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Recipe Pairing

Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Tender arctic char fillets encrusted with fresh spring herbs, pan-seared to perfection and finished with a zesty bourbon lemon butter sauce for a bright, flavorful spring seafood dish.

Best Pairing Answer

The best bourbon pairing for Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter is Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year. Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

The Recipe

Ingredients & Instructions

Everything you need to make this dish at home.

Ingredients

  • 4 arctic char fillets (6 oz each), skin on
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp bourbon
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine parsley, dill, chives, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  2. Pat the arctic char fillets dry and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Press the herb mixture evenly onto the skinless side of each fillet.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
  5. Place the fillets in the skillet, herb side down, and cook for 4-5 minutes until the herbs form a golden crust.
  6. Carefully flip the fillets and cook skin side down for another 3-4 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork.
  7. Remove fish from the skillet and set aside, tented loosely with foil.
  8. Reduce heat to medium low; melt butter in the same skillet.
  9. Stir in bourbon, lemon juice, and zest, scraping up any browned bits.
  10. Let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
  11. Spoon the bourbon lemon butter sauce over the fillets just before serving.
  12. Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite spring vegetable sides.

Top Matches

Best Bourbon Pairings for Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Ranked bourbon recommendations for this recipe.

featured
89%

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year

Wheated Bourbon 53.50% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Caramel, Oak, Vanilla Leather, Dark Fruit, Tobacco
Pairing Score 89%
strong
85%

Eagle Rare Standard

Bourbon 45.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Eagle Rare Standard works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Caramel, Vanilla, Oak Leather, Orange Zest, Cocoa
Pairing Score 85%
strong
85%

Willett Pot Still Reserve

Small Batch Bourbon 47.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Willett Pot Still Reserve works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Vanilla, Caramel, Pear Almond, Floral, Oak
Pairing Score 85%
strong
84%

George T. Stagg Standard

Barrel Proof Bourbon 62.50% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

George T. Stagg Standard works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Dark Cherry, Oak, Vanilla Tobacco, Cocoa, Spice
Pairing Score 84%
strong
83%

Booker’s Standard

Barrel Proof Bourbon 63.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Booker’s Standard works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Oak, Caramel, Vanilla Peanut, Baking Spice, Smoke
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond

Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon 50.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Caramel, Vanilla, Oak Peanut Brittle, Spice, Citrus
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Knob Creek Rye

Rye 50.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Knob Creek Rye works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Rye Spice, Oak, Vanilla Dill, Herbal, Caramel
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Knob Creek Single Barrel

Single Barrel Bourbon 60.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Knob Creek Single Barrel works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Caramel, Oak, Vanilla Toffee, Spice, Peanut
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Knob Creek Standard

Bourbon 50.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Knob Creek Standard works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Oak, Vanilla, Caramel Peanut, Maple, Spice
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Old Forester 100 Proof

Bourbon 50.00% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Old Forester 100 Proof works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Caramel, Baking Spice, Oak Banana, Vanilla, Toasted Nut
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Wild Turkey 101

Bourbon 50.50% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Wild Turkey 101 works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Spice, Caramel, Oak Vanilla, Orange Peel, Nutty
Pairing Score 83%
strong
83%

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Barrel Proof Bourbon 58.40% ABV For Spring Herb-Crusted Arctic Char with Bourbon Lemon Butter

Wild Turkey Rare Breed works as a bridge pairing for this arctic char dish because it shares key flavor cues with the pan searing preparation. It has touches of sweetness soften acidity.

Spice, Vanilla, Caramel Roasted Nuts, Orange Peel, Oak
Pairing Score 83%