9 Alcohol & Valentine's Day Candy Pairings For The Perfect Night In
byKaitlyn Wylde
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This Friday, step up your game in the kitchen and channel your inner dessert chef, sommelier, and mixologist powers, by curating a selection of alcohol pairings for Valentine's Day candy. The best way to elevate and enjoy your new collection of sweet treats is to expertly pair them with adult beverages for the perfect balance. Instead of mindlessly snacking on your Valentine's Day candies, or re-gifting that box of chocolates that look too fancy to dig into, be intentional about dessert time and do dig in. Tap into the art of pairing and prepare an interactive dessert to share with your Valentine, or to enjoy all on your own.
Because playing matchmaker between candies and cocktails is not intuitive, Bustle reached out to a beverage and dessert expert for help. According to Chef Zoe Schor, owner of Dorothy Bar and the restaurant Split Rail, in Chicago, "when you’re dealing with any pairings, you’re always looking for complementary or contrasting flavors." In essence, you don't want to wash down a super sweet and fruity candy with an equally super sweet and fruity drink, you want to choose a drink that invites a different flavor profile into your mouth so that the individual flavors have a chance to stand out. "When you’re pairing something like candy with spirits and wine, you also have to think about texture and mouth feel," Schor says. "And you should always look to create something fun and unexpected!"
With the help of Chef Schor and beverage director Michelle Szot, here's a curated list, to help you make the absolute most out of your Valentine's Day candy. Or, to inspire you to run to the pharmacy to stock up on more Valentine's Day candy before it's all gone.