Who doesn’t love a charcuterie board? Meat, cheese, tasty accompaniments like olives and crackers — what more could you need? Well … you could add a side of bourbon. While charcuterie boards are quite often paired with favorite wines, if you’re a whiskey fan, you may be wondering how you can pair these crowd-favorite finger-food platters with your favorite bourbons. We’re here to help.
Here are four charcuterie board themes you can channel the next time you build one of these culinary works of art, and how to pair those themes with your favorite David Nicholson Bourbon.
An “All Things Kentucky” Charcuterie Board
David Nicholson 1843 is a wheated bourbon with primary notes of honey and butter, plus lighter vanilla and oak notes. The smooth, warm, sweet whiskey pairs well with some of the punchier flavors that you might find on a Kentucky-inspired charcuterie board.
Think the salty, favorited flavors of country ham (just be sure not to be too generous with the portion sizes, or you’ll overwhelm your tastebuds!) as your centerpiece for your arrangements of meat, paired with stackable, hard cheeses like cheddar. While light crackers are a must for any charcuterie board, we wouldn’t blame you if you added mini cornbread or biscuits to this board, especially if you pair them with some slather-worthy pimento cheese. Top it all off with some fresh, local produce and maybe some chocolate bourbon balls for that extra touch of sweetness.
Ingredients for the “All Things Kentucky” board:
- Country ham
- Cheddar
- Mini-cornbread or biscuits
- Pimento cheese
- Something semi-sweet like berries, peaches, or chocolate
- David Nicholson 1843
An “All Things Bold” Charcuterie Board
If, however, you prefer David Nicholson Reserve to 1843, you may want to go a different route. David Nicholson Reserve is a rye bourbon with similar notes of honey and vanilla, but with an undeniable smoky and spicy element. As such, you’ll want to focus in on flavors that can stand up to its bold profile.
Take your tastebuds on an international whirlwind vacation, with bold charcuterie centerpieces like jámon ibérico or spicy chorizo. Rye whiskeys pair well with hard cheeses, too, so try some European favorites such as gouda, parmigiano-reggiano or camembert. For your accompaniments, go a little lighter, with your basic roasted or raw nuts; sliced fruit, like apples; and your favorite thin (yet sturdy) wafer crackers.
Ingredients for the “All Things Bold” board:
- Jámon ibérico or spicy chorizo Cheddar
- Gouda, parmigiano-reggiano, or camembert
- Roasted or raw nuts
- Apples or pears
- Wafer crackers
- David Nicholson Reserve
A “Hold the Meat” Charcuterie Board
While, yes, the very word “charcuterie” is derived from the traditions of smoked and dried meats, some prefer to go lighter on the meat and heavier on the cheeses. If you’re one to always skip over the prosciutto for more gouda, you might also want to go with a less meat-centric theme for your charcuterie board. Luckily, you can keep the bourbon, even if you lose the salami.
David Nicholson Reserve pairs well with charcuterie boards that really play up the sweeter elements, with its smoky, spicy contrast. Think a charcuterie board filled with various types of chocolates, fruits like grapes and apples, and a sweeter bread for dipping in honey or preserves. Add in cheeses like aged gouda, Parmesan or blue cheese, and you’ll never even notice the salami’s missing.
Ingredients for the “Hold the Meat” board:
- Chocolates
- Fruits like grapes or apples
- Preserves
- Aged gouda, parmesan, or blue cheese
- Mixed crackers
- David Nicholson 1843 or David Nicholson Reserve
A “Completely Classic” Charcuterie Board
Sometimes you just want the classics. David Nicholson 1843 pairs exceedingly well with classic charcuterie board flavors and ingredients. If you’re looking to put together a basic, crowd-pleasing board, and just need the ideal whiskey to go with it, look no further.
Sip 1843 alongside charcuterie boards filled with your favorite cured meats, a mixture of soft and hard cheeses, dried and fresh fruits, nuts and olives, and crackers with spreadable condiments like preserves and stone-ground mustard.
Ingredients for the “Completely Classic” board:
- Cured meats
- Soft and hard cheeses
- Dried and/or fresh fruits
- Nuts
- Olives
- Preserves or stone-ground mustards
- Mixed crackers
- David Nicholson 1843
There’s No Wrong Way to Charcuterie
One of the best things about building a charcuterie board is that there’s no wrong way to do it. You can mix and match your favorite flavors to find the perfect combination for you. The only mistake you could make would be not pairing those flavors with David Nicholson.
Find David Nicholson 1843 or David Nicholson Reserve at a store near you.