3 Unexpected Whisky and Food Pairings You Need to Try

If you’re craving something a little fancy, a little fun, and a little unexpected, we’ve got just the evening in mind: Become your own in-home mixologist by whipping up a few next-level whisky cocktail and recipe pairings. Impress your friends (and let’s be honest, yourself) by serving Crispy Prosciutto Toasts with a Maple-Red Wine Sour made with The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, for example, and some other inspired duos. These combos are perfect for your next party, date night, or even just a low-key solo happy hour at home—so grab your cocktail shaker and get ready to make some match-ups.

Start with a Snack

Jenny Huang

As far as we’re concerned, you can never have too many snacks, which is why we can't get enough of these mini Crispy Prosciutto Toasts. Crunchy baguette slices brushed with olive oil (of course) are topped with rich mascarpone, and the whole thing is finished off with crispy, crunchy baked prosciutto. Shake up your cocktail routine by pairing these toasts with a Maple-Red Wine Sour. The Glenlivet 12 Year Old's smooth taste along with wine, lemon juice, and just enough maple syrup to add a hint of sweetness, make for a a tangy, unique sip that stands up to the richness of the toasts.

Crispy Prosciutto Toasts

Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 35 minutes | Makes 1 dozen

3 very thin slices prosciutto (about 2 oz.)
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
12 thin slices baguette (about ¼ inch thick) (about 4 oz.)
1/4 c. mascarpone or 1/4 cup softened cream cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. finely sliced chives

1. Preheat oven to 375 with a rack in the upper and lower third. Arrange prosciutto in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush top sides with 1 teaspoon of the oil.
2. Arrange baguette on another baking sheet, brush both sides with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until prosciutto crisps and edges curl, about 14 minutes and baguette is lightly toasted and crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let both cool completely.
3. Break each piece of prosciutto into 4 pieces. Spread toasts with mascarpone and sprinkle with pepper. Top each toast with a piece of crispy prosciutto and sprinkle with chives. Serve immediately.

Maple-Red Wine Sour

Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 5 minutes | Serves 1

2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
1 part fresh lemon juice, plus one lemon twist
1 part maple syrup
1-inch ice cubes
1/2 part red wine, such as Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon
Lemon twist, for garnish

1. Combine The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty and drink is well chilled, about 30 seconds.
2. Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain the whisky mixture into the glass. Hold a spoon over the glass and pour the red wine carefully down the back of the spoon to float on the surface. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

Add an App

Jenny Huang

For an easy, but still totally fancy-seeming, appetizer, give endives with sharp blue cheese, crisp apples, and salty bacon a try. Pair your no-utensils-required bites with a Maraschino Cherry Manhattan made with The Glenlivet 12 Year Old. The ultra-smooth whisky has notes of pineapple, which cut through the tangy, creamy flavor of the app.

Blue Cheese Salad Bites

Prep time: 15 minutes | Total time: 15 minutes | Makes 1 dozen

1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. maple syrup
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 large green apple, stemmed, cored, and cut into tiny thin pieces
1 small rib celery, very thinly sliced
4 strips cooked bacon, finely chopped
1/3 c. chopped toasted walnuts
2 endive leaves, from two heads
1/2 c. finely crumbled high quality blue cheese
1 tbsp. roughly chopped fresh dill sprigs

1. In the bottom of a medium bowl, whisk the vinegar, dijon, and maple syrup until well combined. While whisking, slowly pour the olive oil into the vinegar mixture until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add the apple, celery, bacon, and walnut to the dressing and toss to coat. Season with more salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Arrange the endive leaves on a platter and fill with the apple mixture. Top with the blue cheese and dill and serve immediately.

Maraschino Cherry Manhattan

Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 5 minutes | Serves 1

2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
1 part Luxardo Liqueur
3/4 parts dry vermouth
3 maraschino cherries (preferably Luxardo), plus a splash of juice from the jar (about 1 tsp.)
Ice
Angostura bitters

1. Combine The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, Luxardo Liqueur, vermouth, and a splash of Luxardo cherry juice in a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Skewer cherries on a cocktail pick and garnish with the pick and a few dashes of bitters. Serve immediately.

End With a (Spiked) Treat

Jenny Huang

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old

SHOP NOW

Is your sweet tooth the driving force behind your food choices? If it is, then this is the combo for you. Our Salted Caramel Whisky Bread Pudding gets boozy with a big old splash of The Glenlivet 12 Year Old. For some double-whisky action, eat it alongside a sparkling Apple Cinnamon Spritz cocktail—its spiced effervescence is just right to balance the syrupy sweetness of the bread pudding.

Salted Caramel Whisky Bread Pudding

Prep time: 10 minutes | Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes | Serves 12

Makes 1 1/2 c. caramel sauce
1 (1-lb.) loaf brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 12 cups cubes)
2 c. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. light corn syrup
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
1 1/4 c. heavy cream
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract, divided
Kosher salt
Cooking spray
5 large eggs
2 c. milk
1/2 c. heavy cream

1. The day before: Leave bread cubes out overnight to dry out. (Alternatively, place bread on baking sheet and bake at 200º for 20 minutes, then let cool.)
2. Combine 1 cup of the sugar, corn syrup, and ¼ cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, swirling occasionally, about 11 minutes total, until the mixture is a deep amber color (a candy thermometer should register about 350).
3. Remove from heat, and carefully pour in ¼ cup of The Glenlivet 12 Year Old and the ¾ cup of the heavy cream. (Caramel will bubble.) Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and 1 teaspoon salt, and stir until caramel is smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
4. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a large baking dish (8-by-11-inch) with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining cup of sugar and eggs. Add the milk, remaining ½ cup heavy cream, the remaining ¼ cup of The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Add bread and toss to combine. Let bread soak for 20 minutes, tossing a few times to submerge.
5. Transfer half of the bread mixture to prepared baking dish and drizzle with 1/3 cup salted caramel sauce. Top with remaining bread mixture and another 1/3 cup salted caramel sauce. Bake until custard is set and top is golden, about 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serve drizzled with more salted caramel sauce.

Apple Cinnamon Spritz

Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 5 minutes | Serves 1

2 parts apple cider
1 1/2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
1 part simple syrup
Large pinch ground cinnamon
1-inch ice cubes
Brut sparkling wine or champagne (about 3 parts), chilled
Apple slices, lemon round, and cinnamon stick for garnish

1. Pour the apple cider, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, and simple syrup into the bottom of a wine glass. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, add ice, and stir to combine until well chilled. Top with sparkling wine, garnish with apple slices, lemon, and cinnamon stick, and serve immediately.

Photographed by Jenny Huang, Prop styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food styling by Tyna Hoang