Fruity with a subtly sweet taste, brandy has mellow oak notes due to being aged in wooden casks for aging and maturity. Compared to whisky, it is sweeter and has a hint of citrus zest and flowers.
Traditionally, the beverage is served at room temperature and drank neat to soak in all the flavors. The natural sweetness may cause interruption and face challenges to pair with food.
What to eat with brandy? Brandy pairs wonderfully with venison, fish such as sardines and mackerel, cheese, and chocolate. For easy and light snacks, cheese and cured ham on a charcuterie board, ice cream, wild mushrooms, and popcorn are great snacks.
Furthermore, berries, oranges, apples, pineapples, and pears are great flavor to blend with the alcohol.
Brandy is easily paired with sweet and savory dishes, and typically served with coffee, Coca-Cola, or hot toddy. However, there are many new age pairing for brandy with different foods that shake things up a bit.
Furthermore, it is an excellent alternative to wine when it comes to cooking with brandy. It can stand up to aromatic dishes, and thanks to its lack of acidity, it pairs perfectly with decadent desserts such as chocolate mousse and ice cream.
From cheese to seafood and meat, brandy helps to balance out the various flavor in every sip. In this article, we go into depth on other excellent pairings with brandy.
What goes well with brandy?
Brandy is suitable for chicken, turkey, liver, pork, mashed potatoes, vegetables, shrimp, sauces, and noodle dishes. When it comes to cooking techniques, brandy blends perfectly well with smoked, fried, steamed, and sautéed vegetables and meats.
Its acidity cuts through meat, making it an excellent pairing. Fruits, nuts, juices, and snacks also go with brandy. Dairy products such as cheese, heavy cream, and milk can also be added to enhance the creaminess.
When serving brandy for appetizer, dinner or dessert, try these ingredients:
- Cheese: parmesan
- Chocolate: dark
- Fish: sardines, mackerel
- Meat: beef, chicken, pork, lamb
- Seafood: scallops, shrimp, prawns, crab, sea bass
- Spices: star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla
- Herbs: rosemary, sage, mint
- Condiments: dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, brown sugar, maple syrup
- Dairy: sour cream, butter
Snacks to eat with brandy
A pour of brandy with light snack is great way to start or end the dinner party. The mild sweet and floral flavor of brandy pairs well with both salty, creamy, earthy and sweet desserts.
So, what easy to prepare snacks can be served with brandy? Here are some great pairing ideas.
- charcuterie board
- dark chocolate truffles
- popcorn
- nuts
- dried and fresh fruit
- ice cream
- wild mushrooms, especially with porcini, chanterelles, black trumpets
Fruits that pair with brandy
There’s no restriction as to what fruit to pair with brandy. This beverage is pretty versatile and pairs perfectly with almost anything from berries to citrus fruits.
- Berries: raspberries, strawberries
- Stone fruits: apples, cherries, pears, apricot, plum
- Tropical fruits: pineapples, banana
- Citrus fruits: orange
What flavor goes well with brandy?
Brandy goes well with sour, bitter, and sweet flavors. Citrus plays a significant role in bringing out the fruity notes in caramel-heavy brandies, creating an excellent sipper during summer.
Made from aged in oak and lends a warm vanilla spiciness to any base. Play this up by infusing cinnamon, cardamom, or vanilla into the beverage.
Here are classic flavors to taste with brandy:
- brandy + cherries + vanilla
- brandy + chocolate + heavy cream + eggs + sugar
- brandy + chicken + mushroom + pasta
- brandy + crepe + vanilla + apricot jelly
Eat with Brandy: Conclusion
Brandy is pretty versatile and easy to pair with a variety of foods including fruits and snacks.
The low acidity makes it an ideal pairing with dairy products and fatty foods, especially with venison, sardines, and mackerel. On top of that, ideal pairings include cured meats on a charcuterie board with cheese makes a great snack.
Additionally, brandy is the perfect spirit to use as cocktail to mix with fruits like citrus, berries and stone fruits.
With brandy, the possibilities are endless. The list of classic pairings with brandy in this guide are superficial, but a great place to start seeing what works best for you.