This week we teamed up with Fullosophie to host a fun event in our SF store with Dandelion Chocolate and Women & Whiskies that introduces you to all the tricks needed for pairing whiskey with chocolate. The event is already sold out, but you can still join the waitlist.
We hope to see you this Friday, March 25 at our San Francisco store (722 Montgomery St. San Francisco, California). Or stay tuned for the next workshop!
Read all the insider tips that Women & Whiskies shared with us below, including the perfect Spring-time cocktail recipe.
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The Grapefruit Whiskey Smash (recipe below).
What is a favorite whiskey cocktail recipe you can recommend to people who are just getting into whiskey?
We love this spring inspired cocktail and you can find the ingredients almost anywhere:
Grapefruit Whiskey Smash
• 2 parts Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon
• 1 part grapefruit juice
• .5 parts real maple syrup
• 1/2 a lemon, cut into quarters
• 7-10 mint leaves
Directions: In a shaker tin, gently muddle lemon, maple syrup, and mint. Add ice, grapefruit juice, and Russell’s Reserve, and shake for 8 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a grapefruit (or lemon) wedge and a mint sprig.
How exactly do you pair chocolate and whiskey together, what sort of tasting notes do you look for?
You look for flavors that would taste great together, like when you are cooking and come up with new recipes of flavors that complement one another. Think of a chocolate dessert that you would add toffee pieces to, or a dessert that would be enhanced with honey. The same goes with pairing chocolate and whiskey…if you are enjoying a dark chocolate bar with rich cocoa notes, it would be great with a whiskey that has caramel notes such as Forty Creek Barrel Select.
What advice would you give to a whiskey newbie and what whiskey would you recommend from your collection?
We would say, try everything to see what you like! Just because someone tells you they don’t like a certain type of whiskey due to its flavor or name doesn’t mean it won’t become your favorite. There are so many different kinds: Scotch, American, Canadian, Irish, and more. Also, try it in many different ways: neat, with ice, with a bit of water, with all types of mixers (we love citrus and ginger). Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions, it might be intimidating at first to ask why a whiskey, say ‘has honey & toffee’ notes, but people love talking about whiskey so ask around. Feel free to email us anytime with questions: Womenandwhiskies@gmail.com
Women & Whiskies was started by Camapri America in 2010 and is a group devoted to hosting events around the country for women to try whiskey (a spirit traditionally marketed towards men).
Stay tuned for more workshops like this one and read our interview with Dandelion Chocolate, here.