- 10/24/2023
Pairing Pendleton® Whisky with Game Day Snacks
Game day is all about the snacks and libations. We’re all about setting out a winning spread, and in our opinion, there is no better way to cheer on your favorite team than with Pendleton® Whisky. This true Western tradition pairs perfectly with the other great American pastime, sports!
Whether you’re into football, baseball, hockey, or any other team sport, there’s nothing like getting together with friends over a game with some excellent game-day whisky drinks and snacks.
If you’re not sure where to start, read on for inspiration!
Best Football Party Cocktails and Game Day Food Ideas
Elevating your game day experience is easy with the perfect pairing of whisky and snacks, so here are a few ideas to help you stay energized and focused through all the action.
Tips for Awesome Game Day Snacks and Drinks
Probably the best tip we can offer is to make it easy. You don’t want to serve food that’s too complicated or will keep you in the kitchen. Anything you can pre-make, batch, and don’t need a lot of fuss to keep it fresh is what you want to aim for.
With that in mind, here are some of our favorites—with suggested whisky pairings, of course!
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This dip is always a winner, and with only five ingredients, it’s super easy to throw together for game day.
- Whole Rotisserie Chicken
- ¾ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (or to taste)
- 16oz of Cream Cheese (room temperature)
- 1 Cup Blue Cheese Dressing
- 1-½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
First things first, preheat your over to 350˚, then shred the chicken into chunks by hand and put it into a pot on the stove with the hot sauce. Mix well and add the cream cheese, blue cheese dressing, and half of the shredded cheese. Stir over low heat until all is blended well. Transfer to an oven-safe dish, sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Cover and store in the fridge until game day. Pop it in a 350˚ oven for 40 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers, celery, carrot sticks, or crusty bread.
Whisky Pairing: Pendleton® Whisky 1910 Rye
With a creamy and rich dish, you can’t go wrong with Pendleton® Whisky 1910 Rye. Its spicy, smoky character is the perfect match for the juicy, savory goodness of the rotisserie chicken.
WHISKEY COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Keeping it simple and classic is the best way to go on game day, and a Pendleton and Cola always hits the spot.
Sheet Pan Sliders
This is about the easiest recipe for making a multitude of sliders you’ll ever find.
This recipe makes 12 sliders, but you can double it if you want more.
- 2-½ lbs Ground Beef
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ Cup Chopped Onion
- 12-15 Slices of your favorite cheese (or enough to cover the pan)
- Package of uncooked bacon
Preheat your oven to 400°. Mix all the ingredients together, press half of it into the sheet pan, top with cheese, add another layer of meat and a layer of bacon, and bake at 400˚ for 40 minutes. When it’s done, cut into squares and place in slider buns.
To serve: slider buns, condiments, tomatoes, pickles, etc.
Whisky Pairing: Pendleton® Whisky Midnight
You need a bold whisky to match the rich juiciness of your sliders. We suggest Pendleton® Whisky Midnight; its sweet complexity will elevate your sliders into the hall of fame!
WHISKY COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: We love a good Manhattan, and this classic cocktail achieves MVP status when it’s made with Pendleton® Whisky Midnight. Best of all, you can batch it beforehand, so you don’t have to take time away from the game to mix it up.
This recipe makes one drink; multiply by the number of drinks you expect to serve. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
- 1.5 oz Pendleton® Whisky Midnight
- ¾ oz Sweet Vermouth of your choice (or to taste; some like it sweeter, in which case we suggest going half and half with each spirit)
- 2-3 dashes of Angostura or your favorite bitters
You’ll also need good quality cocktail cherries to garnish. No ice is necessary if the drink is cold. Serve in chilled coupes or rocks glasses, straight up or over ice, as you prefer.
Game Day Starts with Pendleton® Whisky
While we can’t help with the clean-up, we can help with setting up your game day party for success. Stocking up on Pendleton® Whisky and barware is the easy part. Order now and get your favorite bottles delivered to your door!
