You probably already know that red wine works great with beef, that pairing wine with cheese is truly a special delicacy for your palate, that gourmet appetizers taste the best when topped off with white wine, and so on. But if you want to explore your food and drink pairings a bit further, why not venture into the world of cocktails? The right blend of beverages can truly elevate the taste of keenly prepared dishes. So, let’s see what’s in store for your future foodie escapades.
Whiskey Sour goes great with salads
You may be surprised to learn this, but partnering whiskey and citric juices blended with your salads is a rather delicious way to enjoy your leafy greens without having the two of them compete against each other in taste. A Whisky Sour is a well known and loved cocktail made with citrus, whiskey, and sugar, and you can even add an egg white to top it all off if you’re so inclined. The cocktail will match any salad-type dish perfectly.
Crave some lobster bisque? Pair it with the Old Fashioned!
The good ol’ Old Fashioned may be quite simple in terms of cocktails, as it really only requires whiskey and sweeteners, but it can bring out a whole new range of flavors from the creamy lobster bisque. The soup itself is rather pleasant without being overbearing to your taste buds, and these sweet notes of the dish are precisely the reason why the bitterness of Old Fashioned can make things really exciting for all of you foodie adventurers.
Mix the sweet and salty with Margaritas and grill
It’s perfectly fine to pair your favorite refreshing beer with the grilled foods of your choice, but if you’ve been thinking whether there’s something more to get from the much-loved hot dogs and burgers, think in the direction of sweet Margaritas. It might be a challenge to accept the mix of sweetness and saltiness at first, but once you try this pairing, you’ll be bringing the shaker, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice to all of your BBQ gatherings. In this case, opposites really do attract.
Feel the taste of China with a glass of delicious Mai Tai
Chinese food can be eaten in a restaurant, but if you’re up for a cozy night in, then ordering takeout can be a perfect way to treat yourself. And in case you feel like having a cocktail, then look no further than Mai Tai, a delicious drink that combines unique flavors or rum, orange, and a few different liqueurs. If you’re looking to prepare some Mandarine cuisine recipes, then this cocktail will go great with many dishes, but mainly sesame chicken, so feel free to give it a try.
Tone down the greasiness of fried foods with the Kentucky 75
If you’re a cocktail enthusiast, you have probably already heard of and possibly even tasted the French 75, which is a rather refreshing mix of gin, champagne, sugar, and lemon juice. But you can spice things up a bit much like the professionals in mixology and switch the gin with bourbon to create the vibrant Kentucky 75. Pairing Champagne with fried foods is already a delight for your palate when you want to tone down the fat and greasiness, but with a touch of bourbon and citrus added to the mix, you can count on elevated flavors of the otherwise common fry-up.
Brighten up your chili meal with a Highball
It’s true – beating the beer and chili combo is rather difficult. But that’s just because the bubbles in the beer match so well against the spiciness of the chili. In that respect, you can’t go wrong with boosting your dose of bubbles with a cocktail such as Highball. A burst of bubbles and added saltiness will effectively brighten the heaviness of your chili dish. What’s more, Highball is rather low in alcohol, which means that you can treat yourself to a couple of more sips than usual as you enjoy your food.
Vieux Carre is the best companion to heavy meats
Not quite sure about Vieux Carre? This is a staple cocktail recipe that originated in New Orleans. Not many people know how to make it though. Essentially, you’ll need 4 dashes of aromatic bitters, 2 tsp of Benedictine, and ¾ oz of sweet vermouth, cognac, and rye whiskey. Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass and stir them with ice. Then proceed to strain the mix into the cocktail glass and garnish it with a maraschino cherry or lemon peel if you want. This particular cocktail is a must-have when you’re consuming heavy meat dishes. The spirits and bitters of the cocktail cut through the heaviness of meat in the most unexpectedly delicious manner.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to pick your favorite cocktail and food pairings and try them out for yourself. Bon Appétit!
