Pop-tarts and Fine Whiskeys; A Pairing Guide

"This pastry has a relatively simple palate of dry cocoa powder and confection creme, and is plenty sweet. The dry, slightly smoky punch of The Hakushu 12 cuts through some of that sweetness, and pairs well with the strong dessert flavors."

"What better goes with a S'mores than a smoky campfire? This was a no brainer. Sotol is a (imo, underrated) Mexican spirit, adjacent to Tequila and Mezcal. It's deeply wood-smokey and is a treat to pair with the s'mores."

"The chocolate chip pop tart is unique, it's not overwhelmingly sweet or bursting with artificial flavor. It's toasty, bready, with a background of chocolate and caramel. It won't mask the flavor of a delicate spirit. St George apple brandy is smooth and light, and the light floral apple and cinnamon notes pair well with the chocolate and caramel of the pastry."

"The Wildlicious Wild Berry pastry tastes like there was an accident at the factory where all the different fruit fillings spilled on the floor, so they scooped it all up and blended into this. And... I kinda like it. But it's very strong, so instead of finding a 'compliment' I instead chose something to 'punch through' the flavors. In this case, the funky, briny, peaty Ardbeg Drum can stand against the wildlicious flavor horde."

"Cherry, more tart than sweet, is one of my favorites. A warm, rich Bourbon like Bib & Tucker matches nicely. The melange of cherry and bourbon flavors are reminiscent of an old fashioned cocktail."

"Very similar to cherry, but a stronger sweetness is better complimented by a drier, but still mild, bourbon like Angel's Envy."

"The creamy, chocolately, and surprisingly tasty richness of this pasty is quite satisfying. Zacapa XO is an equally decadent rum that is aged in an array of wine casks. This slightly tannic fruitiness that is imbued in the spirit compliments perfectly with the pastry."

"The Raspberry toaster pastry is tart, fruity, without much breadiness. This Bruichladdich release's dry, deeply malty body provides a pleasant balance."

"This pastry decently mild and smooth. It can pair well with a slightly sweeter spirit with a full body, like Nikka Coffey Grain. Both are smooth, mildly sweet, and rich. The creaminess of the pastry balances well with the wet malt of the Nikka."

"This pastry, with its large amount of filling, has a cloying artificial sweetness to it. But it's not very strong, so in this case a light, floral, slightly smoky whiskey can cut through the sweetness but not have its delicate flavors overpowered."

"Such a rich, fudgey, almost bitter chocolate can only be matched by a strong dark smokey whiskey, like Abomination. Anything else would get steamrolled, but the young deeply charred single malt can cut through."

"The blueberry pastry is well balanced and fruity, and not too sweet. In this case, a mildly spicy, caramelly, and wholly delicious Angel's Envy Rye won't be overpowered and provide a dessert-y complement."

"Brown Sugar is a fan favorite, and is one of mine as well. Tastes good, very balanced. Not much is needed to complement it, so instead I'm just putting it together with one of my favorite whiskeys. The whistlepig is really fantastic in any setting."

"This pop-tart tastes, really surprisingly, like a good pumpkin pie. Full of baking spice and pumpkin flavor. This might be a hot take, but I think a chilling herbal absinthe can provide a nice mulling counterpoint to the spice. And St George absinthe is some of the best."