Best Snacks to Pair with Whiskey

We know you probably enjoy that glass of whiskey all on its own, but sometimes a little snack snack while drinking our favorite amber-colored spirit is nice. Or maybe you’re hosting an upcoming whiskey tasting and not sure what food to serve? Don’t worry! We break down the best snacks to serve with whiskey so you’re  sure to thoroughly enjoy both the food and drink.

Best Snacks to Serve with Whiskey (when whiskey is the star)

If you want to focus completely on the taste and flavor of your whiskey, then you’ll want a simpler snack to serve alongside your cocktail. Some of our favorite simple snacks to serve with whiskey include:

• Salted crackers. Salted crackers allow the whiskey drinker to cleanse the pallet (especially helpful if you are doing a whiskey tasting). The texture of a cracker is in direct juxtaposition with the smoothness of the whiskey, making any plain cracker an excellent snack that won’t overpower the flavor and uniqueness of the spirit.

• Dark chocolate. Chocolate and whiskey complement each other well. If you’re drinking high-quality, strong whiskey, focus on darker chocolate instead of the sweeter milk chocolate. For scotch, try tasting a little orange-flavored chocolate to help bring out the flavor of the scotch.

• Mild cheese. Cheese and whiskey are a great pairing, but if you want to focus on the whiskey – avoid gorgonzola or any strong-flavored cheese as they can overpower the whiskey. Soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese can be a better option if you really want to enjoy every flavor of your whiskey.

Whiskey & Food Pairings

If you are looking to serve food and whiskey, without one or the other being the star, your menu should complement the flavors of the whiskey you are drinking. While there are many foods that pair well with whiskey, here are some of our favorites:

• Dried Fruits and Nuts. Nuts and fruits are always a great snack. But be careful with the types of nuts you are serving. More bitter nuts, like walnuts or brazil nuts, go well with sweeter whiskies. While sweeter nuts, like pecans or pistachios, go well with peaty, strong whiskey.

• Grilled Steaks. If you’re looking to serve dinner with your whiskey, a safe choice is always grilled steak. The strong, bold flavor of whiskey goes well with beef and the smoky taste of grilled meat complements the smoky flavor of the spirit. Be careful with your seasoning on the steak to make sure it doesn’t conflict with the specific whiskey you’re serving.

• Smoked Salmon. If you’re serving bourbon or rye whiskey, you may want to focus on smoked salmon. Smoked salmon goes great with bourbon, giving the spirit a fruity and spicy flavor.

• Apples. While we already talked about chocolate and whiskey pairing well together, consider also the sweet flavor of apples – especially apple pie for dessert! If bourbon whiskey is your drink, then apple pie is a perfect dessert. The carmelly flavor of bourbon pairs well with the tart and sweet apple pie.

• Bonus. I love Peanut M&Ms with our Straight Bourbon Whiskey!

Whatever you choose to eat with your whiskey, make sure that you check the bottle. Most distilleries include information about the flavor profile for the whiskey, such as “notes of apple” or “notes of smoke and cherries”. This can help guide you to picking the right food with the whiskey you enjoy!

Cheers!