World-class award for whisky cheese
Comrie firm’s winning ingredient takes gold
An artisan cheese created in Perthshire and washed in Glenturret single malt whisky has struck gold at the World Cheese Awards.
‘Strathearn’ from Strathearn Cheese Co in Comrie is a handmade rennet set cheese hand washed with a brine that is flavoured with Glenturret’s 10-year-old single malt whisky.
The brine, along with a four-week maturing process, gives the cheese a hint of whisky taste.
Strathearn Cheese Co is based at Cultybraggan Camp.
Owners Drew Watson and Pierre Legere, from Crieff, are delighted with the accolade, considering they have only been in business for nine months.
The awards, which took place during the International Cheese Festival in San Sebastian, Spain, attracted more than 3000 entries from in excess of 25 countries and was judged by over 250 experts, including retailers, buyers, cheese makers and food commentators.
The cheese is split into categories and awarded bronze, silver, gold or ‘super gold’.
The ‘super gold’ cheeses then go on to be narrowed down until one cheese is crowned the ‘best cheese in the world’.
Strathearn Cheese launched in January this year and Drew and
Drew Watson and Pierre Legere of Strathearn Cheese Co Pierre pride themselves on using local ingredients where they can, which made the 10-year-old Glenturret – produced by hand at the nearby Glenturret Distillery in Crieff – a natural choice.
Pierre said: “We are both absolutely delighted that judges at the World Cheese Awards awarded a gold award to our Strathearn cheese.
“There aren’t many cheeses made with whisky in Scotland so being able to showcase a truly Scottish cheese, made with whisky crafted right on our doorstep here in Perthshire, on an international level has been fantastic.”
Drew added that they had only entered for a bit of fun.
They had the judging streaming on a live feed in the background while they were working in their factory, pricking up their ears when a cheese from Scotland was being discussed.
He added: “We rushed over to the iPad to watch and it was great when we heard it was ours – but we never expected that it would be awarded a gold.”
Stuart Cassells, general manager at Glenturret Distillery, said: “At Glenturret Distillery our stillmen still hand mash our ingredients by hand so it was only fitting for us to lend our Glenturret 10-year-old malt to this fantastic handmade, local cheese.
“For the Strathearn to pick up the gold award is a fantastic success for the guys at Strathearn Cheese and we’re delighted for Glenturret to have played its part in giving it that special flavour.”
Strathearn Cheese Co cheese is available locally at Hansen’s Kitchen in Comrie, Gill’s in Crieff and Corbie and Cheip in Auchterarder.