Beverage pairing guide: A drink for every type of dinner

No matter what type of event you are hosting, you can upgrade the experience by pairing drinks to the dinner menu. Whether it is a game day party, a cocktail soiree, or a formal sit-down dinner, beverages can bring out the flavors of your cuisine. Below you will find 3 different types of dining events with cuisine-to-cocktail pairings that will be perfect for the occasion.

Give your guests a sophisticated dining experience by marrying the flavors and tones of your cuisine to a sparkling cocktail or mocktail. Here are 3 major cuisine categories and the drinks you can use to enhance their flavors.

1. Fish and Citrus: Citrus-based beverages can “brighten” the flavors of fish, so choose a beverage with plenty of lemon and lime elements. SodaStream Crafted™ Cocktail Mixers - Grapefruit and Elderflower is a delicious option that is straightforward to make and helps contrast the briny tones of seafood. Garnish with a fresh elderflower to add elegance to your evening.

1. Beef and whiskey*: Steak and beef dishes often have buttery, rich flavors that pair well with the smokey, tones of whiskey. Give your guests a fresh take on a classic with a New Old Fashioned. It’s an approachable cocktail with a touch of sweetness that is easy to drink and will offset the harsher tones of its whiskey base and bring out the subtle complexities of your cooking. Marrying an old fashioned to a steak is a memorable one-two punch, but adding a bit of sparkle and orange peel garnish can take your dinner to the next level.

1. Vegetarian pastas and Aperol Spritz*: Ditch the meat and serve up a delicious tomato-based pasta or lasagna with a perfectly paired Italian cocktail or mocktail. Without the meat to add a smooth richness, the tomato sauce will give off an extra acidity, so offer your guests an Aperol Spritz. It is easy to find alcohol-free versions of Aperol that give the same bitter bite to balance the acidic zest of the tomato-based sauce.

 2. Cocktail party pairing:

When hosting a cocktail party, you will want a lot of small appetizers that guests can easily grab and eat as they socialize. Having a well paired beverage for each of those bites can give your guests options to explore and bring a sense of culinary class and curiosity to your soiree. 

1. Cucumber gin* and tonic with vegetable crudité: Botanical gin and crisp cucumber tones pair perfectly with fresh vegetable crudité. Add a few drops of Lime bubly™ drops to give even more zest with zero calories added.
2. Paloma and shishito peppers: Pair the sweetness of a Starry® Paloma to the spicy kick of a grilled shishito peppers to give a balanced and stellar experience that is super easy to make.
3. SodaStream Crafted™ Cocktail Mixers - Pineapple & Jalapeno with marinated grilled shrimp skewers: The sharp, fresh flavors of grilled shrimp, and the sweet and tart profile of the pineapple create a refreshing and light duo.  SodaStream Crafted™ Cocktail Mixers are super simple. Just fizz, mix, and enjoy.
4. MTN DEW® Cran-Raspberry Fizz with bacon-wrapped dates: Wrap bacon strips around pitted dates and bake until crispy. The sweet and salty flavors of this appetizer balance the sour notes of a MTN DEW® Cran-Raspberry Fizz. 

3. Game day grub and garnish boards:

Viewing parties should be a smorgasbord of sips and snacks that are easy to access. Make it simple for your guest to graze on dips and drinks with charcuterie boards and beverage boards. Take the extra step to marry the flavors and tones of your spread with sparkling cocktails or mocktails. Here are a few easy examples:

• Starry® Dreamonade and buffalo chicken dip: Get your crowd going with a crisp, sparkling Starry® Dreamonade to balance the creamy, spicy flavors of everyone’s favorite buffalo chicken dip. This classic game day dip with a fresh, Starry®-based beverage will definitely have everyone at your event cheering. 
• MTN DEW® Margarita* and tacos: indulge in a delicious MTN DEW® margarita that matches perfectly with tacos. Take your tacos to the next level with a classic cocktail infused with a fresh flavor everyone loves. Why not add chips and guac too?
• Buffalo chicken wings and Pepsi® lemonade: There’s a reason the NFL has chosen Pepsi as it’s official drink for years. That delicious fizz just brings out the big game vibe. Go for extra points by adding a citrus twist to the classic beverage in a simple Pepsi® Lemonade recipe and pairing it with some buffalo chicken wings that everyone is going to love.

Give your next gathering a boost with beverages paired to your fare. The above are just a few examples of the flavors and fun that are open to you within the SodaStream® ecosystem. Match drinks to every dish or lay out beverage boards to let your guests create their own masterpieces. Either way, the SodaStream® ecosystem upgrades your hosting and will leave your invitees impressed. 

*This content is intended for viewers 21+. Please drink responsibly. Excessive drinking can be harmful to your health. Never drink and drive. This content is not intended for readers under the legal drinking age.