Life

11 Whiskey Pairings For Everything From Bacon Cheeseburgers To Chocolate Cake, Because Sometimes Beer & Wine Aren't Enough

How I Met Your Mother’s Robin Scherbatsky and Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson's drink of choice is whiskey, and for good reason. The spirit can be deep, full-bodied, and flavorful like a Scotch, or refreshing and sippable like an Irish whiskey, served perfectly over ice or in cocktails. After drinking some fantastic spring and summer whiskey cocktails, I realized that there are plenty of whiskey pairing opportunities to make life even better. Beer and wine get all of the attention when it comes to pairings, but whiskey is just as easy to please — especially when it comes to cheese.

Check out 11 whiskey and food pairings, all of which pack a punch of flavor to compete with and complement the intensity of the spirit. From salty bacon to sweet chocolate, I’ve got you covered.

Image: I Am a Food Blog

by Alyse Whitney

Cheese, Please

Whiskey of all sorts goes with intense flavors like Stilton, sharp aged or smoked cheddar, or gouda. If you don’t want to just put together a cheese plate, indulge in slightly-guiltless baked macaroni and cheese balls from Averie Cooks with any cheese that you love.

Image: Averie Cooks

Boozy Brunch

A little sweet and a little savory: these bacon cinnamon rolls from How Sweet It Is would go great with a spring or summer Irish whiskey cocktail.

Image: How Sweet It Is

Dip It Good

Even Ron Swanson would appreciate this bacon double cheeseburger dip from Closet Cooking that is loaded with extra meat. If you don’t have a grill, this can still taste like a summer backyard BBQ indoors while you’re drinking some Scotch whiskey.

Image: Closet Cooking

Burgers Galore

For that punch of flavor, grill up a gorgonzola burger from Foodie Crush and top it with smoky Adobo Ketchup. Your taste buds will thank you while you drink a whiskey alongside a big ol’ burger.

Image: Foodie Crush

Grilling & Chilling

Grilled meats are whiskey’s best friends, and pork tenderloin is an easy thing to grab at the store for an impromptu cookout. Try grilled balsamic-garlic crusted pork tenderloin from Kitchen Confidante — it can be grilled or roasted in the oven.

Image: Kitchen Confidante

Steak Out

A perfectly grilled steak is always a great complement to whiskey of any sort, but if you want to stretch your dollar, try steak and egg sandwiches from I Am A Food Blog. Your breakfast for dinner just got super fancy.

Image: I Am a Food Blog

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Take your nachos from the ballpark to your kitchen with nacho taters from Budget Bytes. This is a real deal meal — though you could pile the same toppings on chips if you make extra — and goes best with an Irish whiskey cocktail that goes down as smooth as a beer would.

Image: Budget Bytes

Fishing For Compliments

Aside from the classic fish and chips, you could go for something a little fancier like roast cod wrapped in prosciutto from Natasha’s Kitchen. Whiskey loves meat, so any chance to make something a little more decadent creates a more balanced pairing.

Image: Natasha’s Kitchen

Sweet Treats

A dark whiskey would pair perfectly with this butterscotch caramel peach cobbler from Parsley, Sage, and Sweet. It strikes a balance with sticky sweetness and freshness from the peaches.

Image: Parsley, Sage, and Sweet

Chocoholics Anonymous

These chocolate banana brownie batter cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake — say that three times fast! — would be loved by Elvis, and pair perfectly with whiskey because they’re rich and decadent. Sip on a little Scotch after you have a few bites, or try a quick shot of Irish whiskey first.

Image: Your Cup of Cake

Whiskey Squared

Want some whiskey with your whiskey? Try whiskey, caramel, marshmallow, and bacon bark from Endless Simmer for a unique sweet that will wow your guests (or fill you up for the day when you eat the whole tray).

Image: Endless Simmer

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