Biltong and Whiskey: How to Pair a Dram With Cured Beef

Biltong and whiskey suit each other because the salt, pepper and dry-cured beef stand up to a spirit with real character. This guide is for adults of legal drinking age, and for a kosher household it also flags what to ask your rabbi before you pour.

We make certified Glatt Kosher biltong in Florida. Every year some of our customers tell us the same thing: a few slices of biltong and a small pour of whiskey is how they end a long week. It is simple, it needs no kitchen, and it works. Here is how to pair them well, with honest notes on where it goes wrong. If you want the kosher background first, read how Grub's certification works.

Why this pairing works

Whiskey is strong, and strong flavors need something to push back. Biltong does that.

• Salt. Salt softens the sharp edge of alcohol and brings out sweeter notes in the glass.
• Fat and chew. A slice of beef coats your mouth. Your next sip tastes rounder.
• Spice. Black pepper and coriander echo the spice you find in many whiskeys, so the two feel related.
• No sauce. Biltong is dry. Nothing on it gets in the way of the spirit.

There is also a practical reason. Whiskey is usually sipped slowly, over an hour or more. Our Sliced Biltong is ready to eat, needs no refrigeration, and holds up through a long evening. You do not need a plate, a fork or a stove.

Match by style of whiskey

Whiskeys vary widely. Here is a plain way to think about it, using the style in the glass and not any particular producer.

Sweet, rounder whiskeys

Whiskeys with caramel, vanilla and a soft finish pair well with the peppery bite of Original or the heat of Peri Peri. The sweetness in the glass calms the spice, and the spice keeps the sweetness from getting heavy. If you enjoy a contrast, this is the combination to try first.

Smoky or peaty whiskeys

Smoke is a big flavor. Pair it with something savory that can hold its own. Original works because it tastes of beef and coriander without competing. Loaded Garlic is also good, because roasted garlic is savory and rounder, and it sits comfortably beside smoke. Peri Peri can be too much alongside a very smoky pour, so test that one carefully.

Lighter, fruitier whiskeys

A delicate pour is easy to flatten. Choose Original, eat a small piece, and sip slowly. A very hot bag will cover the whiskey, so save Peri Peri for something with more weight.

With a splash of water or ice

Adding a little water opens a whiskey up. It also tames the alcohol, which helps if you are pairing with Peri Peri. Ice mutes flavor, but it can make a hot snack easier to enjoy. Neither is wrong. Do what you like.

Biltong or Meat Candy?

We also make Meat Candy, our cooked, glazed beef jerky, and it is a different style. It is sweet where biltong is savory, in two flavors: Hickory Kickory Dock and Baa-Baa BBQ Sheep. Some people like the sweetness with a dry, smoky pour. Others find it too sweet beside a sweet whiskey. Our Meat Candy page describes both flavors. It has a glaze, so check the label for anything you need to avoid.

Our general advice: put biltong on the table first. Add Meat Candy as a second bowl and let the group decide. The kosher beef jerky collection shows both.

The kosher questions to settle first

Our biltong is certified Glatt Kosher. The whiskey is a separate question, and some points about it are contested. We state what is plainly accepted and leave the rest to your rabbi.

• A kosher product certificate on the biltong does not cover the bottle. The spirit needs to be acceptable to you on its own.
• Some people ask about how a whiskey was finished or aged, including whether it was in casks that held something else before. Communities differ on this. If it matters to your family, ask your rabbi. We do not name distilleries and we do not rule on the open questions.
• Biltong is meat. Keep cheese off a kosher meat plate. Pair biltong with pareve items such as olives, pickles, roasted nuts if no one has an allergy, dark chocolate if you confirm it is pareve, and fresh fruit.

How to set up a tasting

1. Choose two or three whiskeys in different styles, and pour small amounts. This is a tasting, not a round.
2. Put out three small bowls: Original, Peri Peri and Loaded Garlic. If you do not want to open three full bags, the Biltong Sampler Pack has one mini bag of each flavor.
3. Add olives, pickles and fruit as palate cleansers, along with plain water.
4. Taste the whiskey alone first. Then eat a piece of biltong, wait a moment, and taste it again. Notice what changed.
5. Write down your favorite combination. You will forget otherwise.

For a bigger night, our biltong collection has every size. Our guide to the best drinks to pair with biltong also covers beer, wine and non-alcoholic options if some of your guests do not drink.

When this pairing is the wrong idea

Be honest with yourself about a few situations.

• You do not drink. Then skip it. Biltong goes well with seltzer, tea or coffee.
• You are driving, or anyone at the table is under the legal drinking age. Pour nothing.
• Your whiskey is a rare bottle. Heat and salt can overwhelm a delicate pour. Taste it neat first and add biltong later, if at all.
• You are eating this instead of dinner. Salty snacks and spirits on an empty stomach are not a good plan. Eat real food.

Tasting notes to look for

You do not need a wine-snob vocabulary to enjoy this. A few plain observations are enough, and they make the evening more fun.

• Does the salt make the whiskey taste sweeter? It often does. That is the pairing working.
• Does the heat from Peri Peri build or fade after a sip? A sip can cool it for a moment or fan it. Different whiskeys do each.
• Does the pepper in the biltong match anything in the glass? Some pours have a peppery finish. Notice whether the two line up.
• Which bite makes you reach for the glass first? That is usually the strongest combination.

There is no right answer. If you enjoy it, it works.

A note on portions and pace

Whiskey is sipped. Biltong is nibbled. Treat both slowly. A few slices per person per round is plenty, and sliced biltong travels well if you are taking this to a friend's house. Our Sliced Biltong Mini's are one-ounce sealed bags, which makes them convenient to bring along for a visit without opening a large bag. Keep drinks modest, drink water between pours, and never drive after drinking.

Bottom line

Biltong and whiskey work because salt, spice and dry beef give the spirit something to lean on. Use Original as the safe default, Loaded Garlic for smoky pours, and Peri Peri when the whiskey is sweet and strong enough to stand up to it. Settle the kosher questions about the bottle with your rabbi before you pour, keep cheese off the plate, and enjoy it responsibly if you are of legal drinking age.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of snack goes best with whiskey?

Salty, savory snacks with some spice and chew. Biltong fits that description because the salt softens the alcohol and the beef coats your palate. Olives, pickles and roasted nuts also work.

Which biltong flavor goes best with whiskey?

Original is the safest choice because it tastes of beef and coriander without competing with the spirit. Loaded Garlic works well with smoky whiskeys. Peri Peri suits sweeter, bolder pours, and it can overpower delicate ones.

Is the whiskey I pair with kosher biltong also kosher?

Not automatically. Our biltong is certified Glatt Kosher, but that does not extend to a bottle. Some points about whiskey are contested, including how it was finished. Ask your rabbi if it matters to you.

Can I eat biltong with whiskey and cheese?

Not on a kosher meat board. Meat and dairy are not served together. Use pareve pairings like olives, pickles and fruit with the biltong.

Does biltong need to be kept cold at a whiskey tasting?

No. It is air-dried and ready to eat, and it needs no refrigeration. Keep opened bags sealed between rounds and away from heat.

Is Meat Candy better than biltong with whiskey?

It depends on your taste. Meat Candy is sweet and glazed, and biltong is savory and air-dried. Biltong is the more traditional match for a dry or smoky pour. Many people like to have both on the table.

Who is this for?

Adults of legal drinking age only. If you do not drink, biltong pairs well with seltzer, tea or coffee instead.