Food pairings bring out the elegant side of whiskey, unveiling layers of flavor and spice that sometimes get lost when you’re just out for a drink with a friend. There’s even a right way to drink whiskey at a food-pairing party. You wouldn’t take a shot of whiskey and a handful of bar nuts and say you attended a whiskey pairing. It’s an intentional event, even if you’re just eating a pre-dinner snack with a glass of whatever brand you keep in the house. Good whiskey pairings have qualities that enhance the flavors of your whiskey, bringing out hidden spices or fruity notes in its character. Since there are so many kinds of whiskey, why not experiment with an appetizer pairing that has just as much variety?
Meatballs come from countries all around the world and in every shape, size, and flavor profile. That’s just the meatballs with a name and some tradition behind them; each one certainly has a spin-off or two dreamed up by a daring home chef. From fish to Wagyu, you can make cocktail meatballs that vary in richness, texture, and spice. Basically, you can find a meatball to match any kind of whiskey. If you want to, you could make meatballs at home that are customized to your brand.
How to pair meatballs with whiskey for an elevated experience
Cocktail meatballs are a great solution to hosting a whiskey tasting, creating a theme that’s adjusted to make each type of whiskey shine. Meatballs are also a renowned crowd-pleaser, so you can’t really go wrong with a whiskey-meatball menu at any event. Vegan and other diet-sensitive meatballs are easy to make, too, so you can have something for everyone who shows up. Enjoy a few that match your whiskey while you’re cooking, of course.
There are lighter-, medium-, and full-bodied whiskeys that work well with different levels of richness in food. Meatballs made with lighter meats, such as crispy tuna meatballs, pair well with lighter whiskeys while full-bodied whiskey pairs well with meatballs made from richer meats, such as expensive-but-tasty Wagyu beef. Adjust the mix-ins — such as garlic, onion, mushrooms, herbs, and spices — you use in your cocktail meatballs to pair with your whiskeys. Then, take it up a notch by tailoring your sauce to your whiskey. Hawaiian-style, sweet and sour, and stone-fruit based seasonings and sauces pair better with fruity whiskeys while smoky and savory cocktail meatballs pair wonderfully with bourbon or rye.
