The Perfect Pickleback Pairing
Want to enjoy hard liquor without burning your palate? Then backing them with pickle brine is the way to go! Enjoy this delectable combo where the strong flavours of spirit balance the savoury or sweet and tangy notes from the pickle brine. Check out six amazing pickleback pairings below.
1. Amaro & Whiskey + Pepperoncini Juice
If a shot of straight whisky is not your cup of tea, then temper it by adding half whiskey and half amaro and a piquant back of pepperoncini juice. The pepperoncini juice is made using light green Italian hot peppers that are used in salads and served along with pizza. This combination gets a sweet flavour through amaro, added spice via the pepperoncini juice cuts and the alcohol gives your palate a kick. The bite from the whiskey and the brine is a great recharger!
2. Bacon-Infused Bourbon + Slaw Juice
This combo gives you the flavours that you get from a barbeque! The crispy meat fermented in bourbon gives the liquor a lighter flavour and tempers its heat. The texture is deliciously creamy. When the cabbage from the vinegar brew is consumed, the leftover slaw juice is perfect to back the bacon-infused bourbon. It gives the drink a briny sweetness which cleanses your palate and preps you for the next helping of the meaty liquor.
3. Rum + Maraschino Juice
There's always a jar of syrup maraschino cherries forgotten at the back of the refrigerator. Instead of tossing it in the bin, mix the remnants with vinegar for a yummy sweet pickled treat. The vinegar cuts the sharp sweetness of the maraschino juice and adds a pleasant tanginess. This juice backs rum perfectly, especially when the spirit is unaged. This drink not only tastes amazing but looks great too!
4. Vodka + Beet Juice
This is a classic combination that wins the heart every time it is consumed. It is an alcoholic version of traditional borscht. The pickled beet juice has a distinctive sweet, salty, earthy flavour profile. This pickle juice backs vodka to give it a creamy taste. The juice works amazingly even if the spirit is not the best bottle you have got. This drink is the right liquor to serve at brunches.
5. Cognac + Apple Champagne Vinegar
This combo is a favourite of bartenders! Cognac has a viscous and smooth texture and the apples in the champagne vinegar give it a sweeter flavour. The vinegar also cuts through the cognac to give it a clean finish. The taste of apple is very evident and lingers on the palate. The apple tempers the harshness in the champagne vinegar.
6. Tequila + Pickled Jalapeño and Pineapple Juice
If you aren't a fan of agave spirits, this drink will certainly change your mind! The heat from the tequila and the sweet, spicy and tangy flavours from the pickled jalapeños and pineapple chunks balance each other perfectly. The drink is neither too peppery nor is it too sweet to lead to a hangover. Use blanco tequila to make this yummy drink.
While it's great to learn about alcoholic beverages and alcohol-infused foods, it is important to also consume alcohol moderately. Remember to serve and drink responsibly to ensure you and your guests are healthy and out of harm's way. If you know anyone who has trouble controlling their alcohol intake, please refer them to a professional immediately.
