How to Host the Perfect Christmas dinner with Whisky

Monday, 08 December 2025 at 12:03

Expecting guests at Christmas and want to put on something special? That can bring on a fair bit of holiday stress. That’s why, together with Aberfeldy, we’ve put together a flavorful guide to keep things calm and collected. With this Aberfeldy dinner, everyone will head home smiling after an unforgettable evening.

Recently, we were guests of Aberfeldy and sat down for a surprisingly delicious dinner where the Scotch whisky was paired with exquisite dishes. With the holidays around the corner, we’re sharing the love. Here’s how to host your own dinner in 5 steps.

Start with a cocktail: the Macleod Highball

A great evening starts with good conversation and a great drink. A welcoming cocktail for your guests doesn’t have to be complicated. You can easily make the Macleod Highball yourself, no experience needed.

Take a highball glass and fill it with ice.

Pour in about 50 ml of Aberfeldy 12 Year Old whisky.

Add 20 ml St‑Germain elderflower liqueur, then top up with soda.

Garnish to taste and serve!

This pairs beautifully with a small bite like an oyster or scallops.

Course 1: Aberfeldy 12 Year Old and the starter

Once the cocktail’s finished, it’s time for the first course, where Aberfeldy 12 Year Old takes center stage. This whisky has a wonderfully floral, honeyed character that pairs brilliantly with Dutch beets.

Try a small dish that lets the beet shine alongside sweet and earthy notes. You’ll notice that every bite with the Aberfeldy whisky is remarkably delicious.

Course 2: Aberfeldy 16 Year Old with eel – creamy meets smoky

Time to dial up the intensity with a touch of smoke. In the second course, a very different flavor takes the lead. Aberfeldy 16 Year Old single malt is a bolder dram, known for its full, spicy character and luxuriously creamy texture.

It’s a superb match with smoked fish such as eel. The slightly fatty richness of the eel is lifted by the whisky’s creamy notes, and the reverse happens too: the eel’s smokiness rounds out the whisky’s flavor.

It’s a little bit of magic on the palate: addictive in the best way.

Course 3: Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Cabernet Sauvignon Cask with game

As delicious as that eel is, it’s time to move on to the third course. Here we’re serving game. Think duck, venison, or roe deer with a red wine sauce.

The dish is indulgent on its own, but becomes even more refined with Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Cabernet Sauvignon. Finished in red wine casks, this whisky is a perfect match for these flavors.

Notes of red fruit amplify the dish, while the tannins add a pleasing grip. An undeniable pairing that elevates the evening.

Time for dessert with Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Sangiovese Cask

During our dinner with Aberfeldy, we wrapped up with a simple dessert we can’t keep to ourselves. The distillery recently released Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Sangiovese Cask, a whisky that’s warming and brimming with notes of honey and caramel.

That already sounds like dessert on its own, but we’re pairing it with a perfect partner. Serve the whisky alongside a glass holding a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream topped with warm, salted caramel sauce. You’ll find the red fruit notes of the 18-year-old whisky subtly melt into the sweet vanilla.

Trust us: those glasses won’t stay full for long.