Old Winchester
£6.16
Weight approx 200g.
MILK
Pasteurised cow’s milk
RENNET
Vegetarian
TEXTURE
Crystalline, dry and flaky
REGION
New Forest, Wiltshire
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE: Strong and nutty Gouda-style with hints of caramel, crystalline crunches and underlying smoky sweetness.
WHERE IT COMES FROM: Mike and Judy Smales, of Lyburn Farm in the New Forest, needed to do something with the milk from their herd of Friesian cows when prices fell, so they decided to make cheese. Famously they went on a one-day Cheddar course but decided to make a Gouda instead. However, Old Winchester turned out to be a cross between the two with a large proportion of Parmigiano Reggiano in it as well! Described as a modern British classic, it’s aged for around 18 months and makes a great vegetarian alternative to parmesan.
