As everyone sets down for their feast of choice on Thanksgiving – the right drink only makes it all the better. For some it is water or tea, others a good wine, but to bring out some nuance, whiskey could be the perfect partner at the end of the meal. Like a tango, whiskey adds and uplifts the flavors of desserts.
Artful pairing of whiskey with savory foods is certainly possible, but it can be challenging, Higher-proof than beer and wine, whiskey can mask or overpower delicate flavors, and having more than one or two glasses of whiskey over the course of dinner might spell disaster, especially if this year’s conversation turns to politics.
But by the time dessert rolls around, most of us are simply too full to be rowdy, and we need something big and bold to cut through the buttery crust of our final indulgences. Here are the whiskey and pie pairings I’ll be reaching for this year:
Wild Turkey Rare Breed | Pumpkin Pie
Bourbon is a natural match with the spicy, rich flavor of pumpkin pie, and Wild Turkey Rare Breedhas the spice and high proof to stand up to the toasty flavor of a well-browned crust. Both also exemplify the best of New World culinary traditions, making this pairing satisfying from a gustatory and intellectual perspective.
Lock Stock & Barrel Rye | Pecan Pie
Lock Stock & Barrel is a big, spicy rye with an incredible punch of flavor – just the right companion for that heady concoction of sugar, fat, and carbohydrates that is pecan pie. All that spice cuts through the sweet heaviness of the pie, while dark herbal flavors in the whiskey accentuate the nutty flavor of the pecans.
Apple pie might be quintessentially American, but it sure pairs well with this import. Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or spends 12 years maturing in casks that once held Sauternes, a French dessert wine made from botrytis-infected grapes. Honeyed and delicate, it’s the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and an underlying freshness, just like apple pie.
Lagavulin 16 | Chocolate Pie
Ah, the dessert of champions. Lagavulin’s rich malty body, sweet flavor, and pungent peat smoke pair beautifully with the flavor of high-quality dark chocolate. Instead of clashing, Lagavulin 16’smarine smoke accentuates the earthy flavors of chocolate just like a few grains of sea salt, and dark chocolate’s slightly bitter note makes Lagavulin taste sweeter and more refined than ever before.
The Northern Lights are a visual treat for your eyes and mind – can marijuana make it a bit better?
It isn’t common for them to have a widespread show for millions in Canada and the US. The mesmerizing visuals are captivating…but can cannabis enhance the Northern Lights? NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center shared during the last solar activity of this magnitude, you can could see the lights as far south as Alabama and northern California. Viewers have a chance on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights.
Northern lights, or the aurora borealis, are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph). Earth’s magnetic field protects us but gives us a show. Our magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles (yes, there are Southern Lights). The process transforms into a cinematic atmospheric phenomenon that dazzles and fascinates scientists and skywatchers alike.
Marijuana has a rich history of enhancing music, movies and other visual and audio activities. So it would make watching the rare occasion even better. But dosage and timing are key – and maybe add some music to lose yourself in the experience.
The central nervous system is activated when we are stimulated with music and visuals. Cannabinoid receptors are a prominent receptors. With cannabis, CB1 receptors become hyperactive, affecting sensation. It also improves current attention, preventing memory seeking with concentrates your brain on the art, making it appear more fresh and intriguing. It is no wonder there is a strain named after the Northern lights.
Considering how rare you have the chance to see the Northern Lights? Why not go all out. And sciences seems to indicate found people seemed to process sensations more effectively when high. It could make for a stronger memory of the experience.
She has won Grammys and awards from BET, BillBoard and more while redefining enticing. But does she consume weed?
She burst into the mainstream in 2019 with her third studio album, Cuz I Love You and has been making waves ever since. Resetting standards of how a female music star needs to look and behave, she has been the center of ongoing dissuasions. Through all this, you wonder does Lizzo consume weed to chill and relax. She has attracted legends of fans called Lizzbians, a number of social media trolls and Grammys, BET awards, Billboards Awards and appearance on SLN, Ugly Dolls, Hustlers, and more . She rode another wave of popularity when she featured an original single titled Pink in the Barbie movie.
She started her career in hip hop music. After doing a couple of studio albums, she signed with with Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records releasing Coconut Play.The album spawned the singles Juice and Tempo. The deluxe version of Cuz I Love You topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the longest-leading solo song by a female rapper. In 2021, Lizzo released the single Rumors (featuring Cardi B), which debuted in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. Her fourth studio album, Special (2022), was preceded by its lead single “About Damn Time“, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and made Lizzo the first black female singer since Whitney Houston in 1994 to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Like everything in her life it seems, she is unabashed about her use of marijuana. Her Instagram shares she is on a fan consuming and treats it just like drinking wine. She has even been cheeky about her use including wink wink tweets about marijuana suppositories.
Lizzo grew up attending the Church of God in Christ but has since embraced a more open concept where she sings hip hop mixed with soul and blues. Lizzo being so open about herself and weed use is similar to the late Mama Cass, who refined talent, fun and what is like to be a celebrity.
Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, weekends, long lunches and just to enjoy while hanging out…tequila will treat you right!
Tequila is very popular for good reason…good tequila can treat you right. 2021 was its year when it passed whiskey as the second most popular liquor. It only stands behind vodka. Celebrity tequila’s have been a huge help with George Clooney selling his Casamigos brand for $1 billion.
If you are thinking about staying in swimsuit shape, tequila is your friend – chilled and straight up is great. At 97 calories a shot, its is one of the best to drink. And it has 0g of carbs, 0g of fat per serving, and 0g of saturated fat.
So to celebrate its success, here are the best simple tequila cocktails. And for your information, all tequila is mezcal. The term mezcal refers to spirits made from the agave plant, while tequila refers to a specific type of mezcal that can only be made from blue Weber agave in five Mexican states. Reposado tequila stays in the barrel for a duration of 2 months to a year, depending on the flavor profile a distiller is looking to achieve.
Paloma
This is a classic simple cocktail to make you happy. The oragin is a bit murky but is generally credited to Javier Delgado Corona, owner of the oldest bar in Jalisco – La Capilla. More importantly – you will be just thankful for this drink and it its refreshing feeling.
Ingredients
2ouncestequila
2ouncesfresh grapefruit juice, plus wedges for garnish
2ouncessparkling water
½ouncelime juice
¼ounceagave nectar or simple syrup, or to taste
Coarse sea salt, for the rim of the glasses
Ice
Create
Salt the rim of the glass by rubbing a grapefruit wedge around the edge and dipping it onto a small plate of salt.
Mix the tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and agave nectar into the glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with ice. Adjust sweetness to taste. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.
Mexican Mule
The Moscow Mule is a go to for some…but what about a warmer more flavorful replacement?
Ingredients
1 ½ oz. Tequila Silver or Reposado
1 lime wedge
1 wedge pineapple
4 oz. ginger beer
Create
Combine the lime wedge and pineapple (if using) in the bottom of a chilled glass or moscow mule mug
While it is credited to have been created as a Bloody Mary alternative, it truly appeared on the scene in the 1940s. Bartender Fernand Petiot is credited with
Ingredients
Tequila Reposado or White
Mexican hot sauce
Celery salt
Black pepper
Tomato juice
Lemon juice
Worcestershire sauce
Horseradish
Celery salt
Black pepper
Create
Chill the tomato juice/mix and tequila first
Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice
Strain and if time, chill. Straining removes the chunks of horseradish from the drink
Rim the glass and garnish
Serve over ice with the garnishes of your choice.
Tequila Sunrise
Big on college campuses and creating all sorts of boozy adventures – the Tequila Sunrise is delight to the taste buds.
Ingredients
2 oz. Tequila
1 oz. Orange Juice
.5 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Grenadine
Garnish with a cherry
Create
Combine tequila and juices in a shaker
Add ice, shake vigorously and strain into a glass
Add grenadine then garnish
May you enjoy these the best simple tequila cocktails morning, noon and night!