What to eat with Whisky

Taking a moment's reflection, Franz Graf mused: | | Please tell me what's the best to eat to whisky...

Haggis, of course.

But why ruin a perfectly good malt? ;-) I can stomach most things (as it were), but haggis isn't one of them, I'm afraid!

Leaving meals aside and thinking just about a tasting session, what I would be interested in is something bland to cleanse the palate and leave it neutral. I guess it have to be something without much, if any, salt or sugar. I once had a sort of small, thin oatmeal biscuit (cookie) which I was told was the proper thing to eat (is it?) It did the job quite well, but I'd be interested in other suggestions.

Jason's suggestion is good when you are tasting several whiskies and want to pay attention to the differences between them. But some foods taste very good paired with certain types of whisky.

One very traditional food to accompany scotch is smoked salmon. Several of the organized tastings I've attended served this.

Some people have suggested pairing oysters with peaty Islay whiskies, but I haven't tried that myself.

One combination that I have tried and found very good is dark chocolate with sherried whisky - that's a very pleasant combination. Of course, I happen to like dark chocolate anyway...

Bart

I myself have tried and very much enjoyed Islay whiskies with oysters as was suggested by someone else on the group -- Lagavulin 16 is a highly recommended suggestion... if one can find a bottle of course ;o)

Another suggestion that has come up, since you like dark chocolate Bart, is that with Highland Park. Delectable. Hmmm. I wonder about a tasting devoted exclusively to pairing whiskies with fine chocolates. Could make a great Valentine's Day theme...

Johanna

my girlfriend.

you should not eat anything while drinking whiskey. whiskey should be had before and after food, but never during. when the whiskey is served it is a time for reflection, relaxation and good friends or media entertainment. allow the glow to come over you and don't spoil it with a chive stuck in your teeth or swigging a jolt of whiskey as a wash to carry food down your throat.

enjoy your whiskey before dinner. with dinner have your most favorite beer. beer after all is a kin to whiskey. it will not betray the palette and fits very well into the scheme of things. then after the food is done, choose another whiskey to contrast against the first. if the first was light go heavier, smokey after, or visa versa. listen to Yes, Close to Edge as you sip.

Is there enough to go round? (Sorry, but you asked for that!) :-)