Whisky and Chocolate Pairing Guide

One of the best things about tasting whisky is indulging in the different layers and flavours that marvellously develop in our drams.

It’s a mindful yet voluptuous exercise of the senses, ultimately becoming a delightful treat.

Why not double the fun and enjoyment by pairing your whiskies with the other quintessential treat – chocolate?

There is a world of possibilities in combining the two delicacies. There is joy and entertainment to be found in mixing, matching, experimenting and finding new great combinations to give our taste buds a good party.

With Easter approaching and a lot of chocolate in the air, we thought we’d share some pairing ideas to help you get started on this flavour discovery journey.

Fresh & fruity with white chocolate

Foto: Glasgow Distillery Company

The creaminess and sweetness of white chocolate pair wonderfully with a whisky that can enhance its sugary aspect whilst cutting through its buttery richness and giving a more balanced flavour.

Try Glasgow Distillery’s The Original 1770 with white honeycomb truffles.

Smooth & Complex with raspberry & dark chocolate

A silky, balanced and layered whisky that presents some delicately sweet notes and other fresher flavours, such as orchard fruits, would instead pair very nicely with an elegant mix of dark chocolate and raspberry (or other forest fruits!). This mix of acidity and sweetness will give the notes in your dram an exceptional boost.

Try Auchentoshan Three Wood and raspberry & dark chocolate teacakes.

Peaty & Coastal with salted caramel milk chocolate

Foto: Diageo

The waves of the oceans we recall in certain maritime and smoky whiskies will find a new dimension when paired with a very thick and dark chocolate or a salted caramel chocolate bar. The caramel will smooth out the fierce smoke and iodine, but the salt will tune nicely with the seaweedy notes.

 Try: Talisker Storm with Salted caramel chocolate homemade bars

Sweet & Spicy with 85% dark chocolate

If you have a sweet tooth and want to find the full flavours of a rich Christmas cake in your whisky, with plenty of syrupy dried fruits and a lovely prickly spiciness already in the mix, why not try and pick a high-quality concentrate of dark chocolate? The richness and mouth-coating feeling of a perfect and pure chocolate bar (anything over 75%) will marry the round elements of the whisky and give you a shiver of delight.

Try Aberlour A’bunadh with an 85% dark chocolate bar from a small-batch chocolatier.

Rich & Smoky and chilli dark chocolate

Foto: Glasgow Distillery Company

If you like the smoke to match a rich, dried fruit sweetness in your whisky, why not add a kick to it by pairing it with a touch of spice?

A smoky yet sweet dram will go marvellously with chilly chocolate, and you’ll soon be too busy and lost in this swirl of senses.

Try Glasgow Distillery 1770 Rich & Smoky with chilly chocolate clusters.  

We hope we have left you craving some good whisky and delicious chocolate. Have a great Easter break, and see you around!

Slàinte Mhath