Bacon wrapped figs paired with whisky

Oh dear - I managed to double tap the "SUBMIT" button and got 2 posts the same! Sorry, can't work out how to delete this duplicate - oops

We usually use dates instead of figs. Fresh is best but make sure to remove the kernel!

Savoury pairings can be really fun, for bacon wrapped dates it's pretty easy, try and get "medjool" dates as they are bigger, make sure they aren't too dry.

Remove the pits (if applicable) and then you can stuff the dates with a fresh goat cheese or blue is good too. Pack the dates with cheese and then roll them in bacon, use a toothpick to secure and lay them out on a sheet pan covered in parchment paper. You can prep them in advance keep them in the fridge and them bake them at 375-400°F for anywhere between 15-30 min, basically take them to how crispy you like the bacon try and flip them over half way through to even the cooking. You could even get cheeky and try putting a some black pudding in the dates too.

Smoked salmon is nice, if you can get the hot smoked stuff, you can mash it with, a mix of cream cheese and mayonnaise add lemon, juice and fresh herbs (cilantro/parsley/dill) use it as a spread or dip, I make this for our whisky tastings and it always disappears quickly.

Cheeses pair really well with whisky, oysters too, sushi was a recent revelation for me. Hope this helps

Oh forgot, yes dried figs works too, harder to stuff so you can make that optional. Ideally look for black mission figs, they are usually plumper not as dry as other varieties.

@cricklewood Mmm those suggestions all sound delicious. Thanks.

@Hewie Bacon is the new black. Goes well with anything.

well, I can report back on what went well. It was more of a gathering of friends and drinking whisky with food rather than a whisky tasting per se. I ended up making some devils on horseback (prunes wrapped in bacon). Fresh figs are not in season here and these are a 70's classic! Fruit and bacon are a winner. Inspired by Master Chef (a cooking show), I did black pudding rounds with apples 2 ways - a thin slice of caramelised apple and a slice of quick pickled apple. That went very nicely with the Bunnahabhain. Salmon blinis, a range of cheeses, and some wee onion marmalade pastry tarts complemented the whiskys nicely.

@Hewie good substitution with the prunes. Your spread sounds delicious and has given me ideas for forthcoming gatherings. I might just do goat cheese and onion marmelade tarts. What were the whiskys you served?

@cricklewood this was a few friends who are showing an interest in learning a bit more about whisky - but not whiskyphiles (yet). Each couple bought a bottle to share so it wasn't an orchestrated line up. we had Glen Grant 10 (1st in a whisky cocktail with lemon juice, rosemary infused sugar syrup, and topped up with sparkling wine, then later on by itself), Singleton 12, Bowmore 12, and Bunnahabhain 12. It was a fun night but not too serious.