Salmon is a delicacy. Whether you smoke it, grill it, bake it, fry it, or eat it raw, you’ll experience the unbeatable buttery, rich flavor of this gourmet seafood. A dish this decadent deserves a thoughtful beverage pairing to amplify the flavors and excite your taste buds!
Sure, you could have a classic red or white wine with your salmon, but what about something a little more calculated? Like a cocktail! Cocktails are a great way to make your already-luxury dish even more upscale. The right cocktails will tie your whole dish together and elevate the vibrant flavors of your high-quality ocean-farmed salmon.
Here’s our top 7 cocktails to pair with salmon:
7 Cocktails that Pair Well with Salmon
50/50 Martini
A 50/50 martini uses half gin and half vermouth. This combination is an excellent match for salmon dishes! The gin has an herbal citrus flavor that’s amplified by orange bitters and a lemon twist. Meanwhile, the vermouth balances the sweet acidity of the other ingredients by providing a subtle spicy and bitter taste.
The fresh citrus notes contrast the salty, sharp flavors of the salmon and highlight the rich and oily taste. To make this cocktail, you put the gin, vermouth, and orange bitters in a mixing glass and stir with ice. Then, you strain it into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and you’re ready to serve!
Chelsea Sidecar
A Chelsea Sidecar is another citrusy cocktail that goes great with salmon! For this one, you take triple sec, which is an orange-flavored liquor, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and dry gin. This sour and sweet drink companions smoked salmon perfectly. The acidic drink brightens the salty and aromatic flavors of smoked salmon. It’s a great pairing fit for a fancy meal!
Yellow Bird
This tropical fruit rum cocktail will take your fish back to the beach. (In a good way!) We can’t think of a better way to enhance the flavors of savory, buttery ocean salmon than with a blend of fresh fruit and rum—the drink of sailors! A yellow bird is definitely a flavorful drink, but it won’t overpower your fish.
For this tropical mix, you’ll need freshly squeezed lime juice, orange juice, maraschino cherries, and fresh mint. The liquor used is an ounce of light rum, an ounce of dark rum, and a ¼ of an ounce of Galliano L’Autentic liqueur. Each type of alcohol brings in new complimentary flavors, including vanilla, anise, and citrus. Yum!
Tequila Highball (Ranch Water)
Tequila goes great with fish! It gives your seafood a refreshing twist and just the right amount of spice to enhance your salmon seasoning (or the natural salmon flavor!) A tequila highball is also known as ranch water, and it’s a bubbly refreshing drink. The perfect pairing for grilled or fried salmon on a hot summer day.
This one is easy to make too. You simply put tequila and lime juice in a highball glass and stir it up. Then, fill it up with sparkling mineral water. Finally, you’ll garnish with a lime wedge. It’s a sour, cooling drink that is an excellent accompaniment to the sharp, buttery salmon.
Cucumber Gin
A classic gin and tonic is zesty and bright—great for seafood dishes! But, if you want to be a little more creative, add some cucumber for a delicious gin cocktail twist. For this recipe, you need a cucumber, strips of lime zest, raw sugar, lemon wheels, lime juice, gin, and club soda. Drinking this with salmon will make the whole meal pop with crisp, delicious flavor!
Mojito
Making fish tacos? Mojitos, a classic Cuban drink, are a great cocktail choice for any Hispanic treat. This is another drink that uses rum, which has been paired with seafood for ages. It’s an unbeatable combination!
This cocktail uses mint, lime, sugar, white rum, and club soda. Mint cuts right through rich flavors and gives a little tang to your seafood. And, as we’ve discussed, citrus and salmon is a classic combo. It brightens up the dish for an exciting fiesta of flavor!
Moscow Mule
Fish dishes are so full of flavor, sometimes you want a cocktail that’s no nonsense and won’t distract from your delicious meal. A Moscow mule is perfect for any type of seafood. Raw, grilled, or smoked fish (or anything in between) will sing with the subtle spicy and tangy flavors of the Moscow mule.
For this drink, you’ll need vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and lime. You mix the vodka and lime juice first in an ice-filled glass, then top with the ginger beer. Finally, you garnish with lime wedges. If you prefer, you could add some bitters, but even as is you have a cold, crisp drink ready for any seafood delicacy.
Salmon is a gourmet protein that demands a gourmet cocktail!
Pairing your salmon dishes with a choice cocktail will bring a whole new element to your meal. It’ll amplify your flavors and give your guests a refreshing balancer for that delicious, rich, and buttery seafood flavor. Pick one of these cocktails for a drink that’s sure to please the taste buds and elevate your meal from okay to gourmet!
Remember that a great seafood meal starts with a high-quality protein. Ocean-farmed salmon from Oshēn Salmon is some of the highest quality salmon out there. It’s fresher than the competition, top-rated in terms of flavor, and Best Aquaculture Practices certified. We can’t be beat! Plus, the salmon is delivered directly to you, so no stressful trips to the fish market. Grab your salmon today and use code FRESH at checkout for 15% off your order. Let’s make dinner special together!
