What To Pair With Scotch - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods (2024)

FAQs

What food does scotch pair with? ›

Overall, whisky pairs best with meats, cheeses and sweet dishes. But there's no rules when it comes to whisky pairing. Try experimenting and seeing what works. Pick similar flavours or go for a contrast, pairing sweet and salty or fresh and floral.

Snacks and scotch are a match made in heaven. You'll struggle to go wrong. From pretzels and peanuts to chocolate and cheese; there's plenty of great options to graze on with a glass of whisky. But depending on how you enjoy your spirit, you might want to consider different flavours.

Food and wine pairing tips everyone should know

White wine pairings include white meat, white fish, and pasta. Red wines are best suited to red meats and desserts. Rosé wine pairings include seafood. Sparkling wines should be paired with shellfish, fruits, and cheeses.

One thing that indicates Scotch's greatness is its versatility. When you combine it on ice with a highball mixer, like soda, tea, juice, or coconut water, you get a more accessible drink without giving up flavor. co*cktails like the Scotch Old Fashioned, Penicillin or Rob Roy work well with the spirit's complex profile.

Rich fatty foods like cheese, grilled or smoked meats and fish, sweet Fall vegetables, and chocolate really do well with Scotch. While black peppery foods pair well, I would avoid more intense hot peppers; their heat would overwhelm the flavors profiles of most Scotch.

Sweet nuts like pecans, pistachios, and Marcona almonds go well with peaty, strong whiskeys. A sweeter whiskey will pair better with a less sweet nut, like Brazil nuts or walnuts. If you're looking for a companion for smokier whiskeys, try heavily roasted nuts.

Scotch is best served at room temperature

Traditionally, scotch is served with a side of spring water (tap water may interfere with the taste). Add water, if desired, little by little to your taste. If you do prefer cold scotch however, fill your glass with ice rather than adding one or two cubes.

Can you drink Scotch with co*ke? ›

A simple mix of scotch whisky and co*ke to make your Smokey Monkey sing. This easy co*cktail classic tastes like a sweet cola flavoured by a bonfire on a cold night and is the perfect refresher for those hot, late summer evenings.

I also avoid the foods that are known to fight with wine: asparagus, artichokes, oily fishes (no tuna fish sandwiches!), vinegar and pickled items. Some tasters avoid coffee and tea, which both also have a lot of tannins, before a tasting.

The general rule of thumb is to serve a wine at least as sweet or sweeter than the food being served. Sweet foods make dry wines seem over-acidic and tart. Sweet wines with a good level of acidity, such as Sauternes, are a perfect match for rich foods like pâté.

The idea of drinking whisky with food is considered outré by many, but there is a growing interest in pairing whiskies with complementary foods. The Scotch whisky industry has been keen to promote this.

Add about 2 ounces or 60ml of your choice of scotch to a glass; we highly recommend a tulip glass, but any will suffice.

If you want the best whiskey with steak, we recommend pairing your steak with Tennessee Whiskey, Canadian Rye Whiskey, or Single Malt Scotch.

From eggs to ray oysters, smoked oysters, smoked salmon, smoked almonds to black beans Meat really goes well with scotch Irrelevant of the brand Venison, fillet steak, partridge and pheasant to milk chocolate, there isn't much that doesn't taste great with a hint of smoke.