Chocolate Orange And Scotch Whisky Mousse
This is a spectacularly tasty dessert thats big on flavour as well as being big on calories, so I recommend making the portions fairly small. Its very rich but it still works with creamy toppings like the toffee/whisky sauce recipe described later in this article.
For a top tip I suggest you serve it with a fresh pot of after-dinner coffee which will help bring out the flavours of the dark chocolate.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Scotch whisky
How to make it
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Ginger Ale Or Ginger Beer
Ginger is the perfect sidekick for whiskey, as its complexity of flavor ranges from sweet to hot, medicinal and earthy, depending on its context and concentration. A simple bourbon and ginger ale is a classic entry-level combination , while a spicier ginger beer and a toasty Irish whiskey play well in the Irish Mule. For a taste of the fiery kick fresh ginger can provide, mix up a smoky, Scotch-based Penicillin cocktail.
Whats The Best Scotch For A Scotch And Soda
From blended to single malts, any Scotch whisky can be used in a Scotch and soda, and its a fantastic option when exploring new-to-you bottles. The beauty of this drink is that you can easily tailor it to fit the whisky youre pouring at the moment. For instance, when you have a great single malt, add just a splash of premium soda, but for a casual happy hour, choose an affordable blended whisky and fill a tall glass with soda.
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How To Drink Drambuie
The scotch base makes Drambuie a perfect drink on its own. Serve it straight, on the rocks, or in an ice-filled glass topped with club soda, ginger ale, or ginger beer. It sometimes replaces the whisky in Scotch coffee and makes a wonderful dessert drink or soothing nightcap. Drambuie is also an excellent cocktail ingredient, contributing its complex flavor to a number of recipes. It’s often paired with its natural companion, scotch, though it works just as well with Irish whiskey and other styles. You will find in brandy and tequila cocktails as well.
Pairing Whiskey With Dessert
Thanks to the global craft distilling revolution, we live in a lucky age with so many available styles, flavors and variations of whiskey. For most wine drinkers wishing to pair food with their favorite drink, theres no difficulty to find an association revealing both meal and wine flavoring.
Whiskey, and especially bourbons, can relay wines in some pairings not so much obvious and can challenge with wines when sipped neat or added to with some water or ice, allowing to soften the drink. You may say whiskey lacks those food flavors born of fruit or acid, but when flavors are considered, bourbon whiskey notes range from smoky to caramel tones through honey to vanilla that will allow you a perfect ending to your diner.
Pie and whiskey
About chocolate
Though darker is not always better, vanilla, oak, smoky notes, tannin and alcohol strength support very well the strong aroma of dark chocolate. A perfect tunning of flavor arises both from chocolate and bourbon because bourbon boasts sweet aromatics found with chocolate. A dark chocolate cake, for example, will be paired nicely with Blood Oath Pact No. 4 bourbon whiskey, bringing strong oak and vanilla notes with chocolate hints.
Apple-based desserts
Creamy
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What Is Scotch Made Of
To understand what you should pair with scotch, you should first understand what scotch is made of. Scotch is made from malted barley, unlike whiskey, which is made from corn. You may have thought that scotch and whiskey are made from the same thing, but that is not the case. In order for whiskey to be classified as scotch, it must be made in Scotland from start to finish. From distillation and aging, to filtering and bottling, the entire life of scotch happens in Scotland.
What Is The Best Drink To Mix With Scotch
There are many uses for apple cider. Some complex scotch cocktails are made with an apple mixer along with other ingredients, but on a lazy day, you can drink your apple cider just as well. Like dipping apples in boozy honey, cider complements scotch well regardless of whether it is sparkling or flat.
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Dreamy Dorini Smoky Martini
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog
This cocktail by bar pro Audrey Saunders of the late Pegu Club and other seminal cocktail bars, is essentially an upgraded Smoky Martini. Saunders version is a riff on a Vodka Martini, replacing the usual dry vermouth with an Islay scotch whisky and adding a dash of Pernod. Its a dreamy Martini variation, indeed.
Edradour 10 And Gooey Brown Butter Cake
To me, Edradour tastes like a dessert as it is. So finding a pairing that makes it more perfect is incredibly hard! The sherry casking fills it with spice but also orange citrus and honey sweetness. But it has a deep nutty quality like toasted walnuts or almonds. This is what I focus on in my glass. So it makes perfect sense to pair with with a brown butter dessert! Brown butter contains a rich nutty character. And what could be a more perfect pairing Come to think of it, pretty sure someone just decided to put brown butter cake in a glass. Thats probably how Edradour was made.
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Best Peated: Talisker Distillers Edition
Region: Isla | ABV: 45.8% | Tasting Notes: Iodine, Earth, Smoke, Dried fruit
A classic Islay scotch subjected to a Highland treatment, i.e. secondary aging in Amoroso sherry butts, this bottle is, at first, big, peaty, and smoky, says Shanahan, but then, you start to see this wonderful new balance created. You get these fruit kickers coming through without being too cloying, but theyre added to the peaty notes of the scotch from the isles.
The sherry-cask fruitiness softens yet also highlights the peat, reminding you of the earthy elements in the scotch, he concludes. Dont be afraid to pair this one with food. Those heavily peated, oily, viscous scotches love seafood or meat, says Tardie. One of my favorite pairings is oysters and peated scotch.
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How Is Scotch Different From Whiskey
Scotch is a style of whiskey, and the main difference between scotch and other whiskeys is geographic. They also differ in terms of ingredients and how the word whiskey is spelled. Scotch is whisky specifically made in Scotland. It is distilled from peat-dried malted barley, which imparts its signature smoky flavor, and is either blended or single malt. Scotch also spells whisky without the e. Other whiskey styles are distilled in other parts of the world from other grains, including corn and rye.
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Best Grain Scotch: Compass Box Hedonism
Region: Scotland | ABV: 43% | Tasting Notes: Coconut, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla
A century ago, many Scottish whiskies were made with grains, including corn and wheat, but declined in popularity as big producers started focusing on single malt whiskies. Maverick whisky maker John Glaser rehabilitated it, searching out old grain barrels and blending them together in making Compass Box Hedonism.
H. Joseph Ehrmann, owner of San Franciscos Elixir Saloon and co-founder of Fresh Victor, calls it a head-turner that can open your eyes to the pleasures of grain whisky. With its coconut and caramel notes, it tastes fun, says Tardie. Glasers doing a wonderful service for blended scotch.
Region: Highlands | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Coffee, Espresso, Raisins, Cinnamon
did something innovative, says Tardie. They toasted the barley so much that they call it a chocolate malt.
Just as in beer making, where a chocolate malt adds mocha flavor to a porter or stout, this Highland scotch is rich in cocoa and espresso notes that only deepen over time. Its made from the distillerys oldest whisky35- to 40-year-old scotch, aged in American white oakwhich gives it a gravitas that Tardie appreciates. As you sip it, and as the alcohol burns off, he says, theres a strong characteristic of dark chocolate and coffee grinds.
The Finest Bottles Of Scotlands Premier Spirit From Blended To Singles Malts
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Best Single Estate:Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate at Drizly
Its honey-blossom nose leads to vanilla and roasted nuts, a delightful herbaceousness, and a hint of orange.
You can have a single malt in America, Japan, Taiwan or elsewhere, but to be scotch, it has to be made in Scotland, says Tommy Tardie, owner of New Yorks The Flatiron Room and Fine and Rare. But thats just a starting pointtheres plenty of diversity to the nations signature spirit, including single malts, which are made with malted barley, and blended scotches, whose mash bills include other grains.
The world of scotch is also evolving, with restless distillers nowadays playing around with various categories of the whisky, from heavily-peated smoke bombs to sherry-cask whiskies. Theres been a blurring of the lines in terms of flavor profiles, and theres more experimentation going on, says Pedro Shanahan, spirits guide for Los Angeles bar group Pouring with Heart. Its excitingit makes it more of an adventure for a novice who wants to start exploring scotch. From the Highlands to the isle of Islay, here are the best scotch whiskies to get you started.
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Whiskey Aroma And Flavor
Whiskeys flavor and aroma range is huge. It all depends on its type and production process, so there really isnt a standard whiskey smell or taste. For example, grains can be smoked or unsmoked. Also, many yeast and barrel types can be used, largely impacting a whiskeys aroma and flavor.To compare, bourbons are often heavy on the oak, vanilla, and caramel notes while Canadian or rye whiskey is lighter, drier, sharper, and spicier. In Irish whiskey, youll find major malt, cream, citrus, and wood flavors.That said, there is some scent and taste overlap between whiskey types since they all use some form of fermentation and distillation, grain, and cask. All of these things affect aroma and flavor.
What Do You Eat With Whiskey
Until recently, pairing foods with whiskey was a strange thought. Although it was a common practice in Europe and Asian countries, in the U.S. whiskey was most commonly drank on its own. Thanks to some whiskey connoisseurs, it’s slowly becoming a more normalized notion to eat foods while sipping whiskey. Some foods that pair nicely with whiskey include:
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Chicken With Apple And Whisky Sauce
I can already see your furrowed brow. Chicken. With apples. And whisky?
Its a weird combo I know, but let me assure you it works incredibly well, like fish and chips, bangers and mash and, erm, bananas and custard. Is that even a thing?
This is a very easy dish to make and its reasonably healthy too, especially if you serve it with a side of fresh veg.
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons of Scotch whisky
How to make it
Best Islay: Ardbeg An Oa
Wine.com
Region: Islay| ABV: 46.6% | Tasting Notes: Nuts, Stone fruit, Salinity, Smoke
The first addition to Ardbegs foundational range of scotches in a decade, this 2017 introduction is named after the Mull of Oa, a rocky peninsula on the Kilodalton coast where the distillery is located. This affordable bottle is as approachable as Islay whisky gets, thanks to the balance that the former sherry barrels bring to the salty smoke.
Theyre taking a super-peaty whisky and taming it with beautiful wine-cask, says Shanahan. Theres no age on it, but still, its brilliant. Its a great introduction to the islands style.
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Plainer Snacks To Serve With Whisky If Whisky Is The Star
High quality whiskies are incredibly nuanced, gorgeous pieces of craftmanship that can take decades, sometimes centuries to develop. You can even use those incredible flavor profiles develop your palate if you curate the right variety using a whisky subscription box.
As such, if you are hosting an event or enjoying an evening on your own that really emphasizes the distinct tasting notes of the spirit of choice: ease off the strong foods.
There are some great snacks to serve with whisky in order to create unique, powerful flavour combinations that are otherwise impossible to replicate. However, if the whisky and its tasting notes are what you are interested in, then steer clear of the Gorgonzolas, oysters, and rich and creamy sauces.
When these combinations are formed, the base notes of the whisky get melded and transformed, removing some of the magic of the original dram. In this case, we would recommend the use of plain, maybe slightly salted crackers, maybe coupled with some dark chocolate or mild cheese.
The light dairy and salty crackers make an effective textural juxtaposition to the whiskys smooth mouthfeel. This allows you to refresh your palate slightly, breaking up flavor notes and rounding off different taste experiences between trying out different drams!
Some specific whiskies, such as scotch might be complemented better with specific appetizers. Check out a list of the best appetizers to taste scotch.
The Best Whiskey Mixers
Whiskey is known for its complex depth of flavor, and can always be enjoyed neat. But when paired with other ingredients, its versatility really comes out. Whiskey can be sweet, spicy, savory, or smoky and often a good mixer can help it shine.
Granted, some mixers may suit the personalities of one kind of whiskey more than another what pairs great with a sweeter bourbon may clash with a peppery rye so feel free to check out our guides to get a sense of a particular whiskey styles character. As always, some experimentation may be in order to find what suits your taste best.
drop!
As for what mixers to choose, we polled the VinePair team for a rundown of the best, from old favorites to bolder choices. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but think of it as a foolproof guide when youre looking for easy cocktail inspiration.
Here are six of the best mixers for whiskey.
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What Is Drambuie Liqueur
Drambuie is a sweet, gold-colored liqueur with a Scotch whisky base that is accented with the flavors of Scottish heather honey, herbs, and spices. It’s produced in Scotland and has become a staple in bars across the world.
Drambuie’s popularity is largely attributed to the rusty nail cocktail in which it’s paired with scotch. The Prohibition-era cocktail took the edge off bootlegged whiskey and helped introduce U.S. drinkers to the newly imported liqueur. The fact that it was a favorite drink of the Rat Pack helped propel the rusty nail and Drambuie to the fame they retain today.
If You Are Trying To Match Whisky And Foods Match Associated Flavors Not Direct Flavor Profiles
This one goes against what seems to be common sense, surprisingly. One might think that smoked cheese, or smoked Loch Loman salmon might pair beautifully with a lovely deep, peaty, smoky whisky. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Whisky, an alcohol with literal decades behind its creation, is nothing if not bold. The smoky flavors that roll around the tasting notes of a good, aged malt or grain whisky are ones that present themselves confidently on your palate.
As such, when you try to directly match flavor profiles across whiskies and foods that share some tastes, the flavor of the food is at danger of being annihilated. Smoked salmon has some beautifully rounded and deep flavors that can be entirely washed away by the strength of a more powerful peaty whisky.
A good example of how to choose snacks to serve with whisky is to check how the associated flavors might match. Look on your bottle of whisky most distilleries will include some tasting notes that will guide you through the whiskys flavor notes.
Some whiskies might say something like notes of apple. If that is the case, think about food that pairs well with apple hard cheese, cinnamon, pork. So, a whisky like that might go perfectly with a nice pork pie or artisanal sausage roll.
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The Simple Manhattan Variation Is Improved Greatly With The Help Of Fresh Vermouth And A Good Blended Scotch
Simply a Manhattan made with Scotch whisky, the Rob Roy has been kicking around for more than a century, mixed in everything from artisan-cocktail bars to the beer-and-a-shot place down the street, and fitting in just as well at either kind of establishment.
While it’s certainly possible to screw up this drink, it’s such a simple formulation that, with just a little attention to detail, even the most distracted bartender can come up with something approachable. Be sure to use a decent blended ScotchFamous Grouse is a good, affordable blend, or you can aim for one of the higher shelves if your wallet is willing to accommodate you.
If you have any control over matters at allsay, if you’re mixing a round at hometry using fresh vermouth , and don’t forget the bitters.
In a recent issue of Esquire, drinks correspondent David Wondrich suggests ditching the typical cherry garnish and going with a lemon twist this is a fine idea, though I think a thin swatch of orange zest is particularly scrumptious in a Rob Roy.
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2 ounces blended Scotch whisky
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1 ounce sweet vermouth
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2dashesAngostura bitters
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Garnish: lemon or orange twist