The Ultimate Guide to Whiskey and Food Pairings
Welcome to the Brother Justus Whiskey Company Ultimate Guide to whiskey and food pairings! If you’re a whiskey lover looking for a more intentional approach to up your culinary and spirits matchmaking game, these tips and tricks are for you. Delve into the rich flavors of American Single Malt Whiskeys and discovered how to enhance your dining experience with these expert pairings.
Learning to pair whiskey is not a complicated venture, but it will add a sophisticated refinement and thoughtful curation to your next happy hour soiree, dinner party, or family gathering. And, deliciousness aside, it’s also an opportunity to share your whiskey smarts with those who are eager to learn more about the complexities and wonders of this liquid gold.
Before we dive in, here are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about your pairings:
Contrast and Complement: Work with contrasting and complementary flavors to create the most balanced pairings. A sweet dessert can be expertly tempered by the notes of baking spices found in American Single Malts.
Consider Texture and Intensity: Consider the texture, mouthfeel, and intensity of both the whiskey and the food. Lighter whiskeys pair well with lighter dishes, while full-bodied whiskeys can stand up to richer foods.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: Try new combinations and experiment with flavor! You might discover an unexpected by delightful pairing that will enhance your whiskey-tasting experience.
Pairing Our American Single Malt Whiskey
Let’s start with our most popular whiskey, the American Single Malt Whiskey. Its unique flavor profile is characterized by tasting notes of butterscotch, toasted oak, caramelized fruit, and hints of spice, making it a excellent foundation for food pairings. When pairing any spirit with food, the goal is to complement, not overtake; the smooth and full-bodied nature of our American Whiskey will make menu-setting an easy, enjoyable endeavor.
Appetizers That Pair Well with American Whiskey
Aged cheeses. Think aged cheddar, Gouda, Grana Padano, Manchego, or Gruyère, whose aging process reduces the bite, offering a milder yet flavorful cheese. If we had to choose, we’d recommend Gouda with its slightly nutty, creamy notes, or Manchego, which offers a caramel-forward flavor profile that mimics the flavors found in our American Whiskey. Level up by adding an apple chutney for a touch of sweet to balance the spicy aromatics of the whiskey and cheese.
Mixed Nuts. This classic accompaniment to whiskey offers a variety of flavor and texture to complement your tasting experience. Look for sweeter nuts like sugar-coated hazelnuts, herby almonds, or toasted walnuts to add depth of flavor.
Prosciutto. Cured meats deserve a spot in every appetizer lineup, but the brine of quality prosciutto mixed with its sweet richness makes it a great partner to whiskey.
Cocktail meatballs. We aren’t going to pretend that cocktail meatballs aren’t a crowd-pleaser already, but they’re an especially formidable match for our American Whiskey because of their versatility. How you dress them determines which whiskey pairs best, but if you’re erring on the sweeter side (think honey barbecue, sweet chili, or a teriyaki glaze), our stone fruit and butterscotch notes pull the sweetness forward rather than fighting for first place on your palate.
Literally anything bacon-wrapped. Whether you go the Rumaki route (bacon-wrapped water chestnuts) or opt for a classic bacon-wrapped shrimp, the smokiness of the bacon rests easy with the oaky finish of our whiskey.
Main Dishes That Pair Well with American Whiskey
Steak. It might feel like an easy lay-up, but we can’t ignore the glory found in a perfectly cooked steak and an expertly paired whiskey. Mind the cut: less fat means less flavor, so we recommend a ribeye or sirloin for a flavor synergy that wows.
Barbecue and Smoked Meats. Fire up that grill and prepare your tastebuds for a delicious meal. The smokiness of barbecued meats matches with the salty-sweet bite of the whiskey, making this a fantastic pairing that just works. Special mention here to the VIP, smoked pork: using ham or pork chops can be a delightful match for whiskey, particularly if it has any peaty flavors, like our Cold-Peated® American Single Malt Whiskey.
Salmon. Thanks to that oak-forward char from our barrels, a grilled salmon makes a fabulous alternative to heavier barbecued proteins. Try it with a zesty lemon herb butter to complement the lightness of the salmon and oak flavors of the whiskey.
Desserts That Pair Well with American Whiskey
Chocolate. The bitter notes melt into a smooth and sweet mouthfeel that meets our whiskey more than halfway for a delightfully bold treat.
Dried fruit. One could argue our American Whiskey is a dessert in itself, with its rich and full-bodied flavor, but for that reason, dried fruit makes for a stunning sidekick. The sweetness doesn’t overpower; rather, it joins the whiskey’s carmelized stone fruit notes at center stage with graceful restraint.
Molten lava cake. For many of the same reasons chocolate on its own makes a perfect match for whiskey pairing, molten lava cake will hit the spot. If you’re hosting and want to wow your guests, molten lava cake is a great option for a dessert that will delight without being overly fussy.
Warm Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream. Vanilla ice cream adds a creamy, indulgent element that harmonizes perfectly with the fresh apple and buttery crust of the crisp and rich malty flavors present in the whiskey.
Pairings for Our Silver and Cold-Peated® American Single Malts
Have a bottle of one of our other flagship whiskeys? Try some of these bonus pairings to show off our other flavor profiles:
Our American Single Malt Silver Whiskey is a first-of-its-kind, made only from the pristine waters of the Mississippi River and rich Great Plains barley grain. Simply kissed by the barrel on its way to your glass, this full-bodied sip with a smooth finish showcases tasting notes of bright citrus, tropical fruit, and rich cacao nibs - a range of flavor unique to this unaged spirit!
Appetizer: Citrus-Marinated Shrimp Skewers - the citrus and herbal notes of the Silver whiskey are echoed in the citrusy shrimp, creating a refreshing and light appetizer pairing. Grab a citrus of your choice (we like lime with shrimp!) and mix with ginger, honey, olive oil, and cilantro to create a lush marinade.
Main Course: Grilled Chicken with Tropical Salsa - like the shrimp skewers, marinating chicken in a lime/citrus marinade and the smoked notes of the grilling process make it an excellent match for our Silver Whiskey. Top with a mango-pineapple salsa for an extra burst of tropical flavor.
Dessert: Bananas Foster with Caramel Sauce - the banana and cherry notes of the Silver whiskey are perfectly highlighted by this dessert, while the caramel sauce adds a decadent sweetness to bring out the cacao nib undertones in every sip.
Our Cold-Peated® American Single Malt Whiskey is the world’s first—and only—whiskey to feature the pure flavor of natural peat, millennia in the making. Without burning peat to smoke barley, our patent pending Aitkin County Process® captures the essence of peat, bringing forth flavors of herbal minerality, mushroom sweetness, highlights of maple and caramel, and a rich, earthy finish.
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon Canapés with Dill Cream Cheese - the peaty, earthy flavors of the whiskey complement the smoked salmon, with the dill cream cheese adds an herbaceous, lush element to balance the rich, complex whiskey notes.
Main Course: Maple-Glazed Pork Belly with Mushroom Risotto - The herbal and umami notes of the whiskey pair exceptionally well with the earthy flavors of mushroom risotto and the sweet maple of the pork belly, creating a bold pairing experience.
Dessert: Pecan Pie with Whipped Cream - highlights of maple and caramel in the whiskey are brought to center stage when enhanced by a pecan pie, while the light, airy texture of the whipped cream provides lush contrast to the whiskey’s earthy finish.
At this point, you’re a master whiskey pairing aficionado—congratulations!—but if we had to summarize in “TL:DR” fashion, just keep it simple. The incomparable smooth taste of our American Single Malt Whiskey makes a perfect pairing partner for your next special occasion or hosting engagement. Bon appétit!
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