The Ultimate Guide to Whiskey & Ice Cream
We did it. We paired up pretty much every Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor with its whiskey soulmate. And it's just in time for winter weather and sweater season. Sorry not sorry for your wallet (and your waistline). Grab a pint of your favorite flavor and order up a bottle of whiskey. In fact, let Drizly deliver that whiskey to your door. But you should probably walk to get the ice cream because, you know, calories.
This guide is arranged by Whiskey Type (not alphabetically by ice cream flavor). We're a booze company after all folks.
Disclaimer: Ben & Jerry's was not consulted on the creation of this pairing guide. We're sorry if we offend any of their tastebuds with our whiskey selections. We put a lot of time into tasting ice cream and "sampling" whiskeys. To Ben and Jerry, just know that we're clearly big fans.
Bourbon
Jim Beam & Vanilla
Who says this has to be a sip and spoon combo? Not us. And we make the rules. So, for this combo, we're adding an adults-only twist to an ice cream parlor staple. Simply scoop some classic Ben & Jerry's Vanilla into a glass, then add some Jim Beam and Coca-Cola. Now you've got yourself a whiskey and coke float.
Wild Turkey 101 & Pumpkin Cheesecake
Fall brings with it three unavoidable things: flannel, brown liquor and all pumpkin everything. Sure, it's a little basic, but we're not complaining. Pop open a pint of Pumpkin Cheesecake and pair it with the butterscotch, vanilla and honey flavors of Wild Turkey 101 and find some leaves play in.Bulleit Bourbon & Red Velvet Cake
If you're new to the world of bourbon, this is the combo for you. Bulleit is a bold, flavor-forward bourbonwith a slightly satin finish. Accentuate the fruitiness and downplay the smokiness by pairing it with Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet, then step things up as you get bolder with your brown liquor.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked & Peanut Butter World
Peanut butter and bourbon isn't a combo many people talk about, but maybe they should start. Pick an oaky bourbon, like Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and give it a try. You'll find the full-bodied flavor works surprisingly well with the classic peanut butter flavors you've loved for so long.
Basil Hayden's & Everything But The...
Knob Creek & Cinnamon Buns
Cinnamon is not a flavor that messes around. Anyone who's tried the cinnamon challenge is quietly nodding. And having some bad flashbacks probably. That means any Cinnamon Buns® pairing has to stand up to challenge. And no one would dare say the big, bold (and 100 proof) flavor of Knob Creek ever backed down from anything. This is your new dessert power couple.
Maker's Mark & Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Listen. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Maker's Mark boasts sweet notes of vanilla that linger on the palette with a long, smooth finish. You know what goes great with vanilla? Chocolate. Lots of it.
Willet Pot Still Reserve & Chubby Hubby
Down with dad bod. Resist stereotypes with this dessert combo. Willet may not be one of the most well known Kentucky bourbons, so you'll catch people a little off guard with it. But its robust nose and creamy feel plays well opposite the crunchy pretzels in Chubby Hubby®.
Angel's Envy & Salted Caramel Almond
We're unconvinced angels truly envy anything that happens on Earth. That said, maybe they haven't stumbled upon this lil' combo. The salted caramel of this Ben & Jerry's flavor acts in complete harmony with the caramel flavors of Angel's Envy that hide just below the surface.Four Roses & Cheesecake Brownie
When you double down on the cheesecake, we know who should be the star of the show. With cheesecake ice cream filled with cheesecake brownies, you need a whiskey that won't overpower. Four Roses Bourbon has just enough sweetness to balance it out without overpowering.Scotch
Lagavulin 8 & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Just a couple of classics. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is a Hall of Fame ice cream flavor. But it's not a flavor bomb that'll blow you away. Which is why it can play a supporting role and let the big flavors of Lagavulin 8 Year be the star of the show.
Oban 14 & Vanilla Toffee Bar Crunch
This one is for all you sophisticated dessert lovers. Each of these can be appreciated by novices, but are truly appreciated by those with more advanced tastes. The toffee bar enhances the toffee notes in the scotch, while the waft of smoke and nutmeg work nicely with the coffee ice cream.
Johnnie Walker Black Label & Vanilla Caramel Fudge
The Glenlivet & Phish Food
Even hippies grow up. To an extent, anyway. That's why this pairing works so well. Phish Food® is a psychedelic haze of flavor. The Glenvliet 12 Year is perfectly drinkable Scotch that never overwhelms. Grab a spoon and enjoy the guitar solo.The Black Grouse & Banana Split
A wholesome classic…made a little less wholesome. But whatever. The innocence of the 50s is long gone. Lots of scotches have banana flavors hidden within them that Ben & Jerry's Banana Split can bring out, but we're reaching for The Black Grouse, a blended Scotch whisky. Its smoky finish and cocoa notes add a little something to the ice cream, too.
Talisker 18 Year & Vanilla Toffee Bar Crunch
Aberlour & Blondie Ambition
Not only does Aberlour A'Bunadh have a rich-looking, deep amber color, it's got a full-bodied, creamy feel. So, it feels like a natural partner for the butterscotch toffee flakes and blonde brownies of Blondie Ambition™.
Laphroaig & Keep Caramel and Cookie On
Let's get this out of the way up front: Laphroaig is going to be dominating this partnership. It's a big scotch. One whiff will wake you up and the taste is just as powerful. But it's got great vanilla and toffee notes beneath all that smoke, and those will pair well with the shortbread cookies and caramel swirls.
Glenfiddich 12 Yr & One Sweet World
With fudge chunks, marshmallow swirls and salted caramel surrounded by caramel ice creams, One Sweet World just feels like it wants to give you a hug. Add the butterscotch, wood spices, oatmeal and cinnamon of Glenfiddich 12 Year and this is about as warm as you'll ever feel while eating ice cream.Rye
Bulleit Rye & Americone Dream
Use Bulleit Rye Whiskey to whip up a classic Manhattan, then grab a spoon. Each spoonful will help highlight the caramel undertones of your cocktail. And splurge for a Luxardo cherry on your ice cream to tie this pairing all together.
Old Overholt Rye & The Tonight Dough
This ice cream basically has it all. It needs a match with balanced maltiness and maybe a touch of something smokey to add some depth. That problem is easily fixed with a glass a classic Rye like Old Overholt on the rocks. With char smoke and rich grain aromas on the palate, it's the perfect match.
Woodford Reserve Rye & Pistachio Pistachio
Whether it's the nut or the ice cream, pistachios have a big flavor. They need a big whiskey that won't get lost between spoonfuls. Woodford Reserve Rye has a big flavor that won't break the bank for a nice combo you can enjoy whenever you're in the mood.Canadian Whisky
Canadian Club & Triple Caramel Chunk
Some of us might have drank a lot of Canadian Club in our younger years. Some of us might've even drank too much of it, really. We've got fond memories. But…you might need something strong to get it down. Something like Triple Caramel Chunk, for instance.Crown Royal Deluxe & Strawberry Cheesecake
Irish Whiskey
Jameson & Coffee, Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz
Irish Coffee is a classic. So is ice cream for breakfast. Now you can have both.
Glendalough 7 Yr Single Malt & Chunky Monkey
Yep. We like this pairing. One of newest distilleries (2011) to produce Irish Whiskey in Ireland, this whiskey is aged in first-fill bourbon barrels. Chunky Monkey has banana ice cream filled with fudge chunks and walnuts. And, among other flavors, you'll find notes of cinnamon, nuts and creme brulee in this whiskey. Add a drop of water to this whiskey when sipping to help open up the flavor complexity.
Tullamore D.E.W. & Brewed to Matter
This is gonna sound weird, but just trust us. Or don't. Up to you. But we're gonna say it anyway. Just take some Tullamore D.E.W. and pour it right into your bowl of Brewed to Matter™. It's like a reverse Irish coffee and it'll change your life. Or at least your dessert.Redbreast & Mint Chocolate Cookie
A classic ice cream flavor like this needs a strong match to complement the flavors. Redbreast 12 has a lingering, creamy finish with notes of spice and custard that stand up to the minty, coolness of this pint.
Japanese Whisky
Suntory TOKI & Chocolate Therapy
We know better than to put anything between someone and a much-needed therapy session with a stash of chocolate. Suntory Toki has a light enough body to a little something extra while letting the chocolate shine. Now go ahead and let those feelings out.
Yamazaki 12 Yr & Oat of this Swirled
Ben & Jerry's just wanted to flex their muscle with this one. Even they could somehow make boring ol' oatmeal exciting. Take it one step further by pairing it with a whiskey that boasts notes of apple, cinnamon, vanilla and clove for a whole new take on breakfast flavors for dessert.
Hibiki Harmony & New York Super Fudge Chunk
Like New Yorkers, New York Super Fudge Chunk® is kind of overwhelming. Like, do you need all those chunks? Apparently. You're going to need something to smooth it all out, so reach for Hibiki Harmony. Its sweetness along with a hint of orange peel and white chocolate is exactly what this super ice cream flavor combo needs.American Whiskey
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey & Milk + Cookies
There's something about this combo of fire and silky smoothness that makes it just right. Also it's fun to try and sip a pour of Fireball alongside ice cream because who does that?
Jack Daniel's Honey & Half Baked
Dropping a bunch of honey into some Jack Daniel's sure seems like a half-baked idea. And yet…it totally works. And Half Baked® is another idea that seems like it wouldn't make sense until you get it on your spoon. These two misfits deserve each other. (Tennessee Honey is technically a whiskey-flavored liqueur, but we won't tell if you won't.)
High West Campfire Whiskey & S'mores
Around actual campfires, you have actual s'mores. When fire isn't an option, you get this Ben & Jerry's flavor. Put some High West in your glass for some smoky flavors to complete the whole recreation. Or pour it on top. We won't judge.
Breckenridge Colorado Bourbon & Peanut Butter Cup
Are peanut butter cups the best candy ever? That's for you to decide. (But objectively, they are.) Breckenridge Bourbon has some light notes of cinnamon, vanilla and honey to add a little richness to that peanut-buttery goodness.
TINCUP Colorado Whiskey & Cherry Garcia
Despite its gruff name and appearance, TINCUP is actually plenty fruity and sweet. Another (no shots) rough-ish exterior but heart of gold? Jerry Garcia. After accentuating those fruit notes, the cherry ice cream plays nicely with the rye spice and barrel flavors that warm up the finish of this whiskey.
