The Perfect Irish Whiskey And Cheese Pairings

With its ample rainfall and plush pastures, you’d assume that Eire has a protracted historical past of creating farmhouse cheese. Surprisingly, however some 18,500 dairies that yearly produce over 7.5 billion liters/2.1 billion gallons of milk, Eire’s craft cheese business is comparatively current.

The primary craft cheesemaker didn’t seem until the late Nineteen Seventies. Since then, nevertheless, the Irish cheese business has flowered. Right this moment some 84 cheese makers, most of them small farmhouse producers, produce over 500 totally different Irish cheeses.

In 2020, Eire produced roughly 300,000 tons of cheese – sufficient to let it rank round twentieth worldwide. Ninety p.c of the cheese produced was exported, principally to the UK and the EU. Sadly, little or no makes its solution to the US. That’s a pity as a result of Irish farmhouse cheeses are terribly good.

Michelin star-rated chef and creator of The Irish Cookbook, JP McMahon, from Galway, just lately wrote a information to Irish whiskey and cheese pairings for the Irish Whiskey Affiliation. In accordance with JP, “whiskey pairs properly with Irish cheeses on account of how the cheese acts as a foil for the sturdy high quality of Irish whiskey.”

Earlier than the Nineteen Eighties, just about all of Eire’s cheese manufacturing was Irish cheddar. Since then, the vary of Irish cheeses has expanded to incorporate a broad vary of cheeses, from delicate to semi-hard to blue, that are based mostly on milk produced from goats, sheep and dairy cattle.

In accordance with JP McMahon:

Should you’re tasting a number of sorts of cheese with a number of whiskeys, begin with the lightest and work up in the direction of the richest. All the time end with a blue, because the sturdy high quality of this cheese tends to have an effect on different cheeses. When constructing your cheese board, decide 4 totally different sorts of cheese (goats, cheddar, smoked, blue). All the time permit the cheese to return as much as room temperature earlier than serving. The cheese ought to be the identical temperature because the whiskey.

Beneath is a collection of excellent Irish farmhouse cheeses. For recommendation on which Irish whiskeys to pair them with, we turned to a few of the Irish whiskey business’s most skilled model ambassadors.

Goat’s cheeses, like St Tola or Galway Goat Farm, work properly with many Irish whiskeys from single malts to lighter, sweeter single grains or blends. The tart notes in delicate Irish goat cheese complement properly the candy fruity notes usually present in Irish whiskeys.

Lauren McMullen, Distillery Model Ambassador at Bushmills Distillery recommends Killeen’s goat cheese. She notes:

The Killeen farm in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway opened in 1990 as a goat farm however solely began producing cheese in 2004. Now producing quite a lot of each goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses, this semi-hard goat’s cheese is their authentic and the recipient of eight awards in worldwide competitions. The cheese is clear & barely floral with a nutty, fruity end – completely matching the fragile notes of inexperienced apple & pear discovered within the Bushmills’ 10-year-old.

Mature cheddars, akin to Hegarty’s or Coolattin, work properly with each single grain and ex-bourbon barrel matured whiskeys. A lightweight and candy mix may also minimize by means of the richness of the mature cheddar.

In accordance with McMahon, “due to the subtly of most Irish onerous cheddars, they work with a broad vary of Irish whiskeys.” He provides that “it may be enjoyable to line up 4 totally different whiskeys with the identical cheddar and see how the cheese impacts the important character of the whiskey.”

Santina Kennedy, Meals and Beverage Specialist, The Powerscourt Distillery would pair Coolattin Cheddar with Fercullen 18 YO Single Malt, noting:

As layer upon layer of wealthy fruit, creamy malt, cinnamon and syrupy caramel are delivered on this whiskey, the Coolattin Cheddar affords wealthy creaminess and deep nutty taste to enrich these layers. The fruity end on the whiskey is enhanced because the cheddar crumbles revealing salt crystals that elevate the flavour and mouthfeel. An aged Fercullen 18-year-old Malt Whiskey is paired merely but completely with this aged Wicklow Cheddar.

Basic Irish Cheddars additionally pair properly with Irish whiskeys which have been matured or completed in casks that beforehand held fortified wines like Oloroso sherry or Port wine.

Billy Leighton, Grasp Distiller, Irish Distillers would match Gubbeen cheese with the Redbreast 12 YO Single Pot Nonetheless whiskey. He notes:

Redbreast 12-year-old and Gubbeen cheese work properly collectively. The distinction of the preliminary pot nonetheless spices are contrasting with the wealthy creaminess of the cheese which in flip compliments the creamy character of the whiskey. The sherry affect of dried pink fruits, raisins and sultanas works superbly with the wealthy flavors of the cheese.

Additionally, take into account Irish Gouda-like cheeses. McMullen recommends pairing Bushmills Black Bush with Coolea Cheese:

Made in 1979, Coolea is a cow’s milk cheese produced on the farm of Dick & Sinead Willems in Coolea Co. Cork. This Gouda-style cheese when younger is delicate & buttery, with the flavors intensifying with additional ripening after 12 months, giving the attribute toffee style. The cheese is famend for its creamy & wealthy mouthfeel, with hints of honey & caramel. These notes are complemented by the deep fruitiness & sherry sweetness of Black Bush.

In accordance with McMahon, sheep’s cheese, akin to Rockfield, pairs with lighter, sweeter single grains or blends. Take into account pairing sheep milk cheeses with any variety of Jameson expressions, particularly the Triple Triple or the Black Barrel.

Brie-style cheeses are extraordinarily widespread in Eire and pair properly with a spread of various whiskeys. Cheeses akin to Ballylisk, per McMahon, pair properly with each pot nonetheless, single grain and Irish single malt expressions.

Santina Kennedy would pair the Fercullen 10 YO Single Grain Whiskey with Wicklow Bán. It is a delicate, brie-style cheese that has additional cream added to it. In accordance with Kennedy:

Our 10-year-old Single Grain pairs superbly with Wicklow Bán Cheese from Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese. At this Wicklow coastal farm, salty breezes from the Irish Sea wash over the pasture, giving a wealthy taste to the full-fat milk and double cream used to make this cheese.

The creamy Wicklow Bán enhances the honey and vanilla notes within the 10-year-old Single Grain splendidly. To finish the ‘style of place’ we serve it with Powerscourt Summer season Blossom Honey and Pollen, from hives within the orchard that adjoins the distillery. This pairing affords layers of sweetness and creaminess complementing the style and mouthfeel of this whiskey.

Smoked cheeses, akin to Gubbeen or Knockanore, in accordance with McMahon, additionally pair properly with sherry-finished single malts or pot stills and with peated Irish whiskeys. Smoked cheeses are uncommon in Eire however have gotten rather more widespread. Attempt Ardsallagh, a smoked Irish goat cheese, or Carrigaline, a semi-soft cow milk cheese produced in East Cork.

Blue cheeses akin to Cashel Blue, Eire’s hottest cheese, in addition to cheeses like Crozier Blue, Younger Buck and Kearney, pair properly with Irish whiskeys – notably single malts which can be both sherry-finished or peated.

They will even pair properly with peated or sherry-finished pot nonetheless whiskeys. The richness of the sherry notes cuts by means of the deep taste of the cheese and supplies a wonderful pairing that enhances each cheese and whiskey.

Denise Heslin of Kilbeggan Distillery notes that:

Friends at Kilbeggan distillery can take part in an Artisan Expertise which features a Whiskey & Cheese pairing and one pairing that friends adore is tasting Connemara peated single malt whiskey along with Cashel Blue cheese. Cashel’s wealthy, creamy tanginess is an excellent foil for Connemara’s delicate smokiness and easy candy malty style, it’s an ideal mixture of two of Eire’s most well-known merchandise.

John Quinn, International Model Ambassador, Tullamore Irish Whiskey and Chairman of the Irish Whiskey Affiliation would pair Tullamore D.E.W. 18 YO with a great brie of Cashel Blue, noting that:

The depth of taste of those cheeses just isn’t allowed to dominate because the whiskey asserts itself with its daring fruit and wooden notes following its long-time growing old in 4 totally different wooden sorts. Be ready for an unforgettable and highly effective style expertise.

Irish farmhouse cheeses and Irish whiskeys are each world-class. Collectively they make an unbeatable mixture – one properly price exploring!

Cheers