Food Pairings

Choose your favorite spirit to go with any meal.

Try creating an entire meal around a favorite spirit, pulling a course from each category of the flavor chart and seasoning foods with the suggested herbs and spices. The chart is an easy reference for determining the appropriate spirit to serve with most foods for any occasion. Remember, to achieve the best balance of flavors, spirits should be served in the amount of 1-1/2 ounces.

Spirit:	GIN	VODKA	RUM	TEQUILA	BOURBON	SCOTCH
Meat, Fish, Poultry, Cheese and Nuts:	Lamb roasts and chops; poached, broiled, baked, grilled, fried and smoked fish of all types (especially salmon); cold cooked shrimp.	Meat and seafood salads; chicken; broiled, baked and pickled fish; anchovies, marinated mussels; cold cooked shrimp (especially with cocktail sauce).	Ham, pork roasts and chops; veal; broiled and baked fish, turkey and dressing. Buttery cheeses (like Havarti and Brie). Roasted nuts (especially honey roasted almonds and pecans.)	Spiced pork roasts and chops; beef; chicken; broiled, baked, grilled fish. Cheddar cheeses. Roasted nuts.	Bratwurst, kielbasa, Italian sausage, beef roasts, fried and roast chicken, duck, goose, turkey and dressing, pheasant. Cheddar cheeses, parmesan, Romano, Swiss cheese. Roasted nuts (especially pecans and almonds).	Beef roasts, broiled steaks, lamb roasts, broiled chops, duck, goose (especially with orange sauce), goose liver pâtés, pheasant. Smoked cheeses, sharp Cheddar, Stilton cheese. Roasted nuts (especially walnuts and pecans.)
Fruits, Vegetables and Salads:	Lemons, limes, oranges, blueberries, raspberries. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, fresh and cooked yellow summer squash, zucchini, string beans, spinach, broccoli, fresh green salads, cucumber salads, marinated citrus salads.	Lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, all melons, all berries. Fresh and cooked tomatoes; pickled and marinated vegetables, fresh green salads (especially with tangy dressing.)	Bananas, coconuts, grapes, pears, pine-apples, strawberries. Acorn and butternut squashes, beets, cooked carrots, sweet potatoes.	Lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, all berries. Fresh and cooked tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, fresh green salads (especially with tangy dressing.)	Dried apples, apple-sauce, peaches, prunes, raisins. Acorn and butternut squash, potatoes, creamed corn, green peas with pearl onions, candied sweet potatoes.	Cooked apples, dried apples, applesauce, bananas, oranges, prunes, raisins, Baked carrots, onions, potatoes, butternut and acorn squash, creamed corn, candied sweet potatoes.
Herbs, Spices and Seasonings:	Basil, caraway, cilantro, celery seed, cinnamon, coriander seed, dill weed, rosemary. Soy sauce, red pepper sauce.	Basil, black pepper, cardamom, cayenne pepper, celery seed, chili powder, dill weed, fennel, oregano, rosemary, tarragon. Barbecue sauce, soy sauce, red pepper sauce.	Celery seed, cinnamon, chili powder, cloves, coriander seed, cumin, garlic ginger, oregano. Almond extract, brown sugar, maple syrup, milk, cream, butter.	Chili powder, cumin, garlic. Vanilla extract, brown sugar, honey, cream, butter, barbecue sauce.	Caraway, chili powder, cloves, cumin, curry, garlic, ginger, tarragon. Vanilla extract, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, milk, cream, butter, barbecue sauce.	Caraway, cloves, cumin, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, maple syrup, milk, cream.
Special Dessert Combinations:	Orange and lime sherbets, citrus fruit cups, fresh berries.	Fruit sorbets and ices, all berries and fresh fruits.	Cheesecake, bread pudding, coconut cream pie, custards, fresh strawberries with cream.	Fruit sorbets and ices, all berries and fresh fruits.	Fruitcake, plum pudding, chocolate sauce, cakes and brownies, pecan pie, hazelnut cakes.	Apple pies and pastries, (especially with sharp cheddar cheese), custards with caramel sauce, mousses.

Brought to you by the… Distilled Spirits Council of the United States