How To Pair Our Spirits with Your Favorite Fall Foods
As the crisp air of autumn settles in, it’s time to embrace the rich, comforting flavors of the season. At Founding Spirits, we believe that the right spirit can elevate any meal, especially when paired with the hearty, seasonal dishes found on the Founding Farmers fall lunch & dinner menu.
Whether you’re preparing a feast at home or dining with us at our restaurants, let us guide you through the best ways to pair our handcrafted spirits with some of our favorite fall dishes.
Your Perfect Fall Bar Essentials
You can purchase our selection of bottled spirits online or in DC-area stores. For autumn cocktail pairings, our top picks to enhance your home bar include:
Additionally, we also offer vodka, dry gin, white rum, navy strength rum, and blanco tequila to keep your cocktail game strong all year round.
Perfect Pairings: Spirits and Fall Dishes
Fall is synonymous with hearty, warming dishes full of earthy, sweet, and savory flavors. Pairing these flavors with the right spirit can truly elevate your dining experience. Here’s our guide to matching some of our favorite Founding Farmers fall dishes with our spirits.
Cauliflower, Butternut Squash & Farro Salad
- Ingredients include: celery root, kale, cranberry, blueberry, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, farmers herbs, maple Dijon
- Pair it with: Our Founding Spirits Rye
- The spiciness and depth of rye complement the earthiness of the cauliflower and farro while balancing the sweetness of the butternut squash and cranberries. Try it in our You Caught My Rye cocktail, combining rye, Campari, lime, almond, and bitters for a refreshing contrast to the salad’s rich flavors.
Roasted Maple Brussels Sprouts & White Cabbage
- Ingredients include: red onion & maple butter
- Pair it with: Our Founding Spirits Bourbon
- The bourbon’s smoky notes meld with the roasted, caramelized flavors of the brussels sprouts and maple butter. You can also pair it with our Maple Bourbon Smash cocktail. The citrus and maple flavors in the drink will add a lively twist to the dish.
Roasted Autumn Vegetables
- Ingredients include: carrots, parsnips, turnips, butternut squash, brussels sprouts, mulled local apple cider glaze
- Pair it with: Founding Spirits Dark Rum
- The warm, molasses-rich flavors of our dark rum harmonize with the earthy vegetables and sweet mulled apple cider glaze. Serve it neat or in a spiced cocktail for a cozy pairing.
Coriander Pan-Seared Fish of the Day
- Ingredients include: parmesan risotto, roasted leeks, poached autumn vegetables, mulled local apple cider glaze, lemon butter sauce, chives
- Pair it with: Founding Spirits Bourbon
- The creamy and savory parmesan risotto, along with the earthy vegetables and zesty lemon butter sauce, would pair beautifully with the warming, caramel notes of our bourbon. A Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned would add a rich, smoky sweetness to complement the cider glaze and enhance the fish’s coriander crust. The aged oak tones in the cocktail balance the dish’s hearty, autumn flavors, creating a well-rounded dining experience.
Hazelnut Butter Fish of the Day
- Ingredients include: pumpkin ravioli, hazelnut oil, pecorino romano, chives
- Pair it with: Founding Spirits Rye
- The nutty, savory elements in this dish call for a spirit with depth and spice. Founding Spirits Rye offers a slightly peppery, robust flavor that aligns with the hazelnut butter and pecorino. Alternatively, a Maple Bourbon Smash would introduce hints of sweetness and citrus, which would harmonize with the pumpkin ravioli and provide a fresh contrast to the dish’s richness.
Enhance Your Fall Dining with Founding Spirits
Finding the right spirit pairing can transform a meal into an unforgettable culinary experience. From the spicy depth of our rye to the warming sweetness of our dark rum, Founding Spirits has the perfect bottle to complement your favorite fall dishes. Whether you’re cozying up at home or dining at one of our restaurants, these pairings are sure to delight your palate and capture the essence of autumn.
Shop our spirits online or pick them up in our DC area stores during your next reservation to start crafting your own fall food and drink pairings. Cheers to a season full of flavor!
