Spirits and pairings: 8 funky ideas for spring

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Irish Cream + matcha

You already know the classic coffee-and-Irish-cream combo, but if you’re in the mood to break the rules and add a little extra oomph, try stirring Irish cream into a matcha — hot or iced. It’s the perfect touch of sweetness, and the colour is pure spring energy.;

Carolans Irish cream has a flavour all its own. Made with top quality Irish whiskey, fresh cream, and honey, it’s as silky and indulgent as it gets.

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Margarita + fried chicken

Forget the guac and tacos — this is all about mixing cultures, textures, and flavours to surprise your taste buds with a friedmeetszesty combo that’ll knock you sideways. The lime in the margarita cuts through the oil, refreshes your palate, and resets every bite, while the salty crunch of the chicken fires up the cocktail in return. And that contrast? We’re obsessed. The chicken brings the comfort, while the tequilaandlime mix keeps the energy high.

Cazadores tequila is made from 100% blue agave and has stayed true to its roots since 1922. Authentic and smooth, it also delivers bright citrus and herbal notes — perfect for shaking up the ultimate margarita.

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Spiced rum + carrot cake

A duo that seriously clicks. The spices in the rum (cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla) echo the ones in the cake — like they were meant to be together from the start. The cream cheese frosting brings that little tangy punch, and the rum, with its round, mellow profile, softens it just right. One plush bite, one warm sip — pure harmony.

Morbleu is a Québec made rum with a truly unique profile. With its beautiful spiced warmth, it’s divine on the rocks and brings incredible depth to cocktails. A solid bragging right: it earned Best of Class in 2022 at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition — a major win in the world of wine and spirits.

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Hugo Spritz + fish tacos

The perfect pairing to celebrate the return of sunnier days. The fish, fresh and delicate, lets the floral notes of St-Germain shine, adding a bright little sparkle to the dish. With the cocktail’s bubbles and citrusy lift, every bite feels livelier and more refreshing. A vibrant duo that’s spring through and through.

St-Germain is crafted from freshly picked elderflower blossoms gathered every spring. Made with a natural recipe and no artificial flavours, it delivers a balanced floral profile that truly shines in an Hugo Spritz — and in plenty of other cocktails, too.

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Gin + oysters or seaweed chips

Here, everyone’s in the same boat: fresh, coastal, and lightly salty. The seaweed and herbal notes in the gin blend naturally with the briny character of the oysters, boosting that ocean vibe without overwhelming it. With seaweed chips, the pairing feels even more instinctive — the salt and crunch highlight the gin’s saline touch and wake up its complexity. It’s a match that literally tastes like the shoreline and instantly sparks vacation daydreams.

St-Laurent is a fully natural, small batch gin that marries botanicals from around the world with seaweed from the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. After being vapourinfused in their signature “diver’s helmet” basket, it’s slowly macerated, creating a complex and distinctive flavour profile.

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Whiskey + banana bread

The vanilla, caramel, and driedfruit notes in the whiskey naturally echo the soft sweetness of the dessert. The gentle warm spices in the whiskey lift the flavours of the banana bread without overpowering them — like the two together become even more indulgent. The result: an endofdinner duo that makes you want to go back for a second slice.

The Busker Triple Cask is smooth for a simple reason: it’s aged in three different types of barrels — bourbon, Marsala, and sherry — each adding its own boost of flavour. The result is a whiskey with notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit, and a mellow touch of warm spice. A great bangforyourbuck bottle to sip or mix.

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Ready-to-drink + beet & goat cheese salad

We usually think of cocktails as an apéro thing, not as something to pair with food. But this one works beautifully with a beetandgoatcheese salad. The cranberry’s acidity wakes up the sweetness of the beets and refreshes the creamy goat cheese. The vodka’s clean, neutral profile doesn’t steal the spotlight and lets the whole mix stay bright and fresh. Plus, the colours are a perfect match.

Absolut Ocean Spray Canneberge, is the classic cocktail in a readytodrink format. Perfectly balanced, it’s made with simple ingredients: premium Absolut vodka, real cranberry juice, sparkling water, and natural flavours. It’s fresh, it’s ready, it’s effortless.

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Scotch + smoked salmon or bacon chips

The woody, lightly toasted notes in the Scotch echo the savoury smokiness of the salmon, creating a pairing that’s both decadent and deeply satisfying. And with bacon chips — a simplebutchic option — the match is surprisingly natural: the crunch and smokiness meld beautifully with the whisky’s roasted nuances. A duo that’s sure to impress (and surprise) your friends.

Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve is aged for 14 years in American oak barrels that once held bourbon, then finished in new, deeply charred casks. The result is a rich, complex, indulgent whisky with notes of caramel, warm woodspice, candied orange, and a beautiful toastedoak character.

In partnership with T. J. Carolan & Son Ltd, Tequila Cazadores de Arandas, Distillerie Mariana inc., St-Germain, Distillerie St-Laurent, Royal Oak Distillery Limit, Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd., William Grant & Sons Brands Ltd.