Are you used to automatically pouring red wine alongside a cheese selection? While it is a classic, the tannins in wine can sometimes “lock up” the subtler flavor nuances of certain cheeses. A far more exciting choice, becoming increasingly popular among gourmands, is pairing cheeses with high-quality craft gin. The botanical complexity and alcohol content of gin work as a “palate cleanser,” preparing your taste buds for every subsequent bite.
In this guide, we look at how to take your next gathering or gift to a new level by pairing Junimperium’s distinctive gins with the right cheeses and snacks.
Why Do Gin and Cheese Go So Well Together?
Just like with wine, the principle of balance applies when pairing gin and food. Cheese is inherently a fatty and often salty food, whereas gin is acidic, botanical, and crisp. This contrast is the key to success – the alcohol and juniper in the gin cut through the richness of the cheese, allowing both flavors to shine without one overshadowing the other.
Achieving a balance of flavors is essential when pairing gin and food, reflecting the principles of wine pairing where flavors must harmonize. With the right partner, the cheese becomes creamier, and the gin reveals its hidden berry or spicy nuances, offering a flavor experience of an entirely new quality.
Cheese and Gin Pairings: What to Serve with What?
The Junimperium selection features drinks with very different characters, ranging from classic dry gin to berry liqueurs. Each style has its ideal cheese companion that brings out the beverage’s best qualities.
Our award-winning Blended Dry Gin is juniper-forward, slightly citrusy, and has a peppery note. Such a clean and crisp taste needs a partner in a cheese that is strong enough, but not too sharp. Excellent companions include Manchego, aged Gouda, or Pecorino. The gin’s juniper berries and citrus notes complement the nutty and salty character of these cheeses, while the fatty cheese softens the strength of the gin, making the drink surprisingly mellow.
If you wish to offer something truly intense, Navy Strength Gin with its higher alcohol content (59.2%) is your sure choice. A more intense flavor experience can stand up to the strongest cheeses, making blue cheeses like Stilton, Roquefort, or Gorgonzola ideal matches here. The creamy and sharp nature of blue cheese requires a drink capable of washing the palate clean of fat, and the robust juniper of Navy Strength gin handles this perfectly.
Flavored gins, such as our Rhubarb Edition or Summer Edition, offer sweeter and fresher notes that pair well with cheeses that are naturally more acidic or creamy. The acidity of rhubarb and the specific taste of goat cheese form a classic culinary pair. Meanwhile, the citrusy freshness of the Summer Edition pairs wonderfully with delicate, milky cheeses like Burrata or Mozzarella, especially if you add a little fresh basil to the snack.
Our Sloe Gin is essentially a liqueur – full-bodied, plummy, and sweet – and should be treated similarly to port wine. The best companion here is aged Cheddar or sweeter dessert cheeses. The salty aged cheese and sweet sloe liqueur create an irresistible salty-sweet contrast. In the wintertime, however, our Winter Edition, featuring lingonberry, coriander, and cardamom, pairs excellently with smoked cheese or cheese with caraway seeds.
Sides and Serving
Tasting gin and cheese isn’t just about two components. To create a complete experience, it is worth adding the right snacks to the table to help tie the flavors together. Recommended sides include olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and rye bread crisps. The black bread characteristic of Estonia is often a better choice alongside gin than white bread, as its sour taste meshes better with the juniper. To put a sweeter point on things, you can serve gin-cooked jam or our handcrafted gin truffles alongside the cheese.
Cocktail Recommendations for a Cheese Night
You don’t always have to drink gin neat. Many cocktails pair perfectly with a cheese selection, creating a harmonious whole. For example, you can prepare a classic gin and tonic with a high-quality tonic, where the bubbles and crispness provide a wonderful counterpoint to a rich Brie.
If your cheese board also features cured meats like *prosciutto* or salami, the bittersweet Negroni is an indispensable companion. The stronger character and herbal notes of a Negroni balance salty meat and cheese snacks perfectly.
Discover Your Favorites
The best way to find a match is through experimentation. Organize a blind tasting with friends where you try different types of gin and cheeses to find your favorite pair. If you are looking for a gift for a gin lover who also appreciates good food, our flavor kits are the ideal starter pack, allowing you to test several different styles at once without opening large bottles.
We also welcome you to our gin factory in Telliskivi, where you can learn even more about how gin botanicals and the production process influence the drink’s flavor profile. Come and see for yourself that gin is much more than just a cocktail component.