Easter may be best known for its egg hunts and pastel sweets, but it also offers a more grown-up opportunity: pairing exceptional whiskies with fine chocolate. Done right, it’s a surprisingly rewarding experience. Whisky’s layered complexity — from spice and smoke to orchard fruit and toffee — meets its match in the richness of chocolate, especially when you find the right balance.
Whether you’re sipping something special on Easter Sunday or simply looking for an excuse to open a good bottle, these five pairings offer a blend of the accessible and the luxurious. From everyday favorites like Dairy Milk to craft truffles and single-origin dark chocolate, there’s something here for every palate.
Angel’s Envy Port Finish + Art Eatables Orange Chimère Truffle
Start with a showstopper. Angel’s Envy, finished in port barrels, is full of ripe berries, fig, and subtle vanilla spice. Pair it with the Orange Chimère from Louisville-based chocolatier Art Eatables — a dark chocolate truffle laced with natural orange oil.
The decadent chocolate and orange oil amplify the creamy, fruit-forward Madeira notes in the bourbon — a delicious flavor that stays on your tongue for a while afterward.
I was lucky enough to sample this pairing at Angel’s Envy Distillery in Louisville last year, and it was genuinely one of the highlights of my trip.
The Glendronach 12 Year Old + Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut
Proof that you don’t need to go high-end to find harmony. The Glendronach 12, matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, is rich with stewed fruit, baking spice, and a nutty warmth.
Paired with Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut, the raisins mirror the whisky’s dried fruit notes, while the chocolate’s smooth sweetness softens the dram’s spice. A nostalgic yet surprisingly sophisticated combination.
Redbreast 15 Year Old + Green & Black’s Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt
This is one for the purists. Redbreast 15 is a classic Irish single pot still whiskey — complex, creamy, and layered with orchard fruits, toasted nuts, and peppery spice.
The dark chocolate’s bitter edge contrasts beautifully, while the sea salt draws out Redbreast’s sweeter side. Together, they create a perfectly balanced push-and-pull between savory and sweet.
Aberfeldy 16 Year Old + Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Sea Salt
Aberfeldy 16 is often overlooked, but it’s a hidden gem. It delivers the signature honeyed sweetness that we have all come to expect from Aberfeldy, beautifully balanced with subtle spice and dark chocolate.
Pairing it with Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Sea Salt brings out the dram’s buttery vanilla and light fruit notes. The chocolate’s salt edge stops the pairing from becoming too saccharine, making this a crowd-pleasing Easter afternoon treat.
Forty Creek Confederation Oak + Dandelion Chocolate 100% Single Origin Camino Verde, Ecuador
A pairing rooted in craftsmanship. Forty Creek Confederation Oak is aged in Canadian oak barrels, which impart soft spice, toasted wood, and a creamy texture. Expect notes of butterscotch, nutmeg, and gentle vanilla, making it one of Canada’s more distinctive whiskies.
When paired with Dandelion’s Camino Verde dark chocolate, you get an earthy cocoa base that complements the whisky’s mellow character. The chocolate’s natural fruit and floral tones quietly elevate the dram’s subtle complexity, making for a thoughtful and rewarding pairing. Understated, elegant, and distinctly Canadian.
Glen Moray Elgin Classic + Cadbury Creme Egg
Hear me out! Glen Moray’s Elgin Classic is a light, Speyside single malt with notes of vanilla, honey, and a touch of citrus — uncomplicated but full of charm. That makes it the perfect foil for the Cadbury Creme Egg, with its famously sweet fondant center and thick milk chocolate shell.
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Is it refined? Not particularly. But the whisky’s clean profile cuts through the sugar rush, and the shared vanilla notes actually bring a surprising level of harmony. It’s a novelty pairing that works better than it has any right to — ideal for Easter Monday when the serious whiskies have been tucked away and you’re left raiding your kids’ chocolate stash.
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