1. Compass Box Peat Monster + Extra Mature Cheddar

Tasting notes from Whisky Gospel :

Nose: Burning coals, salty sea spray and earthy Islay peat feeling (Caol Ila?), cereal and grains, sweet stewed fruits and honey, chimney smoke.

Palate: Starts with strong ashes and oak wood taste and later on a sweet concentrated oranges and floral/herbal notes joins in. Some marinated BBQ meat note.

Finish: Long finish, lingering notes of of sweet, peat and floral notes. some residue of spices.

Why Compass Box Peat Monster goes well with extra mature cheddar ? This combination produces a balanced yet rich result. Compass Box Peat Monster adds to the complexity of taste, giving an overall smokiness. (more details to be found on The British Cheese Board’s guide)

2. Balvenie 21 Port Wood + Blue Stilton

Tasting notes from Whisky Informative :

Nose: Wonderfully fragrant and room-filling – there’s no doubting the classic Balvenie characteristics here, with honey, floral, caramel, and spice notes. This whisky is soft and elegant with honey, port wine, nutmeg, raisins, a bit of cocoa, dry oak, orange sweetness, cherry, icing, and even a touch of fresh dark berries.

Palate: Like the nose, it is soft, balanced and full of honey, toffee, floral and spices at first sip. This is immediately followed up with grape, chocolate with dried berries, again nutmeg and a bit of cinnamon, apricot jam, oak and a bit of roasted nuts. This whisky has great body – coating and silky smooth, just right for a night where you’re looking to relax.

Finish: Medium in length with spices, oak and fruit and toffee sweetness.

Why Balvenie 21 PortWood goes well with Blue Stilton ? The whisky has honey tones and a red fruit aroma, combining wonderfully with the smooth texture of the Stilton, leading to an intense palate with a long, fruity finish.

3. Tomatin 14 + Twinings Christmas tea

Tasting notes :

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, cream, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, honey, maple syrup, orange marmalade, lemon peek, verbena, banana, raisins, sweet heather, nutty, cinnamon, smoky.

Palate: Cinnamon, spice, honey, pear, orange peel, citrus, tropical fruits, dried fruit, dates, nougat, dark chocolate, sherry, pepper, pink pepper, almonds, coffee, tobacco, malt, peat, smoke, cedar, oak, integrated, extremely smooth, delicious.

Finish: Coffee, toast, leather, zesty, pepper, smooth.

Why Tomatin 14 goes well with Twinings Christmas tea ? As this particular expression from Twinings starts with a selection of their expertly blended black tea and infused with the traditional spiced flavours of cinnamon and cloves, it creates a pleasant tone on tone combination, enhancing the flavours of Tomatin 14.