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What are the best holiday pairings of Whiskey and the Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts so many of us look forward to each year? The opinions are as various and diversified as the thousands of different bottles of Whiskey to be found in the wide world. So we have perused many of them to bring you the highlights and most salient observations of what particular variations of the original Scottish Aqua vitae will best accompany your holiday table.
1. Lets’ Talk Turkey
As Whiskey Reviewer writes, “The classic core of Thanksgiving dinner is turkey with a side of bread stuffing. Some people go with ham to change things up a bit, vegetarians often make a roast tofurkey, and the gourmet-inclined might make something more chic, but there is a reason it’s called Turkey Day.” They weren’t just whistling Dixie either, but speaking of Dixie, most outlets will tend to recommend a solid Bourbon to pair with the typical core protein of the American Thanksgiving and/or Christmas meal with Chef Zak Walters, chef and co-owner of the critically acclaimed Salt’s Cure restaurant recommending Black Maple Hill Bourbon. Calling it “stiff and spicy,” or George Dickel No. 12. Men’s Journal swung instead toward Wild Turkey Master’s Keep One. Wild Turkey would seem to be an obvious choice, wouldn’t it? The Journal describes “This year’s release marries mid-aged bourbons (8 to 10 years old) with 14-year-old liquid. After combining, the final whiskey is finished in a second set of new charred oak barrels.”
2. Cranberry Sauce. Difficult For Whiskey Pairings?
Westward’s Pinot Noir Cask is called for here by Men’s Journal and Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye is recommended by Vine Pair, but wow! Could you imagine a wider set of differences? Westward offers berry notes and layering of red fruit flavors while Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest Rye has oak tones of rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla, and soft peppery notes with a nose of basking spices, cereal and light wood! That kind of spread suggests that Cranberry sauce is a bit difficult to pair. (And we haven’t even touched the chunky v. smooth dilemma)
3. Get Stuffed! Or Dress It Up?
Whatever you call it, there are so many variants of stuffing/dressing, and some are served alongside Turkey, some are stuffed some are not… such to the extent that again, a pairing concept is difficult at best. Susannah Skiver Barton of MJ took a stab at it and since her family goes with Cornbread stuffing (example pictured) she recommends Balcones True Blue 100 for its thick fruit and honey flavors which would counterbalance the herbaceous bread-based stuffing nicely in our opinion. Meanwhile if like some Northeast Coastal families you enjoy Oyster stuffing (we’re looking at you Long Island) The Whiskey Wash called out “light-bodied, saline Scotch like Caol Isla or Laphroaig 10-year-old to bring out those briny flavors”
Whiskey Pairings Are Tricky But Well Worth It
People have written entire books about the proper wine pairings with different foods and the field is coming along for Whiskey quite well, but the best idea we can give is to experiment! Combine flavor profiles that you enjoy and share them with your guests just as you share everything in this wonderful season. Enjoy and eat, drink and be merry!
