Fried Chicken & Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail: The Perfect Friday Night Pairing
While most people opt to bring in the weekend by catching up with friends at a pub – craft cocktail and pub grub for company – skipping the crowds to stay indoors and whip up a meal can be an equally rewarding experience. What is best described as a enjoyable contrast of flavours and textures, the citrus sweetness of a lemon drop martini cocktail cuts through the richness of crispy fried chicken wonderfully.
Why The Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail-Fried Chicken Pairing Works
Contrasting Flavours
Sweet elements of the lemon drop martini cocktail – be it the sugar rim or the addition of simple syrup – offer a great contrast to the umami seasoning blend and sauces of the fried chicken.
Complementary Citrus Notes
If the seasonings of the fried chicken contain herbal or citrus notes, it is enhanced further with profiles of the lemon drop martini cocktail. Similarly, adding a spritz of fresh lemon juice over the crisp coating of the chicken can echo flavours of the lemon juice used in the cocktail, beautifully.
Cleansing Effect
While being a great beverage pairing to deep-fried chicken, the lemon drop martini cocktail also doubles up as a palate cleanser between bites while cutting through the richness of the delicacy and restoring balance.
Textural Harmony
Crisp, craggly bits of fried chicken crust which, when eaten hot tastes fantastic is a delicious match for a cold lemon drop martini cocktail – making for a dynamic combination offering a range of mouthfeels.
Key Tips To Pair The Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail With Fried Chicken
Add A Citrus Element To The Chicken
Whether you choose to marinate your poultry with some lemon juice or toss the fried pieces in a lemon butter sauce, reflecting the profiles of the lemon drop cocktail offers a flavour bridge between both elements, creating a synergised pairing.
Include Pickled/Acidic Sides
Pickles, coleslaw, vinegar chips or a homemade hot sauce can make a huge difference in how the taste of the chicken as well as the cocktail develop when they’re consumed side by side. While bringing complexity to the pairing, they also harmonise with the citrus tang of the lemon drop martini cocktail. Alternately, adjusting the sweetness of the cocktail can augment the spice of the chicken better or vice versa, depending on what flavours you prefer to highlight.
*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
