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Whiskey/Bourbon Tasting - food pairing suggestions?

I'm in the early stages of planning a whiskey/bourbon tasting.... guest list could range between 12-18/20 people. I've never held such an event. Wine and cheese tasting, no problem... but whiskey/bourbon? is a bit out of my comfort zone.

Any thoughts of what would pair well with misc. whiskey/bourbons and/or what I should have on hand for such an event?

Thanks in advance!

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  1. Presumably this is in the evening and you're looking for small bites?

    1 Reply
    1. Never done it with bourbon, but I had a meal of UK foods paired with Scotch. I loved the lighter one, a Dalwinnie, with lamb chops, a Lagavulin with something heavier i cannot recall, and a Macallan 21 with bread pudding. iMHO bourbon has not got the range of Scotch, but I have not tried them all. That new blue corn and some of the new ones coming out of the West Coast might have more range, but to me most Kentucky bourbons, while nuanced, are not as strikingly different as a Highland and an Islay or a pinot Gris and a grand old cabernet.

      1. I am from Ky so bourbon is pretty common at our events...ok it's a must.
        Some thoughts...
        Cheese straws
        Pimento cheese bites
        Beaten biscuits with a sliver of country ham or country ham mixed into a fluffier biscuit
        Corn pudding on a appetizer spoon
        Scallops are great with bourbon
        Pulled pork on little rolls
        Blue cheese is excellent with bourbon
        Butter type lettuces
        Deviled eggs
        Grits with cheese
        Carmelized onion pizza or flatbread
        Mac and cheese bites

        Bacon bacon bacon

        3 Replies
        1. re: LaLa

          Couldn't have said it better myself.

          1. re: LaLa

            Dang those all sound good. BTW scallops and country ham pair well, and I have not yet had an experience that wasn't at least harmonious with if not enhanced by bourbon except for maybe a long bike ride on a hot day.

              1. First of all: What a great idea for an event.....

                Your tasting menu screams BEEF - there's a very recent thread about Beef Crostini, I think, It would go very well for your tasting - some combination of grilled beef, carmelized onions and blue cheese?

                Pork & Bacon must also be on this Menu [Emphasis Added].

                Pulled pork with one of the whiskey's made into the sauce? as a slider or on a small biscutt would be a very nice bite.

                (You must expand on Idea's around pork & bacon ~ lest the whiskey gods will frown on you! This couldn't be good).

                4 Replies
                1. re: sparky403

                  Did an open faced sandwich recently that was sourdough topped with thin sliced flat iron, nice and rare, topped with roasted tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, and a drizzle of EVOO...I'd recommend it paired with a very solid bourbon, like a Knob Creek or Bookers. For finger foods I am addicted to blue cheese truffle French fries.

                  You could do a slider smorgasbord. Buns with an array of sliced smoked brisket, pulled pork, pepper bacon, and grilled sliced brats and assorted toppings like grilled onions, different cheeses, chili sauce, different mustards, etc. Put out an array of bourbons that are very different like an EW single barrel, a Four Roses small batch, a Booker's, and a Rip Van Winkle. Give folks index cards and pens to make comments on the best pairings. This is turning into one of my favorite threads and making me think about my half bottle of Willlett at 9:50 a.m.

                  1. re: tim irvine

                    Love the slider smorgasbord idea! Tons of flexibility with a central food 'theme'....

                  2. re: sparky403

                    I'm guessing the whiskey gods are definitely NOT vegetarian! ;)

                    1. re: The Oracle

                      You are correct sir:-) - to my knowledge the whisky Gawds are a meat loving lot.