The best whisky for your stir-fry Friday

Pairing food and drinks is always a complex task, especially if you are new to the art and science in this matter. Red wine goes with meat, white goes with fish, these are the details most basic boozers can tell you. But what about whisky pairings with food, especially when you have invited your friends over for a stir-fry Friday?

Today, we help you out in figuring the best whisky for your stir-fry so that come highball time, your palate looks as enthusiastic as your invitation.

Whisky and stir-fry meats

Whisky is typically associated with contemplative fireside relaxation in the West whereas in Japanese and Indian cultures it’s more of a socially savored drink. Whiskies with hints of salinity conform well with Asian food, while Scotch based mixes favor heavy-game meats like venison or a strong smoked fish.

Simply said ‘Opposites attract’, that’s the basic rule to keep in mind for perfect whisky and meat pairings. For Example, the Old Fashioned – a popular whisky cocktail – is classically paired with crispy pork stir fry to match the savory tanginess of the meat with the sugary ingredients of the cocktail.

Whisky and stir-fry vegetables

The same rule applies when pairing whisky with a vegetarian stir-fry palate. Depending on the ingredients of your stir-fry, pick and choose a Scotch, bourbon or cocktail to complement the evening food. For example, mojitos and margaritas with their cool sweetness are a natural pairing for spicy Indian and Latin food. On the other hand, sweet and sour Indo-Chinese foods pair well with a peaty, smoky Scotch or a classic Irish whiskey.

Cooking with Whisky

Did you know? Chefs are increasingly using whisky in cooking to enhance the salty, smoky or sweet flavors of traditional and stir-fry dishes.

Whisky has an incredibly diverse flavor spectrum, e.g., a single malt Scotch whisky is derived from malted barley fermentation, followed by distillation and maturation in oak casks over several years, making it an ideal ingredient for boosting a wide variety of food palates. Moreover, the evaporation of alcohol during cooking enhances the concentration of barley malt sweetness, smokiness, maturation oils and caramel sugars, adding a bite to traditional ingredients, sugars and spices.

So, what’s the best whisky to cook with?

The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old is a good place to start if you are thinking about making your stir-fry dishes extra special. The citrus and herbal flavor of single malt bring out the herbal notes in dishes like chicken and tarragon sauce. Moreover, the balance of ripening fruit, heather honey, barley malt spices and a creamy texture also makes it the perfect partner for cooking with cheese.

So, if you are feeling a little extra ambitious than your regular stir-fry Friday, you can also try your hand at one of the many stir-fry recipes that include whisky as an ingredient.