Monday, April 4, 2011

Top Ten Candy Bars and Wine Pairings



Eating and drinking your sweets
They say "candy is dandy but liquor is quicker." Why not have both? The intensity inherent to dessert wine nicely compliments an array of sweets. Such boldness plays well with dark and milk chocolate, caramel, nuts, and more exotic flavors like coconut. Given the various innuendo that these yummy treats provide, these pairings are "sure to satisfy."

Pairing Hints:
● Nuts: wine, cream sherry, madeira, and tawny ports have nutty toasted nuances
that mirror nut flavors.
● Nougat: Late harvest or Sauternes dessert wines add to nougat's creamy
texture.
● Chocolate: Ports and chocolate both
● Nuts: wine, cream sherry, madeira, and tawny ports have nutty toasted nuances
that mirror nut flavors.
● Nougat: Late harvest or Sauternes dessert wines add to nougat's creamy
texture.
● Chocolate: Ports and chocolate both play the game of bitter and sweet.
● Coconut: Well-oaked wines such as aged tawny or vintage port reflect the
coconut in the wood.

Kinds of nougat: 
The first, and most common, is white nougat (which appeared in Cremona, Italy in the early 15th century and later in Montélimar, France, in the 18th century) is made with beaten egg whites and honey. 

The second is brown nougat (referred to as "mandorlato" in Italy and nougatine in French) is made without egg whites and has a firmer, often crunchy texture. 

The third is the Viennese or German nougat which is essentially a chocolate and nut (usually hazelnut) praline.

The most popular candy bars based on 
sales and libations to pair them with:

10. Hershey Bar
Basic pleasure can be a tricky match. Try a orange Muscat from Quady that turns a simple taste into the classic combination of citrus and chocolate.

9. Oh Henry!
Fudge, peanuts, and caramel covered with chocolate demands a complex and intense port such as Tawny 20 Year.

8. M&Ms
Not a candy bar, but the melt in y our mouth element cannot be ignored. Try Croft LBV with a handful of these candies.

7. Baby Ruth
Nougat, peanuts and chocolate are a match for sauternes or muscat

6. 3 Musketeers
All-chocolate nougat covered with milk chocolate is slightly complicated. Compliment, not contrast, is the key here, so use King Estate "Vin Glace" Pinot Gris or
Peter Lehmann Botrytis Semillon.

5. Milky Way
Chocolate malt-flavored nougat and caramel covered with milk chocolate needs good
intensity combined with a fruity edge. Try a Brachetto d' Acqui semi-sparkling.

4. Butterfinger
Butterfinger consists of a crunchy blend of butter and peanut butter covered with
chocolate. Peanut butter's creamy, nutty intensity combines well with sherry; enjoy
it with Alvear's Amontillado.

3. Kit Kat
Wafers, nougat and chocolate need a spicy Madeira like Sandeman "Fine Rich."

2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Again, peanut butter needs a bold partner; try a cream sherry like with the Pedro Ximenez grape

1. Snickers
You can't go wrong with nougat, caramel, roasted peanuts, and milk chocolate. The
number-one selling bar deserves only the best: try it with a solera sherry.

For the adventurous, experience an Almond Joy or Mounds bar with A fine Vintage port.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Reese's are my favorite! Personally I like Croft's Distinction port or Blandy's Sercial 5yr Madiera with them. Creative blog post!

Chris Reid Wine and Beverage said...

Thanks for the input! Pairings are never an exact! You know the first rule: Pair what ya' like!