LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2026

TWISTS

Neat with Meat While wine may be your go-to for serving alongside meat, consider pairing it with something a bit unconventional—Canadian whisky. It matches beautifully with everything from steak to lamb chops—a winning combination.

BY JESSE VALLINS ————— PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB FIOCCA

The right match can bring out the best in both the glass and the plate. Canadian whiskies, aged for at least three years in oak barrels, range from sweet, smooth and mellow to charred, bold and spicy—making them especially well suited to dishes with fire-kissed, grilled or other wood influenced flavours. With styles to suit every palate and price point, they make delicious partners for hearty autumn fare.

OAK FORWARD & CHARRED WHISKIES

Chipotle-Marinated Skirt Steak with Smoky Whisky Mustard p. 93 Bold, smoky skirt steak is marinated with garlic, vinegar and chipotle for layered flavour and chili spice, then quicky grilled to a deep char. Serving with a whisky-spiked mustard that delivers sweet and savoury intensity and a touch of heat makes the dish an ideal pairing with Canadian whiskies marked by strong wood character and notes of char.

Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky LCBO 36885, $39.95 Ex-bourbon, French oak wine and virgin Hungarian oak casks impart char, toast and subtle smoke, balanced by restrained sweetness, for a layered finish.

Lot 40 Dark Oak Canadian Whisky LCBO 19563, $64.25

Charred barrels shape this 100-per-cent rye, creating notes of mixed herbs, cocoa, clove and dark bread, with an oak-driven structure that carries smoky, complex character.

FOOD STYLING BY CHRISTOPHER ST. ONGE; PROP STYLING BY SHELLY SHNIER

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AUTUMN 2026 ————————