If you’re searching for the best liquor and food pairing ideas for parties, look no further than Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits. We offer an immense, diverse selection of liquors, beers, and wines, so we can help you fully stock your bar and prepare for the ideal drink offerings to accompany your menu.
When planning an important event, you can be sure that the food and drinks will either be a flop or they’ll be the star of the show. Making sure that the two complement one another is critical to a successful gathering, so read on to discover how you can best match your menu to your liquor order.
CONSIDER FLAVORS
When choosing food and liquors that go well together, consider whether you want to parallel the flavors to enhance them or highlight one or the other through contrast. You can balance a heavy drink with light fare and a lighter drink with richer, heavier foods. Spicy, refreshing, sour/salty, and sweet are contrasting components that pair well. Alternatively, you may pair a cocktail with a food that has a shared ingredient, like citrus or herbs.
Using this guide, plan your liquor selections:
- Whiskey – Fatty foods to control the burn – cheese, pepperoni, nuts, etc.
- Gold Rum – Chicken tenders
- Dark Rum – Burgers and pulled pork
- Tequila – Dishes with citrus ingredients
- Vodka – Pickled foods, creamy cheeses, multigrain breads
- Gin – seafood
We suggest you speak with the Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits team. Relate your planned menu to us, and we can make some suggestions.
As you plan your party, ensure that you have pre-dinner snacks and drinks and appropriate drink options to accompany the planned meal.
SNACKS + COCKTAILS
Pair Mixed Nuts, Pretzels, and Corn Nuts with a Paloma
Paloma
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Patron Tequila
- 2 oz. grapefruit juice
- 2 oz. sparkling water
- ½ oz. lime juice
- ¼ oz. simple syrup
- Coarse salt for the glass’s rim
- Ice
- Grapefruit wedge
Instructions:
- Prepare the glass by salting the rim – rub the grapefruit wedge on the glass’s edge and then dip the edge into salt.
- Combine tequila, grapefruit, sparkling water, lime juice, and simple syrup in the glass. Stir gently.
- Add ice.
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Cajun Nuts, BBQ Chips, and Popcorn with a Paper Plane
Paper Plane
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Jack Daniels bourbon
- 1 oz. Aperol
- 1 oz. Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
- 1 oz. lemon juice
Instructions:
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker, followed by Jack Daniels, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice.
- Shake thoroughly until chilled.
- Strain into a serving glass.
Charcuterie with Dried Fruit, Salami, Prosciutto, Toasted Nuts, and Aged Cheese with a Gin and Tonic
Gin and Tonic
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Botanist Gin
- 4 oz. tonic water
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a serving glass with ice.
- Add the gin.
- Top with the tonic water.
- Gently stir and garnish.
With these ideas for pairing liquor and food for parties and the inventory here at Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits, you’ll be well-prepared to welcome your guests. We welcome you to our liquor stores in George Town, West Bay, Seven Mile Beach, Savannah, East End, Frank Sound, Edgewater Way, and Cayman Brac. Click here to pose questions regarding your beer, liquor, or wine needs here on Grand Cayman.
