Arran’s soft blue cheese proving hard to beat

Arran Blue cheese, produced by the Island Cheese Company at Bellevue Farm, Blackwaterfoot, has proven once again it is unbeatable by winning the Best Scottish Cheese at the industry recognised World Cheese Awards.

Held in Bergen, Norway, the awards have been in existence for more than three decades and involve more than 230 experts from 29 nations judging 3,500 cheeses from across the globe. Judging Arran Blue as the best Scotland has to offer for the second year running, the pasteurised semi-soft blue cheese has also won gold awards for two consecutive years and is similar to the French Bleu de Auvern.

Expertly crafted by Bellevue dairy manager Calum Chaplin, the success of the small batch artisan producer is even more remarkable when considering the strong competition from far bigger producers across Scotland.

While crediting the success of Arran Blue to Arran’s unpolluted environment and the quality of Arran milk, the quality of the cheese is hugely influenced by the expert knowledge of the cheese maker who knows exactly when and how to adjust the formulas for the changing conditions, keeping a keen eye on the production process which will affect the rind, body, colour, consistency and taste of the cheese.

Island Cheese Company owner Gordon Kinniburgh said: ‘Best cheese in Scotland two years in a row, we must be doing something right.

‘This is testament to the hard work and passion shown by Calum, our head cheese maker, his assistants and the high quality of the local milk.’

01_B50cheese01 Arran Cheese Shop’s Gordon Kinniburgh and Bellevue Creamery’s dairy manager Calum Chaplin last year, along with cheese technician Willie McNally, who have repeated their success by winning the Best Scottish Cheese Award.