more gamey meat. Meats like venison, lamb, and pork can be served with a more aged whisky to create a heavenly pairing. If you’re looking for something sweeter, a Christmas fruitcake goes amazingly with a medium whisky.
3. For more full-bodied whiskys, you need more assertive flavours. Roasted duck, smoked oysters, and strong cheeses go well with the deep, rich, and well-developed flavour of an aged whisky.
4. Whiskys can also be acidic. When drinking more acidic whisky for the night, you can opt for a fattier piece of meat. If you are enjoying eating foods that are deep-fried or high in fat content like lobster, you can pair them with a more acidic whisky. 
5. Spicier food like Indian curries and Mexican food can pair well with sweeter and gentler whiskys. You want to soothe the fire in the food with the whiskys, so there’s relief on your palette rather than an assault on your tastebuds.

7 Foods You Can Pair With Whiskys

If you’re looking for individual foods that pair well with whiskys and can be arranged on a charcuterie board, we can be of help. These foods don’t require much of your preparation or time, which is why you can pair them with your whisky for a party with your friends.

1. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate and whisky pair well with each other. You shouldn’t opt for anything too sweet. Dark chocolate with greater cocoa content pairs well with whisky. Some people also like to experiment with orange-flavoured dark chocolate by pairing it with scotch.

2. Cheese 

Cheese goes well with wine, and it’s also easy to pair with whisky. Aged cheddars and cheese go well with smoky whisky, and softer cheeses go well with whiskys that haven’t been aged for too long.

3. Dried Fruits and Nuts 

You’ll have to ensure you mix and match here a little bit. If the nut is bitter, the whisky must be sweet. Roasted nuts go well with smokey whiskys. 

4. Grilled Steaks

When hosting a dinner party, you can serve whisky with grilled steaks as both are smoky. Steak is gamier meat which means it inevitably goes very well with a medium full-bodied whisky. You will need to experiment based on the cut of the meat, its fattiness, and the flavours you’ll put into the marinade. A leaner steak can go amazingly well with bourbon.

5.  Meatloaf

Not only is meatloaf an easy dinner meal to make, but it also pairs well with whisky. Stronger, more peaty whiskies go well with a fattier meat dish like meatloaf.  Add more smoke to the entire entrée by adding barbeque sauce on the meatloaf for a trifecta of smokiness. 

6. Smoked Salmon

Salmon is a sophisticated entrée, and it marries well with whiskies with high rye content. If you’re serving salmon, you could serve it with bourbon.

7. Apple Crumble or Apple Pie

As far as dessert is concerned, it’s generally paired with coffee. However, the perfume of apple crumbles and apple pies pair well with fragrant whiskies that have a touch of smoothness. Wash down a glorious apple pie with a shot of sweet bourbon whisky.

Final Thoughts

Like any other alcohol pairings, you’ll take time to develop your palette for whisky when paired with food. However, the trick is to stick to the basics of any alcohol pairing and continue challenging yourself regarding your tasting. Your best bet is to find people who are just as interested in food and alcohol as you are and experiment with different pairings so you can develop your palette.