7 foods made infinitely better by adding whiskey

Whiskey, it's said, is an acquired taste, whether it be from Scotland, Japan, The United States or, say, Israel. But that doesn't mean it has no place in the hearts and minds (and tastebuds) of those who don't like it. There are, in fact, a variety of foods whose flavors are enhanced by whiskey and even make it more palatable. Below, seven of the best from the bunch.

Ice cream

Brands like Ben & Jerry's use whiskey in their ice cream, so you should too. (Photo: Augie Schwer/Flickr)

I scream, you scream, we all scream for whiskey. That's how it goes, right? Well, maybe for adults. That's why whiskey ice cream makes sense. It's traditionally an artisanal flavor, but large manufacturers like Ben & Jerry's have recently gotten in on the action, too. If you're struggling to find whiskey ice cream and don't have the means to make it yourself, pouring a dollop over a couple scoops of vanilla will do just fine.

BBQ meat

BBQ sauce on ribs is really good but BBQ sauce with a bit of whiskey on ribs is outright divine. (Photo: vichie81/Shutterstock)

Putting aside the debate over what constitutes BBQ, let's just say you like to eat it "wet" – meaning with a sauce of some sort. Whether pork, beef or chicken, ribs, brisket or breast, it's advisable you add a bit of whiskey to give the sauce a nice punch. There's a countless number of recipes out there for every taste, and you can even get whiskey-flavored BBQ sauces bottled in your local supermarket.

Halva

Many types of halva are available, as shown in this bakery in Israel. Whiskey, however, is the best. (Photo: Miriam Kresh)

This sesame-based sweet comes in a variety of flavors like plain, chocolate and pistachio – but none can compete with the potency of the whiskey variety. Israel's Halva Kingdom – with Tel Aviv and Jerusalem locations – is a shop that's been in the halva-making business for 70 years and has 60 flavors to choose from. Employees will invariably tell you it's the top seller, and for good reason. It's exquisite.

Chocolate

Chocolate truffles like these benefit (Photo: cacaobug/Flickr)

As if chocolate isn't good enough, right? Whiskey and chocolate are so versatile together it's hard to pin down one specific chocolatey dish that stands out from any other. So we'll just say that chocolate cake, truffles, mousse and sauces are always a good thing to add whiskey to.

Chili

This chili includes beef, beans and plenty of cheddar cheese on top. (Photo: MSPhotographic/Shutterstock)

It's not unusual to yearn for a bowl of chili or a nice glass of whiskey on a cold winter night. Therefore, it makes total sense to combine the two as an exercise in efficiency. Both tomato- and broth-based chilis will do for this. Whatever else you want to add is up to you – just don't forget the booze!

Brussels sprouts

Just toss a little whiskey over your Brussels sprouts before roasting and you'll add a load of flavor. (Photo: Bartosz Luczak/Shutterstock)

If you don't know what you are doing with Brussels sprouts, you are liable to end up with a very dull dish. But get creative with some whiskey (and maybe a bit of bacon), and you go from ordinary to extraordinary very quickly. Toss them, glaze them – whatever way you decide to do it, adding whiskey to your Brussels sprouts should be a win-win.

Fondue

Adding whiskey to cheese fondue gives the decadent dish a kick. (Photo: beats1/Shutterstock)

Bless the Swiss, for they created this glorious cheese dish (that should be made an official maxim, by the way). While fondue is famous for incorporating wine and an assortment of cheeses, substituting whiskey for the wine adds a delightful bite. If you really want to go crazy when it comes time for dessert, add a bit of that whiskey to the chocolate fondue, too.