If food and cocktail compatibility has always been intriguing you but you’ve never managed to master the art of perfect pairing, look no further because we’re here to help you out! Here are the top four tips on matching cocktails with food, so check them out and learn something new today!

Pick cocktails that complement your meals in the best possible way

A cocktail can complement a dish in two different ways – either by matching its flavors or by contrasting them. In order to get it done properly, the first thing you should take into consideration is the body of your cocktail. For example, heavier cocktails should be paired with lighter dishes, whereas a lighter cocktail should be matched with a heavier meal. Besides that, you should know that a meal and a cocktail that share the same ingredient are highly likely to pair well, too. If you want to contrast them, make sure to match refreshing drinks with spicy dishes and vice versa.

Remember that simplicity is often the key to success

Opting for a perfect cocktail that will complement your meal can get a bit overwhelming sometimes, especially when there’s a multitude of flavors to pick from. This is particularly true when there are many different flavors both in a dish and in a cocktail, which usually leads to confusion and sometimes even palate exhaustion. This is exactly why you should opt for a simple cocktail that won’t take over in terms of taste. In fact, simplicity is the key to success, so go for a gin tonic and you’ll nail this task like a true pro. This cocktail is a combo of two ingredients only, so all you need to do is to buy quality gin online and mix it with some tonic. As simple as that!

Use the cocktail to enhance the flavor of your dish

As already mentioned, cocktails are often used to enhance the flavor of your meals, which is why you should be extra careful with the cocktail you’ll go for. For example, overly sweet dishes should never be combined with sweet cocktails, but with more refreshing, drinkable ones that won’t interfere with the taste of the dish itself. You should also know that some spirits work well with specific types of food, such as vodka and smoked fish, gin and seafood, whiskey and steak, and tequila and mole. Once you’re familiar with these combos, it’ll be much easier for you to design a perfect cocktail that’ll go with your signature dish. On the other hand, you can also take an element or two from the dish and create a cocktail around them. Possibilities are truly infinite!

Make sure to control alcohol levels in your cocktails

Yes, we know that it probably sounds a bit silly, but you know what? Watching alcohol levels in your cocktails is extremely important – especially if you’re planning to have a five-course meal and a cocktail for each dish. This can easily get out of control, which is the last thing you want because being a bit tipsy isn’t really the same thing as being completely drunk. Besides that, too many different types of spirits are highly likely to burn your guests’ taste buds and prevent them from enjoying your amazing dishes, so tone down your cocktails and you’ll do the right thing. This means that your cocktails should be served in smaller glasses (2-ounce or 3-ounce ones), which is the best way to make good combos and ensure that everyone has a great time.

As you can see, pairing cocktails with food doesn’t have to be as tricky as you probably thought. All you need to do is to stick to these four basic rules and you’ll make it happen like a real pro, without a shadow of a doubt!