After a relaxing holiday, 2016 started with new opportunities. And a chance to try out more whisky and cheese pairings. In December 2015, Checkers brought out a new cheese brochure, which I read from end to end. It had all kinds of amazing cheese ideas, and I kept it for further inspiration.
The front page had a picture of the cutest little Ile de France brie cheeses. You might say that brie cheese should not be described as cute, but when you see these little delicate Ile de France morsels, you would agree. They looked perfect for a whisky and brie cheese pairing experiment.
Brie cheese is one of the best known French cheeses and a staple on cheese boards worldwide. It is soft cow milk cheese named after the French Brie region, where it was first produced.
After shaping and draining, the cheese is taken out, salted and inoculated with mould and then aged for at least four weeks. It has a bloomy rind, and the flavour has creamy and hazelnut butter notes. Brie has hints of sweet fruit and a slightly tangy and earthy after taste.
The Ile de France brie cheese was slightly saltier compared to the locally produced brie’s. It however created a wonderful contrast with the whisky. It is best to serve brie at room temperature.
I tried various whisky pairings with this brie below are my results:
Also Read: Jack Daniels Apple Whiskey Liqueur
Glen Grant Major Reserve Whisky and Brie Cheese
I first tried the Glen Grant Major Reserve single malt whisky at the Whisky Life Festival during 2015 and loved it. With its heaps of spicy notes, this fruity whisky is a firm favourite and worked wonderfully with the salty brie cheese.
The Glen Grant whisky’s apple notes made the cheese sweeter and creamier, and the Brie smoothed out the spicy notes in the whisky. It is a wonderful balance between sweet and salty. I give the Glen Grant Major Reserve whisky and brie cheese pairing a Rating: 4/5
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask Whisky and Brie Cheese
Looking back, I have tried quite a few cheese pairings with this Balvenie Caribbean Cask whisky. The tropical fruit and vanilla notes from the Scotch seem to pair nicely with softer cheeses. It is robust enough to stand up to the cheese’s earthy tangy character but soft and smooth enough not to overwhelm it.
The combination is creamy smooth and rich, and you don’t want the experience to finish. I give this Balvenie Caribbean Cask single malt whisky and brie cheese pairing a Rating: 4/5
The Black Grouse whisky and Brie Cheese
One of my favourite peaty blends was up next. The Black Grouse whisky with its mild peat, smoke and caramel notes, is a favourite when eating Indian food. But it is also gentle enough to go with these small morsels of cheese perfection.
The creaminess in the brie smooths out the peaty notes, and the cheese becomes more creamy and rich. I give the Black Grouse blended whisky and brie cheese pairing a Rating: 3,5/5
I tried the cheese with the Glenlivet 12 year old, and it worked well. A pairing with a Grant Sherry cask and a Tullibardine Sauternes Cask, however, did not work so well. Have you tried this soft cheese paired with whisky yet?
Related Article: Camembert cheese and whisky
Gabe
Nice pairings, hadn’t thought of Glen Grant. Another excellent pairing is the Amrut Indian single malt. The caramel and peaty notes really sing with the earthy Brie.
Also you can easily swap the Brie for Camembert when pairing with the Caribbean cask aged Balvenie and most other Speyside single malts. Something about the sweet Speysides really clicks with the earthy, mushroomy flavours of the Camembert.
When it comes to whisky and cheese I just imagine what I would put on a board next to the chosen cheese (eg dried fruits, apple, spicy dip etc) and then look for those flavours in the whisky.
Jeannette Wentzel
Yes, you can easily swap the Brie and the Camembert around. The Balvenie Caribbean is a very versatile dram that works with quite a few cheeses. When I serve this at home, there is usually candied nuts and fresh grapes paired with the cheese. Thank you for stopping by
Jeannette Wentzel
Not sure about the best bars in London as I am in Johannesburg, but this list on Design my Night looks quite interesting (https://www.designmynight.com/london/bars/best-whisky-bars-in-london)
One Messy Mama
Black Grouse is my absolute favorite! I love a good peaty whiskey! I have just bought my husband a personalized whiskey decanter and glasses for Christmas. I guess we will have to put it to work 🙂 #globalblogging
Jeannette Wentzel
O Wow! What a great Christmas gift. I think he will love it. And Black Grouse also goes well with Indian food. 😜 It is really very versatile!