Barbecues are loved by many as they provide an opportunity to gather with family, friends, and delicious food in summer or during celebrations. Though most of the attention is on the hot grills and the meat, the importance of drink, cocktails more specifically, cannot go unmentioned. After all, the right cocktail can make your barbeque even better by matching the food you served and the ambience you created.

A Cocktail That Matches BBQ Taste

However, before proceeding to the cocktail selection, the first thing that should be kept in mind are the taste offered in barbeque meals. Barbeque food is said to be flavorful, smoky and sometimes tangy and spicy. From a well-done steak to barbecued chicken to grilled effigies, the basic concept a barbeque has food that is grilled to add a smokiness flavor and spices or sauces to enhance the flavor with sides such as corn bread and coleslaw that has the sweetness and creaminess respectively.

The variety in the complexity of tastes in BBQ dishes gives rise to the problem of how to best complement them with drinks. In this case, a cocktail must not only work to enhance the dish, but also must provide some type of contrast or balance between the richness of the grilled meat. In a perfect world, the cocktail would either bring out the barbeque smoke taste, enhance the meat richness or have a cooling effect that would prepare the mouth for a variety of meat slices.

Elements of a Great BBQ Cocktail

There is a predominantly ideal cocktail that clearly compliments BBQ dishes, there are up to three or four things that one should try to avoid when cooking. These ingredients would help compliment the taste.

1. Citrusy Treats

BBQ or grill dishes are achieved best with a cocktail that is hot and fruity with a bit of sour or tart taste. All that acid in citrus fruits, limes, lemons, and grapefruits creates a delicious counterbalance to the oversmoked and meaty heaviness or fattiness of barbecue. These fruits also have the added benefit of acid which helps to cut the weight of flavor allowing everyone to savor barbeque without the extreme fullness that would come from a multitude of flavors.

2. Notes of Smoke or Spiciness

If your barbecue recipes have smoky tones or spicy flavors, then combining them with a rich flavored cocktail would help in improving the experience. Smoke from grilled meats is best paired with cocktails infused with smoky elements such as mezcal or salt. On the other hand, if your barbeque has some spicy rubs or sauces, a cocktail that has a touch of warmth to it or some chili or cayenne pepper could work perfectly with it.

3. Herbs and Fresh Items

The prominent and bold notes of BBQ would benefit with a burst of fresh flavors from mint, basil, thyme, and other boozy herbs. Meaty and intense flavors of heat can be cut with some refreshing and aromatic herbs creating a balance, while the grilled meats provide a rich flavor profile. Apart from herbs, fresh berries, tubers, cucumbers, and watermelon may also add some sweetness and freshness to the beverage.

Assorted Spirits for BBQ Cocktails

Certain spirits work well for BBQ cocktails because of the nature of their alcohol which blends perfectly with the smokiness and richness of the char-grilled meats. Most of these spirits do not overpower the BBQ flavors, thereby maintaining the right level of sweetness in the cocktail.

1. Whiskey

Whiskey is one of the best choices when looking for something to drink with BBQ. Bourbon or rye, and whiskey in general have a spicy flavor profile that perfectly complements the sweet and smoky flavors of barbeque meat. Whiskey can be enjoyed straight, or blended in cocktails such as Old Fashioneds and Whiskey Sour – which are great for BBQ ribs, hamburgers, and steak, grilled and fried in a charcoal range.

2. Tequila and Mezcal

Aged tequila, especially for BBQ-based cocktails, adds complexity to the drink. But if you want something with more character, mezcal is a great fit. For those who do not know, mezcal is what tequila should taste like. It is also made with agave, but it is bombarded with smoke and would work great with BBQ dishes that consist of grill or burnt bits. A Mezcal Margarita or Smoky Paloma should smooth out the richness of the meats.

3. Rum

Rum is a multi-purpose drink that can add delight to many BBQ dishes. Thanks to its tropical and sweet flavors it fits best on BBQ which has dishes with grilled pork, chicken, or seafood. However, one cocktail, rum-based, particularly, a Mojito or a Daiquiri can be the zest of the meal. Apart from that, sweet rums go perfectly well with sour sauces or even grilled fruits that are snacks at the BBQ.

How To Make A Good BBQ Cocktail

Having established what may be best in a BBQ cocktail, let us now look at how to make the best BBQ drink that can fit well with your BBQ dishes. There is an easy way to make a cocktail that should not overpower, but rather compliment the food.

1. Base Spirit Selection

Beginning with the selection of the base spirit, consider the BBQ dish being served and get a spirit that will either complement it or create a contrast. If one is serving smoked meat such as ribs or briskets, consider using Mezcal or bourbon which will work very well with the smoky meats. But for lighter BBQ meat, such as grilled fish or grilled chicken, stick with refreshing gins or rum.

2. Add a Flavor Enhancer

The next step is to go for a flavor enhancer. This balances the drink well. Fresh herbs or juices like citrus work well, or a heat infusion works too. For example, lemon, or lime need no introduction as they cut through richness and assist in adding brightness, while herbs like basil and mint can serve as a complementing refreshing herbal note. If you like the spice, you can add a dash of chili or even a fresh slice of jalapeño to get some heat.

3. Taste the Sweetness

An essential aspect of most BBQ dishes is their sweetness which can be attributed to either marinade, glaze or side dishes. Therefore, you can sweeten up your cocktail a bit more and compliment this aspect. A little bit of pan syrup, agave nectar, or fruit juice can work wonders in this case. However, be careful with the sweetness and overdo it. Your cocktail should go well with the dish, not the other way around.