We’re all pretty familiar with wine and beer pairing at this point. Countless fondue parties, wine and cheese picnics, and beer samplers have taught us that much. But we’re in a more sophisticated situation here: what the heck do we pair with our Cosmopolitan? No worries, you may have all the questions, but we’ve got all the answers.
First Things First: The Basics of Pairing Apps and Alcohol
1. Lead With the Appetizer
Odds are, you know what kind of food you want to serve. Start there. From that point, use the flavor notes in the appetizers to guide your cocktails. Perhaps you’re creating a hummus with lots of olive oil — complement the smooth taste of the chickpeas and oil with something fresh, fruity, and zesty.
2. Mix, Don’t Match
If you’re making a spicy appetizer, don’t match those notes with your cocktail choice. Instead, mix it with a cooling complementary flavor — mellow cucumber, watermelon, and other calming notes are popular choices with zesty apps.
3. Let the App Shine
You never want to have competing flavors in the mouth — more, the drink should be the appetizer’s wingman. It shouldn’t steal the show, but it definitely needs to be there. The rule stands whether you have a light or heavy app — the cocktail should be lighter. While a whiskey wouldn’t pair well with fresh oysters (too heavy), it would be perfect with a BBQ dish that makes the whiskey the lighter fare on the table.
Okay, We Get It — Show Us the Recipes!
Fruit + Smoke
The app: Bruschetta + smoky cheese and jam
The cocktail: Rum + citrus
The bread and smoky cheese are complemented by the drink’s citrus notes.
Bright + Zesty
The app: Salmon + lemon
The cocktail: Gin + bubbles
The spicy cured salmon with a touch of lemon juice provide the perfect zesty kick to your classic G and T.
Tart + Sweet
The app: Pear + fig
The cocktail: Whiskey + sugar
The tartness of the pear complements the whiskey perfectly without overpowering it.
Need more inspiration? Check out this handy flavor chart!
