Cashel Blue is a cow’s milk blue cheese made by Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers in County Tipperary, Ireland. It was the first cheese that Jane & Louis Grubb made when they established the artisanal dairy in 1984.

Moreover, the name of the cheese comes from the Rock of Cashel. Legend has it that it was here that Saint Patrick began the conversion of the Irish to Christianity.

Humble beginnings

From their humble beginnings, the Grubbs had a very clear plan. They wanted to hand-make high quality farmhouse cheeses that celebrate the spectacular Tipperary milk. They started with Cashel Blue and its recipe has hardly changed in more than 30 years.

Presently, their range of artisanal cheeses also includes Crozier Blue and Shepherd’s Store, both of which are made with sheep’s milk.

A touch of spice 

Made with pasteurised cow’s milk and vegetarian rennet, the wheels of cheese are then matured for up to 6 months. At 2 months, the cheese is firm and creamy near the edge with a subtle tanginess.

However, it truly comes into its own at 3 months when the texture has broken down and the flavour is richer and fuller with a touch of spice.

Its pâte is a buttery yellow and the blue mould appears as marbling throughout and also on the rind. Since the wheels are wrapped in foil, the moisture content is quite high even at 3 months.

How to serve Cashel Blue

Enjoy this stellar Irish blue with green grapes and pears. Wash it all down with a fresh IPA or a glass of Chimay.

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Handmade by Jeffa Gill

Durrus is a washed rind cheese handmade by Jeffa Gill in West Cork, Ireland, using pasteurised cow’s milk.

Having studied fashion design in London and Dublin, Jeffa joined a group of creative and pioneering women. In the beginning, their collective was spearheaded by her friend, the late Veronica Steele of Milleens. Actually, Veronica Steele was the one who started experimenting with small-scale farmhouse cheese making.

Capture the beauty of West Cork

When Jeffa Gill began making cheese on her farm in 1979, her drive was to provide for her family in West Cork. Moreover, she wanted to capture the beauty of the area in her unique hand-crafted cheeses.

Actually, Jeffa created the original recipe for Durrus in 1979, inspired by the fine cow’s milk from local Friesian herds. She hand-washed each individual wheel of cheese with unique cultures from the farm.

Consequently, the wheels of cheese would develop a gorgeous pinkish rind as they ripen in their curing rooms for up to eight weeks. At that age, the cheese’s aroma is reminiscent of hay and wet soil and it has a buttery, mild and slightly acidic flavour. 

How to pair Durrus

Enjoy with a Pinot Gris, IPA, Champagne or Prosecco.

Thank you for reading

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Tipperary’s finest

Crozier Blue is a sheep’s milk blue cheese made by Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers in Tipperary, Ireland.

Louis and Jane Grubb established Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers in the early 1980’s with the goal of creating cheese that celebrates the fine local milk.

Their incredible range of handmade semi-soft blue cheeses includes the original cow’s milk Cashel Blue and this gorgeous sheep’s milk version.

St Patrick’s Crozier

In any case, the Grubbs named this cheese Crozier Blue as a nod to an ancient piece of Irish Silver.

The cheesemakers transform the fine milk from their own herd of East Friesland ewes into wheels of blue cheese. Furthermore, they mature each wheel for a longer duration than their original cheese, Cashel Blue. Whilst it is ready for market at 12 weeks, Crozier Blue truly comes into its own from 6 to 11 months.

Limestone-rich pastures

At that age, the cheese’s texture is surprisingly creamy. It owes this quality to the limestone-rich pastures that the farm’s ewes graze on. Moreover, the skilled cheesemakers capture the creaminess and sweetness from the milk and let it shine in the cheese.

Overall, its flavour is rich and well-rounded, with a hint of spice. Unsurprisingly, it has been very well received in France, which is home to one of the greatest sheep’s milk cheeses, Roquefort.

How to serve Crozier Blue

Enjoy with an IPA, Sauternes or Pinot Gris.

Serve on an all Irish cheese platter with Shepherd’s Store and Durrus.

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