How to Pair Whisky with Chocolate

The world of whiskies is a great big world offering countless variations of tastes and flavours. Some people look for the peat and smoke combination which characterises an Islay offering while others prefer the complexity and nuance of a venerable Highlander. The fact remains that there are a multitude of different offerings, and we love them all.

Brendan Pillai, the whisky geek behind The Single Cask has put together a list of independently-bottled whiskies every whisky aficionado should sip at least once in their life.

“This list consists of a variety of whiskies from a multitude of regions within Scotland, and all of them either fall under the category of single cask or small batch. I would highly recommend each and every one of them as they bring something to the mix while providing a unique representation of the various distillery house styles”

Make sure to read through the list carefully as you will find everything from a 12-Year old to a 21-Year old whisky. He’s even mentioned recommendations of chocolates truffles that expertly compliment your whisky best as you savour every sip of it.

Bottler: The Single Cask Deanston
Age Statement:  15-Years
Region: Highland
Bottler: The Single Cask 

Deanston is a Highland distillery which has only been around for about 50 years now, but they tend to produce some really exceptional whiskies. This single cask expression which was bottled for the bar is a classic example of the distillery’s capabilities and is wonderfully refreshing while possessing a pronounced fruity palate

We tend to pair this whisky with our passion fruit chocolate truffle as it brings out the best of the Deanston’s flavour profile.

Distillery Name: Linkwood
Age: 18 Years
Region: Speyside
Bottler: The Single Cask

Linkwood is a Speyside distillery which is not very well known as almost all of its production goes into the various Diageo blends (notably, Johnnie Walker Black Label and Green Label). It is a delightful whisky with a pronounced grassy and fruity note along with a certain woodiness which adds to the overall complexity.

We tend to pair this whisky with our bitter orange truffle as the restrained fruitiness of the truffle tends to allow the Linkwood’s fruity nature to shine.

Distillery Name: Blair Athol
Age: 22 Years
Region: Highland
Bottler: The Single Cask

Blair Athol is seen as the spiritual home of Bell’s blended Scotch whisky and it is robust and a rather sophisticated Highland single malt. This particular expression is no different as it is spicy and slightly meaty with a hint of sweetness and oak. Considering it has been bottled at cask strength, this whisky is no pushover.

We usually pair this whisky with our hazelnut truffle as the nuttiness of the chocolate acts as a brilliant foil for the spicy and meaty notes of the Blair Athol.

Distillery Name: Springbank
Age: 17 Years
Region: Campbeltown
Bottler: The Maltman

This Springbank is a beast! Fully matured for 17 years in a first-fill Oloroso sherry cask, it exhibits the classic intense salinity and complexity that one would associate with the whiskies produced by the distillery. This is a rather full-bodied whisky that fans of the distillery will surely enjoy!

Due to the robust nature of this whisky, we tend to pair it with a dark chocolate truffle which counterbalances the salinity of the whisky rather well.

Distillery Name: Tobermory
Age: 19 Years
Region: Island
Bottler: Dun Bheagan

A whisky that is somewhat similar to the Springbank, but less intense (although no less exceptional)! An expression from Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull, this is an unpeated offering from the distillery, which also produces a peated expression under the name Ledaig.

Having been matured for 19 long years in a first-fill sherry butt, this expression exhibits the classic coastal and maritime notes that one would associate with the distillery while also providing hints of salted caramel and rich red fruits. We would usually pair this whisky with our Blue Mountain espresso truffle as the rich coffee notes of the truffle complements the salty richness of the whisky perfectly.

Distillery Name: Mortlach
Age: 17 Years
Region: Speyside
Bottler: Coopers Choice

A Speyside distillery that has been a hidden gem within the Diageo stable of distilleries for the longest time, Mortlach is finally getting the recognition it surely deserves! This expression was matured in a refill sherry butt for 17 years before being bottled by independent bottler, Coopers Choice.

This is an amazingly expressive whisky which exhibits a meaty and complex fruity note which tends to delight all who come into contact with it. We tend to pair this whisky with our Juan V truffle as the caramel coffee notes of the truffle counterbalances the richness of the Mortlach.

Distillery Name: Allt A’Bhainne
Age: 21 Years
Region: Speyside
Bottler: Douglas Laing

Allt A’Bhainne is a relatively obscure distillery which was built in the 1970s by Chivas Brothers to produce whiskies for the various company blends. This expression is one of the rare examples of what the distillery is capable of and has been matured for 21 long years in a first-fill sherry butt before being bottled.

It has a dense sherried richness and a pronounced chocolate note as well as hints of grass, making this a rather complex whisky overall. We absolutely adore this whisky and tend to pair this with the bitter orange truffle as the bittersweet nature of the truffle counterbalances the rich and sweet nature of the whisky.

Distillery Name: Ben Nevis
Age: 16 Years
Region: Highland
Bottler: Carn Mor

Ben Nevis is a rather interesting Highland distillery which has been owned by Nikka since the 1980s. Its location close to the western coast of Scotland gives it a coastal saltiness and the whisky absolutely shines when matured in a sherry butt. This particular expression has been matured for 16 years in a Fino sherry butt and exhibits a dry oaky note as well as some sea salt and sherried sweetness.

We can’t get enough of this whisky and we usually pair it with a hazelnut truffle which cuts through the saltiness of the whisky and complements the sweet sherried notes.

Distillery Name: Ardmore
Age: 12 Years
Region: Highland
Bottler: Dun Bheagan

Ardmore is a rather unusual Highland distillery in the sense that its main expressions are peated in nature. While its whiskies are somewhat different from the offerings from the Islay distilleries, it does share some fundamental similarities. This expression has been matured for 12 years before being finished in St Etienne rum casks and the result is a slightly smoky and well-rounded whisky.

We tend to pair our pleated whiskies with an earl grey truffle and this expression would definitely work well with such a pairing as the austere sweetness of the earl grey complements the rich and smoky nature of the Ardmore extremely well.

Distillery Name: Glentauchers
Age: 18 Years
Region: Speyside
Bottler: Carn Mor           

Glentauchers is a hidden gem within the Pernod Ricard stable of distilleries and the whisky from the distillery is one of the signature malts within Ballantine’s 17 Years Old blended Scotch whisky. This expression has been matured for 18 long years in a first-fill bourbon barrel and has been bottled by independent bottler Carn Mor.                  

The whisky is wonderfully vibrant and exhibits a citrusy and slightly spicy note as well as a pronounced vanilla hint. It is an easy-drinking and immensely enjoyable whisky which pairs extremely well with the passion fruit truffle.