How to Pair co*cktails and Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (2024)


Stand aside wine and beer, today we’re covering co*cktails—the unsung hero of the cheese pairing world. What makes co*cktails so great for cheese pairing? It’s simple: there is an infinite combination of spirits and components to mix and match, so you can find your perfect pairing with any cheese.

It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure game where every path ends with a co*cktail in your hand and Wisconsin cheese in your mouth. Sounds like a win-win to us.


The Basics of co*cktail and Cheese Pairing

How to Pair co*cktails and Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (1)

To help us with co*cktail pairing suggestions and guidelines we interviewed cheese pairing expert, award-winning food and drink author, and fellow Wisconsin cheese lover Jeanette Hurt.

Start with the Base Spirits

The most prominent flavor in a co*cktail generally comes from the base spirit. In a gin and tonic, the base spirit would be gin, or whiskey in an old fashioned.

Taking note of the base spirit can help you figure out what cheese will go best with your co*cktail.

Mild base spirits like gin can be paired with a variety of delicate cheeses—depending on the co*cktail. Bolder spirits like oaky bourbon, rum, or whiskey take a little more consideration and generally pair better with aged, nutty cheeses that can soak up all that tasty smoke and spice.

Match the Strengths

Just like we wrote about in our beginner’s guide to cheese pairing , your highest priority when pairing is to balance the intensity of your drink and the cheese.

You wouldn’t want to pair a delicate fresh mozzarella with a scotch-based co*cktail. Why? The intensity of flavor in each sip of the co*cktail will overwhelm any subtleties in the cheese.

A 10-year aged cheddar would be a better match. In general, higher alcohol content means higher intensity—and more challenging cheese pairing.

Think About Texture

Just like cheese, co*cktails come in a variety of textures. They can be frothy, smooth, bubbly, and more depending on how they’re prepared. This opens an entirely new world filled with pairing possibilities.

Generally, as a rule of thumb, Jeanette says it’s easier to pair similar textures, but this doesn’t mean you can’t go for contrast either.

Our Favorite co*cktail and Cheese Pairings

How to Pair co*cktails and Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (2)

GranQueso® with a Margarita

If it sounds like GranQueso and a margarita would be a logical pairing, you would be right. Inspired by manchego, this award-winning creation from Roth Cheese is great on its own, but even better with a cool margarita in your hands.

What makes GranQueso so special? It’s all in the aging. Each wheel is hand-rubbed with a blend of cinnamon and paprika before being aged. When you cut into it, you’ll be greeted with a firm semi-hard cheese that’s slightly tangy with notes of honey.

Each sip of margarita helps bring out more of that sweet and salty complexity while cleansing your palate with the acidity from the limes.

Alpine-Style with an Old Fashioned

Alpine-style is a robust cheese that calls for a robust drink—an old fashioned fits the bill. Whiskey helps complement and balance alpine-style’s nutty full-bodied flavor while the extra sugar and bitters in this co*cktail add just enough sweetness to the round out each bite. In Wisconsin, we prefer our old fashioned co*cktails with brandy rather than rye or bourbon whiskey. Try it both ways and let us know what you like best!

Blue Cheese with a Gin and Tonic

A floral co*cktail with a blue cheese might sound like an unlikely pairing, but trust us on this one. Start with a blue that errs toward creamy and young. Hook's Cheese Original Blue or Roth’s Buttermilk Blue are great starting points.

These rich, fatty blues contrast beautifully with a botanical gin and the added tonic water adds just enough bitterness to wash away the finish, so every bite is as good as the first.

Gouda with a Negroni

The Negroni is a three-ingredient co*cktail wonder that has been around for over a century but has just recently hit mainstream stardom in the U.S. Made with gin, vermouth, and Campari, you’d be forgiven for thinking this refreshingly bitter co*cktail doesn’t pair with cheese.

Prepare to be surprised. What the Negroni lacks in richness, any aged gouda has in spades. When you combine the two you get a delicious combination of fruit and nuttiness on the nose with a light, refreshing finish.

Bread Cheese (Juustoleipa) and Daiquiri

Meet the wild card co*cktail and cheese pairing of this list. Bread cheese is sort of like a grilled cheese sandwich made just of cheese—try it and you’ll understand what we mean.

Although this cheese hails originally from the fjords of northern Finland and Sweden and now sits comfortably in the midwest you can give it a tropical spin. As Jeanette explains: “Juustoleipa pairs well with rum drinks, especially if you grill it with pineapple to bring out the tropical notes in the pairing.”

Answer All Your Cheese Pairing Questions

How to Pair co*cktails and Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (3)

Ready to learn more about cheese pairing? We’ve covered everything you need to know about pairing cheese with wine, food, beer, and more. Start with our beginner’s guide or just dive into whatever topic suits your fancy. Explore a world of cheese pairing at your fingertips.

The Basics

Wine and Cheese Pairing

Liquor and Cheese Pairing

Cheese Board Essentials

Conclusion

Flex your cheese pairing muscles and get creative, or try one of our cheese board recipes, like this Summertime Cheese Board or this Sweet and Savory Brunch Cheese Board. If you want to cook a full meal try our selection of over 300 handcrafted recipes featuring Wisconsin Cheese. Share your creation with us on Instagram or Facebook and become part of the largest cheese community in the world.

Want to make cheese pairing even easier? You can plan your cheese board ahead of time and get your favorite Wisconsin cheeses delivered right to your door with our continuously updated list of cheesemakers and retailers that allow you to order cheese online. Award-winning Wisconsin cheese is just a click away.

FAQs

What co*cktails pair well with cheese?

There are a variety of co*cktails that pair well with cheese! Some of our favorite co*cktail and cheese pairings are:

  • Old fashioned with alpine-style cheese
  • Gin and tonic with blue cheese
  • Negroni with gouda


Our number one co*cktail and cheese pairing rule is to match the strengths. Match delicate, light cheeses with refreshing floral co*cktails. Save the smoky single malt for an aged cheddar or gouda.

What cheese goes well with gin?

Gin is one of our favorite cheese pairing spirits whether you’re having it in a co*cktail, or just a simple gin and tonic. We recommend pairing gin with smooth, creamy cheeses like blue or triple cream cheeses. The floral and botanical profile of most gins can help balance the rich, decadent, and slightly barnyardy flavor of many soft cheeses.

What to pair with an old fashioned?

Pair your old fashioned with a hardy aged cheddar, aged gouda, or an alpine-style. These nutty semi-hard cheeses can stand toe-to-toe with the whiskey in your old fashioned. Toss some roasted nuts into a ramekin on the side for some crunch and you’ve got your evening plans sorted.

How to Pair co*cktails and Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (4)

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How to Pair co*cktails and Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese (2024)

FAQs

What are the rules of cheese pairing? ›

Match companion and complementary flavors.

Play up the characteristics of the cheese and try to match flavors: mild goes with mild and strong goes strong. Use your sense of smell here, too, and pair nutty flavor notes with one another, or fruitier cheeses with fruits and jams.

How do you pair cheese with alcohol? ›

Top 5 Cheese and Wine/Liquor Pairings
  1. Creamier cheeses love the subtle flavor of sparkling white wine. ...
  2. Red wine goes with harder cheeses such as Gouda, Manchego and Goat Milk Cheese. ...
  3. Malt Whiskey goes with 5 Year Aged Gouda. ...
  4. Cheese with beer is a classic pairing that goes way back in Europe and has many variations…

Does cheese go with co*cktails? ›

Cheese and co*cktails go very well together. The complex flavours in cheese contrast nicely with co*cktails, which can be sweet, sour, thin or creamy, depending on what best suits the cheese. And the various base spirits bring out different aspects of the cheese.

How do you add cheese to a co*cktail? ›

Drier cheese like parmesan or pecorino can be grated either onto the top of a drink or used on the rim. As noted before, the Parmigiano Sour had the cheese grated on top, akin to nutmeg in eggnog or other drinks. Sarkis noted the use of pecorino and added it to the rim like salt in a Margarita.

What is the big cheese rule? ›

Not every customer is created equal, your business is made up of lots of different customers. They share a common trait in that they have bought something from you, and that's the information you need to find the big cheese (the top 20%). The big cheese's often go unnoticed, this is especially true in e-commerce.

What are the official rules of cheese touch? ›

The object of the game is for the person with the Cheese Touch to pass it along to as many other people as possible. The person with the Cheese Touch does this by winking at a "victim." When a "victim" is winked at, they have to silently count to five, and then announce to the group that they have the Cheese Touch.

Does cheese help soak up alcohol? ›

Eating some cheese before you venture out can help line your stomach and prevent a really bad hangover even happening [2]. The protein, fat and complex carbohydrates in cheese can prevent the alcohol being absorbed too quickly. Having cheese with your wine not only tastes good – it helps you to deal with the alcohol.

What alcohol do you drink with cheese? ›

Pinot Noir, Gamay or Valpolicella will all work well. A lovely chilled Rosé is also a great pairing for fresh cheese. Non-alcoholic drink with soft cheese: For fresh cheeses, we suggest trying apple juice, elderflower cordial or traditional lemonade.

What spirits go best with cheese? ›

Vodka pairs really well with cheese, [as] the high alcohol content of the spirit can cut through the fattiness of a cheese and coat your palate,” says head distiller Caley Shoemaker.

How much cheese do you need for a co*cktail party? ›

A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of each cheese for every guest and about five types of cheese. For a party in which cheese is the main event, plan on buying 3 pounds for eight people, 6 pounds for 16 people, or 9 pounds for 24 people.

What to eat when drinking co*cktails? ›

Foods high in protein and healthy fats, like yogurt and salmon, can help slow alcohol absorption. Avocados and bananas also contain plenty of potassium, which you might lose after drinking.

Can you drink alcohol with cheese? ›

One drink pairing per cheese type

A crisp white wine or a very light red wine, such as Pinot Noir, would also be a lovely match. Or try a Chardonnay that isn't too oaky. Firm and aged cheeses, like aged gouda or emmental, need something with a bit more oomph. Try a brown ale or a slightly sweeter white wine.

What cheese goes with margaritas? ›

She suggests pairing your margaritas and palomas with tangy, buttery cheeses, like fresh goat cheese, Saint Aubin, or sharp cheddar. Or for aged tequila co*cktails she likes “something that highlights the smoky flavor like an aged Gouda, Comté, or anything that's actually been smoked.”

Is there a cheese co*cktail? ›

Martini Reggiano - L'Abattoir, Vancouver, B.C.

Combining either Vancouver Island's own Seaside gin or Kazuki gin, shaken with Parmesan- and thyme-infused gin, a vermouth blend, and Parmesan oil, this cheesy co*cktail is a sharp choice for any cheese lover.

How to make the perfect co*cktail? ›

The Golden Ratio

Get a perfectly flavor-balanced co*cktail with the bartender's golden ratio of 2:1:1. That means, 2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour. First, you'll begin with 2 parts of your spirit of choice: vodka, gin, rum – what have you. Secondly, add that to a mixing tin with ice.

How much cheese is acceptable? ›

So how much cheese is enough? Now that you know what happens when you consume large quantities of this very delicious food, let's tell you how much cheese is enough. The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than three portions of cheese per day, which each serving capped at 42 grams of cheese.

How much cheese spread per person? ›

First, the quantity: If you're serving the cheese as a hors d'oeuvre, plan on 1 to 2 ounces of each cheese per person. If you're serving the cheese as an after-dinner cheese course, figure 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of each cheese per person.

What is the cheese law in America? ›

It is notorious for its overly harsh rulings on imported food that seem to limit the US cuisine compared to the rest of the world. The USA does not allow unpasteurised cheese at all as it is seen as a health risk but this means your rule out huge numbers of delicious cheeses that must be made from raw milk.

What is the Cheese Touch symbol? ›

The Cheese Touch thus symbolizes the bullying and exclusion of certain students based on largely arbitrary factors.

What is the Cheese Touch slang? ›

If somebody has the Cheese Touch, they will be a social outcast until they pass it onto someone else by touching them.

What do the Cheese Touch mean? ›

If someone. touches the moldy piece of cheese on the school's. basketball court, they contract the “Cheese Touch” and. can only get rid of it by touching someone else.

How to sober up from alcohol in 30 minutes? ›

What's the fastest way to sober up?
  1. Drink Coffee. Drinking a strong black coffee is sometimes suggested by helpful friends as a means of 'sobering up'. ...
  2. Take a cold shower. Standing under some cold water will shock your body into sobering up. ...
  3. Eat. ...
  4. Sleep. ...
  5. Exercise.

What food soaks up the most alcohol? ›

High in protein, chicken may help slow the rate of alcohol being absorbed into the body. “Protein, along with fat and fiber, takes longer to digest which can help slow how quickly your blood alcohol level increases,” Rumsey says.

What breaks down alcohol fast? ›

The most common of these pathways involves two enzymes—alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These enzymes help break apart the alcohol molecule, making it possible to eliminate it from the body.

Does cheese and vodka go together? ›

Editor's note: We first heard about the combination of cheese and vodka from contributor Kelly Magyarics who wrote about pairing cheese and spirits for sister site, Alcohol Professor.

What liquor pairs with brie? ›

GIN & TONIC

A G&T generally pairs well with soft and creamy cheeses, like brie and Double Crème cheeses, where the gin brings out the floral notes in the cheeses and the bitterness of the tonic rinses the palate.

What alcohol goes well with brie cheese? ›

Crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Champagne, along with lighter reds such as Beaujolais and Pinot Noir, pair best with Brie Cheese. However, nearly any wine will go along just fine with Brie cheese.

Can you pair cheese with whiskey? ›

Cheese and whisky is a match made in flavour heaven – it's a delicious pairing that you simply need to try. There are so many different varieties of cheese, from sharp hard cheeses like mature cheddar and parmesan, to creamy soft cheeses such as camembert and brie.

What cheese goes with vodka? ›

Creamy and salty cheeses go great with vodka. Cheeses like ricotta, dill, camembert, havarti, and Swiss. There's no doubt that cheese is great on its own, so it's no surprise it goes well with vodka. The rich flavor complements the crisp vodka flavor, making it a perfect pairing.

Does alcohol make cheese curdle? ›

The addition of alcohol to fondue prevents curdling because the boiling point of the cheese is lowered. Once alcohol has been added to the final stage of the cooking process, it will evaporate only 10%-50% of the wine.

How many appetizers do you need for a co*cktail party? ›

A good rule of thumb for a dinner party, allow for 6 appetizers per person. For a co*cktail party consider making 12 appetizers per person.

How many appetizers do I need for a party of 50? ›

Here's a quick guide to how many appetizers you should serve at your party: 10-12 guests = 5 appetizer selections. 25 guests = 9 appetizer selections. 50 guests = 13 appetizer selections.

What not to eat when drinking alcohol? ›

5 Things You Should Never Eat Before A Night Of Drinking
  • Salty Snacks. One of the worst things alcohol does to your body is dehydrate you. ...
  • Salad. ...
  • Sushi. ...
  • French Fries. ...
  • Super-Spicy Apps.
Dec 30, 2015

What not to eat after drinking alcohol? ›

“Alcohol can cause gastroesophageal reflux, so it may be helpful to avoid foods that can further trigger heartburn, such as caffeine, acidic foods, spicy foods, and mint,” says Dr.

What not to eat or drink with alcohol? ›

Chocolate, caffeine or cocoa should also be avoided while drinking alcohol or after it. They also aggravate gastro issues, which is triggered by other acidic food.

Why do people eat cheese with drinks? ›

Why do wine and cheese love each other so? Foods that sit on the opposite ends of the taste spectrum often come together to create a pleasant taste sensation, and with wine and cheese it all boils down to the opposing forces of texture, acidity, fat and tannins.

Should you eat cheese after drinking? ›

Dairy should be avoided at all costs, explained Sidhu-Robb, along with milk-based products that are already difficult to digest under normal conditions. "Eating cheese or other dairy products as a snack while drinking or after drinking could potentially cause indigestion, heartburn, and worsen hangovers," she added.

How do you eat cheese and drink wine? ›

To combine wine and cheese, take a sip of the wine, take a bit of the cheese, then while some of the cheese is still in your mouth, take another sip of wine. If you want to focus on the wine and cheese, do so on an empty stomach, with only bread and water on the side.

Can you eat cheese with tequila? ›

If you are looking for a cheese to pair with your tequila-based co*cktail, consider tangy, buttery cheeses like goat cheese, Saint Aubin, or sharp cheddar.

What is good to eat with margaritas? ›

If you're into a Margarita on-the-rocks, try pairing it with a dish that compliments the lime flavors with a chicken or shrimp dish that incorporates lime juice. This includes seafood, wraps, salads, and cooked meat. For example, try pairing it with Carne Asada, shrimp ceviche, or Santa Fe chopped salad.

What is drunken cheese? ›

MNBUbriaco in Italian means 'drunk', so this really is 'drunk cheese'. Ubriaco cheese is traditionally made from cow's milk, which is aged for around 18 months, the last six months of which the cheese is soaked in barrels of a local wine.

What is cheese magic called? ›

Cheese magic stretches back long before Hildegard and the medieval period. The 2nd-century diviner, Artemidorus, mentions “tyromancy” – cheese divination – as a method of discovering the future in his treatise Oneirocritica.

What is the number 1 co*cktail? ›

But, many bar-goers simply ordered a co*cktail 'the old fashioned way'. Even today the Old Fashioned has been the number one selling co*cktail in many bars. You just can't beat a classic!

What is the most ordered co*cktail? ›

The Most Popular co*cktails List Nationwide
Rankco*cktail
1Margarita
2Martini
3Old Fashioned
4Mimosa
1 more row

What is the most favored co*cktail? ›

Here are 10 of the most popular co*cktails that will always be in style.
  • Margarita. The classic Margarita co*cktail has been one of the most popular co*cktails in America for years and still remains on top. ...
  • Cosmopolitan. ...
  • Daiquiri. ...
  • Gimlet. ...
  • Manhattan. ...
  • Negroni. ...
  • Old Fashioned. ...
  • Sex on the Beach.

What are kosher rules for cheese? ›

Dairy (milchig)
  • They must come from a kosher animal.
  • They must never be mixed with any meat-based derivatives, such as gelatin or rennet (an animal-derived enzyme), which is often the case with hard cheeses and other processed cheese products.

How do you pair cheeses with charcuterie? ›

Make sure to include cheeses with contrasting flavors and textures: a soft mascarpone and a firm GranQueso®; a mild mozzarella and a full-bodied cheddar blue; a salty feta and a smoky gouda. Including different types of cheeses keeps guests interested in the platter and ensures that there's something for everyone.

What foods don't go well with cheese? ›

Veer from olive mixes speckled with dried red pepper flakes, really spicy pickled items, spicy meats, hot jellies, mustards, or chutneys, and even crackers with black peppercorns. While delicious, these accompaniments will linger on your palate and hinder your experience of the cheese in its natural state.

What does cheese pairing mean? ›

cheeseparing • \CHEEZ-pair-ing\ • noun. 1 : something worthless or insignificant 2 : miserly economizing.

Why is mozzarella not kosher? ›

The cheese is not kosher unless a jew oversaw the addition of the rennet. Even if one knows the cheese maker buys only microbial rennet, or one has a contractual agreement with the cheese maker, by decree, it is not kosher unless someone actually watches the making of the cheese via the addition of the rennet.

Why is combining meat and cheese not kosher? ›

Prohibition on mixing dairy products with meat

Others associate it with the general prohibition on certain mixtures set out in the Torah, such as that of coupling animals from different species. Yet others see it as symbolic: the refusal to mix life (milk) and death (meat).

Is Philadelphia cream cheese kosher? ›

So no need to compromise on that fresh, creamy taste…we've got you covered. PHILADELPHIA Original Cream Cheese is certified Kosher all year round, and for over 40 years, we've produced a special edition “Kosher for Passover” cream cheese. So no need to compromise on that fresh, creamy taste…we've got you covered.

What is the 3 3 3 3 rule for charcuterie board? ›

Allow me to introduce the 3, 3, 3, 3, rule for making cheese boards. Simply choose 3 meats, 3 cheeses, 3 starches, and 3 accompaniments for the perfect board every time.

How do you pair a cheese platter? ›

Recommended Preserve and Cheese Pairings for a Cheese Board
  1. Mango chutney and aged gouda.
  2. Tomato jam and aged cheddar.
  3. Fig jam and blue cheese.
  4. Apple butter and havarti.
  5. Raspberry preserves and mascarpone.
  6. Sour cherry jam and blue cheese.

How far in advance should you cut cheese for a charcuterie board? ›

When you do pre-cut cheeses, be sure to plan your prep for no more than one day in advance of serving. Store your pre-cut cheeses on the shelves of your Cheese Grotto and keep them in the fridge for up to 12 hours, then take it out and bring everything to room temperature a couple of hours before you plan to serve.

When should you not eat cheese? ›

People who are allergic to milk are unable to eat cheese or other foods containing dairy. A milk allergy means that your body has an immune reaction to one or more proteins in milk, such as casein. Casein is one of the main proteins found in milk, and it's also an ingredient in some soy-based cheeses.

What tastes best with cheese? ›

Instead, match your favorite cheese with something fresher, sweeter, or saltier.
  1. Fresh and Dried Fruit. Fruit and cheese is the kind of ideal pairing that lends itself to such a huge amount of options. ...
  2. Meats. Meat and cheese are a protein-filled combo that always hits the spot. ...
  3. Olives. ...
  4. Granola. ...
  5. Veggies.
May 1, 2019

What are 5 ways to eat cheese? ›

There are a ton of different ways to eat cheese: sliced, melted, crumbled, grated, baked, even grilled. And of course, we all love snacks like cheese and crackers and bountiful, colorful cheese boards stuffed with accompaniments.

What are cheese lovers called? ›

Ever wondered 'what is a cheese lover called? '. Well, if you're a cheese lover, then you probably already know that you're called a turophile (tur-uh-file). The word turophile is a combination of the Greek words tyros, meaning cheese, and philos, meaning "love of".

What cheese goes with fruit? ›

Great Combos for your Cheese and Fruit Platter
  • Apple — Cheddar, Manchego, Brie, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala.
  • Blackberries — Cotija or Aged Cheddar.
  • Cranberries — Mozzarella or Manchego.
  • Raspberry — Cream Cheese, or grilled Muenster/Baby Swiss Cheese.
  • Fig — Blue Cheese or Smoked Gouda.
Aug 25, 2022

What does stacking cheese on my plate mean? ›

New Word Suggestion. Saving money/making lots of money.

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