Pairing with Pulled Pork Barbecue

This week's the About.com Drink Guides took on a challenging pairing menu: Pulled Pork Barbecue. It's a slow-cooked recipe from our Southern Food Guide, Diana Rattray, and is great this time of year when you don't have a whole lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

What I found interesting in this pairing is that each of us thought of the same approach to our pairings without discussing it: the drink had to be refreshing. For me it was a matter of the thick, savoriness of the barbecue sauce that made me think you need a tall drink to wash it down and that's why I pulled some of my favorite highballs out, but was sure to keep the base spirits rich and succulent (namely whiskey, then rum). These similar pairings styles show that no matter what you choose to drink - whether it be wine, beer or spirits - the theory of pairing is the same. First you analyze the flavor profile of the meal and decide if it needs to be counter balanced or accented, then find the beverage that fits the bill.

Pairing #2: What drinks pair well with Pulled Pork Barbecue?