The Addition of Acid in Alcoholic Beverages Brings Out Big Flavors in Seafood
A certain amount of acid is needed to bring out the bold, beautiful flavors of seafood. Therefore, cocktails made with tomato, lemon, and lime juices are ideal. Think how these flavors make you feel. They’re cool, refreshing, and they give off a light vibe, one that doesn’t mask the tastes you should be enjoying when you have fresh fish and lobster.
Fresh Herbs Help Bring Out Incredible Flavors
Its not just the acidity from alcoholic beverages that works so well with fresh seafood though. Fresh herbs are also fantastic. Think basil and mint. Muddling them with a pestle and adding the herbs to a cocktail gives it a level of earthiness that works well with the season. You can also garnish cocktails with sprigs of rosemary, basil leaves or mint leaves. Herbs like these are healthful as well as a beautiful match for a fresh catch from the sea.
Here are some summer cocktails paired with seafood for you to try!
A Classic Bloody Mary with Shrimp
Cold and spicy, the iconic Bloody Mary is shrimps perfect partner in crime. With V8, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Tabasco, pepper, and vodka, it has just the right kick. Shrimp can also serve as a garnish for this delicious cocktail if you’re serving a few guests. Otherwise, you can set up a Bloody Mary bar for your guests to add their own accouterments including the shrimp. This refreshing cocktail has a kick to it with is calmed down with the shrimp that it comes with. People are known to order a Bloody Mary in the morning on cruise ships and at hotels.
A Lime Margarita with Fish Tacos
Fish tacos are a festive food to serve for your summer celebration. The best fish is a fresh white fish like tilapia. Keeping it simple is best with cilantro and lime juice, though many people love adding creamy coleslaw, shredded red cabbage, pico de gallo, or even fresh avocados on top. Along with your fish taco bar at your party, you can allow your guests to serve themselves a tangy lime Margarita. Make a big pitcher of it and keep Margarita glasses beside it. Don’t forget a bucket of ice for those that like it on the rocks or Margarita salt so they can rim their glasses if they see fit. You can also turn it into a frozen drink with your blender, or add other fruits to it to sweeten it up if you’d prefer. Doing this is especially good with our favorite lobster, which you’ll find more cocktails to pair with below!
Gin and Tonic with Oysters
A dry gin provides enough contrast to mellow out the sweetness and brininess of fresh oysters. Gin and tonic is also an incredibly easy drink to make. The key is in choosing a quality gin. Interestingly, in the states, many people choose lime as the garnish for a gin and tonic, but in England, lemon is the chosen citrus for this cocktail. Try them both! Slice them into thin wheels and keep plenty of ice in a bucket for your guests to mix one up to their liking. They go splendidly with oysters which are often considered a delicacy. That is why they taste so good when you finally have them.
A Lavandula with Scallops
The famed Scarlet hotel serves a beautiful drink called the Lavandula. But you wont need to travel across the world to get it. Make it at home using vodka, Cointreau, and lavender syrup. Lavender is soothingly sweet and incredibly fragrant. Its very delicate which is why it’s an outstanding match for something as delicate as scallops. The pairing on your palate will bring out the brightness in this fresh seafood. Its also a nice choice for oysters and other shellfish.
Bourbon with Blackened Mahi
A simple way to prepare fish, blackening it brings out complex flavors. Drinking a cocktail with bourbon gives the right balance of strength to go with this bold dish. While bourbon on its own might be too strong for your guests, try it mixed with a simple syrup, Benedictine, and orange bitters for a refreshing citrus twist. Long nights, good conversation, and even better food awaits you during the warmest season of the year. You can enjoy this meal on a romantic date night for two or make it to share with friends at your annual cookout.
Pairing libations with meals is a common practice at home and in the restaurant industry. It allows you to enjoy the full flavor of both the seafood that you’ve chosen to eat and the cocktail that you’ve prepared or ordered to drink. At dinner parties with adult guests, its standard to serve alcohol with a meal.