Planters Salted Peanuts

Planters Salted Peanuts are a bar-snack staple. Salted peanuts like these are usually roasted, with the salt clinging to the skin-free surface. Expect a dry, crunchy bite, a toasty, nutty flavor, and a sharp hit of salt up front. The salt is the main feature of this style. It makes the snack work well beside a drink, because each handful makes you want a sip. Because they are salty and fairly rich, salted peanuts suit drinks that are cold, carbonated, or a little sweet. Light lagers, pilsners, and amber ales are the classic match. The carbonation clears the oil from your palate, and the malt picks up the roasted flavor. Bourbon and rye are another good match. Their caramel and vanilla notes play against the salt, and a splash of water or a single large ice cube keeps the pairing from getting too hot. A highball, such as whisky and soda or a gin and tonic, also works if you want something longer and cooler. Rum and Coke, a Moscow Mule, and a dark and stormy all pair easily with peanuts too. For serving, pour the peanuts into a small shallow bowl, or a ramekin for each guest, so the salt stays dry and the nuts stay crisp. Room temperature is best. Keep them away from steam and ice buckets, and reseal the pack between rounds, since humidity softens the texture quickly. Glassware should match the drink rather than the snack: a pint glass or pilsner flute for beer, a rocks glass for whiskey, and a tall highball glass for mixed drinks. Peanuts are also a simple, no-prep option for cheese boards, alongside cured meats and dried fruit. Sweet fruit offsets the salt on the board.