Chocolate and whisky, unsurprisingly, go together extremely well. The warming, complex nature of most whiskies complements and undercuts the luxurious, creamy texture of good chocolate. However, matching the two, like any dish, requires careful thought.

The chocolate mitigates the alcohol burn and more medicinal flavors in some of the whiskies, so you can taste the other notes more clearly than you might alone, especially if you’re not already an expert.

Medicinal-tasting whiskies
Minty fresh: Peppermint transforms and tames the aggressive nature like Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Which chocolate? Peppermint

Medicinal notes in whisky, like the legendarily polarising Laphroaig, will settle well with a mint chocolate. A perfect after-dinner palate cleanser, the peppermint combination will be an uplifting one, turning the powerful Laphroaig into a rejuvenating, restorative dram.

Light and fruity whiskies
Almond slice: Lighter whiskies paired with toasted almonds cause subtler flavours to linger with a Glenfiddich 12 Year Old or similar

Which chocolate? Fruit and nuts

Subtler whiskies that smack of orchard fruits should be paired with nuts – ideally toasted almonds  and raisins. All of these ingredients complement each other: raisin with apple, pear with almond. The lingering flavours are likened to the famous ‘everlasting gobstopper’ from Willy Wonka.

Rich, robust whiskies
Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old richness won’t be overshadowed by dark chocolate and ginger

Which chocolate? Dark chocolate and ginger

Dark chocolate with ginger makes for an intense flavour on its own, meaning a lighter whisky will be lost to the punch of the chocolate. A robust dram like Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old, however, is going to match and balance the high cocoa content and strong ginger taste.

It takes a whisky such as this to stand up to really strong dark chocolate and powerful ginger. The result is ultra-intense and, eventually, sublime.’ 

Maritime whiskies
Sea dog: Caramel milk chocolate pairs well with Old Pulteney’s 12 year old, whiff of the ocean

Which chocolate? Milk chocolate with caramel

Old sea dogs that whiff of salt and spray work well with great-quality milk chocolate. Ma recommend milk chocolate with caramel tones that will pair perfectly with distinctive tastes like Old Pulteney. Between the whisky and the chocolate, the pair make up salted caramel – a match made in heaven. 

Heavily peated whiskies
Once burned: Powerful caramel can go toe-to-toe with fiery Islay whiskies such as Lagavulin 16 Year Old

Which chocolate? Intense salted butter caramel

For heavier, burned caramel-flavoured chocolate, consider a peated whisky. Smoky, burned, sugar-creamy milk chocolate’, more intense than something you’d pair with a maritime whisky, is the choc you should match to Ardbeg or Lagavulin. The end result? Relaxing by an open fire, regardless of whether you’re anywhere near a place with a working chimney.

Fruity and spicy whiskies
Hazel eyes: Rich nuttiness and a high cocoa content perfectly complement Dalmore 12 year old

Which chocolate? Dark chocolate with hazelnut

Really intense hazelnut and cocoa filling collides with contrasting spice and high fruity notes to create a real flavour explosion. The slight bitterness from the high cocoa content, the spice from the whisky and the rich, fruity flavours all combine in a taste that really is the gift that keeps on giving. ‘There’s so many things going on. Think carnivals and Hogmanay at the same time!’

Delicate, fine whiskies
Truffle shuffle: White chocolate, chilli and lemongrass truffle won’t overpower delicate drams like  Auchentoshan 12 Year Old

Which chocolate? Chilli & lemongrass truffle

Chilli and chocolate is a popular flavour combo, and pairing a delicate chilli chocolate with lighter, sweeter whiskies like Auchentoshan brings unexpected flavours to the fore. The Cocoa Mountain team recommends a white chocolate truffle with chilli and lemongrass for a subtle, gentle and thoroughly warming experience.

Sweet, oily whiskies
Pecan: The right chocolate will elevate sweet whiskies such as Glenmorangie The Original

Which chocolate? Maple and Pecan

Maple and pecan is a classic flavour combination that can be found in most high-end chocolate boxes. Should you come across one, save it for a caramel, citrus-bouquet sipping whisky like Glenmorangie. The end result feels like maple syrup on fluffy American pancakes, enhancing a whisky that won’t break the bank.

Powerful, Sherried whiskies
White Christmas: Fruitcake notes from Glenfarclas 15 year old benefit from pairing with white chocolate

Which chocolate? White chocolate

Creamy Sherry and rich Christmas cake flavors could battle it out with more intense chocolates, but lose the subtleties of both. The Cocoa Mountain team recommends a high-quality white chocolate as a perfect pairing here.

‘The white chocolate is quite unusual as it’s not too sweet, and will complement, not overwhelm, the whisky. With strongly-flavored whiskies, the chocolate’s there to enhance, rather than compete.