Unlocking Its Full Potential: How To Pair Whisky The Right Way

Whisky’s good on its own – but you know what makes it even better? An unreal pairing that elevates your drinking experience to new heights. With so many options to choose from (hello, single malts, blends, and more), being able to pair your favourite tipple correctly will open you up to endless possibilities.
Do you want to be the talk of the town and suddenly become everyone’s personal whisky connoisseur? Then keep reading to find out the best food and drink pairings for your next whisky tasting.
Pairing whisky and food
Whisky is an excellent drink to pair alongside food. Anyone who says it’s better as an after-dinner drink just hasn’t found the right plate to pair it with yet! Here are some of the most common options to try:
Whisky and cheese
Whisky and cheese have been around for decades, but there’s a good reason for that! Wine and cheese is so out, and whisky has replaced it to bring out the strongest flavours of your favourite cheeses.
- Smoky whiskies: Best served with bold and brash cheeses like blue and stilton.
- Fruity whiskies: Perfect for creamier, milder cheeses like brie or goat’s cheese.
Whisky and seafood
Seafood comes with a gentle flavour palette that’s unique enough to pair perfectly with all kinds of whiskies. Some people swear by combining the whisky with seafood shells, like pouring it straight into oyster shells and drinking it like a shot. We bet your guests will have never tried that one before!
- Smoky whiskies: Salmon or oysters are always a winner with light yet bold whiskies.
- Fruity whiskies: If you’ve got a more delicate whisky on the menu, you can’t go wrong with sushi.
Whisky and chocolate
Another classic, you simply can’t go wrong with whisky and chocolate. Whisky is a perfect after-dinner treat, but don’t wait for dessert to be over to crack open the bottle – try out this combination instead.
- Smoky whiskies: Dark chocolate all the way!
- Fruity whiskies: Light and milk chocolate are creamier to compliment these gentle notes.
Whisky and spicy foods
Spicy foods are hot and electrifying; whisky’s warm and complex. Add them together and you get a great food/ drink pairing – that’s just maths.
- Smoky whiskies: Smoky whiskies are perfect for Mexican, Thai, and Indian foods – bonus points if your whisky’s also spiced.
- Fruity whiskies: Perfect for contrasting against lightly spiced dishes like curries and noodles.
Whisky and smoked meats
Crack out the charcuterie board, we’re having whisky and smoked meats! The strong and bold flavours of whisky only heighten everything that makes smoked or grilled meats amazing, elevating both your food and drink choice to new levels.
- Smoky whiskies: Perfect if you want to define and elevate the character of your chosen meat.
- Fruity whiskies: These can create a lovely contrast that makes your taste buds sing a merry tune.
Pairing whisky and other drinks
You might be thinking, ‘If I already have one drink, why do I need another?’, and our answer would be – just you wait and see. Pairing whisky with another drink is an incredible eye-opener and lets you explore the dram in a load of exciting, new ways.
Whisky and beer
Whisky and beer is a combination that’s been around forever, so if you haven’t tried it yet, let this be your sign! There are so many beers and whisky combinations to choose from, walking into this world is an amazing experience for any spirit lover out there. Get your family and friends on board, experiment, and most importantly have fun!
- Smoky whiskies: Choose a stout or porter to enjoy the perfect blend of dark, rich flavours.
- Fruity whiskies: An IPA, Saison, or wheat beer are really going to shine against the lighter, fruitier flavours.
Whisky and coffee
You’ve probably heard of this pairing as well – and for good reason. You can either mix them or drink them alongside each other, depending on whether you’re in the mood for an Irish coffee or not!
- Smoky whiskies: Espresso. Enough said.
- Fruity whiskies: Lighter, creamier coffees like the humble latte or cappuccino.
Whisky and wine
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you – whisky and wine can actually go really well together! There are many pairings that just make sense, like port wine with port-cask whiskies and sherry with sherry-cask options, but really, your possibilities are endless here.
- Smoky whiskies: Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec are unreal with a classic rye whisky.
- Fruity whiskies: Pinot noir! Riesling! Zinfandel! Anything fruity – the list goes on.
Final thoughts
And there you have it – so many new food and drink pairings for you to try at your next get-together or soirée. You can check out The Whisky Club to find your next favourite whisky that you can try with one of the pairings we’ve mentioned today.