Kilmora named Best Irish Cheese
at British & Irish Cheese Awards
Killeen also a winner in Special Awards
Judging in progress.
On the same day that I bought a wedge of it at the Gubbeen stall in Mahon Point Farmers Market, the Killeen Farmhouse cows' milk cheese wins the Best Irish Cheese Award at the British & Irish Cheese Awards 2022. The Swiss-style cows’ milk cheese, which is produced at Portumna, Galway, took the trophy after more than 500 cheeses were judged in a single day at The Bath & West Showground on Wednesday 5 October, as the awards returned following a two-year hiatus.
Trophies were awarded to all category and national winners during the British & Irish Cheese Awards Dinner on the evening of Wednesday 5 October, with the Supreme Champion award going to Ashcombe by King Stone Dairy in Gloucestershire and the Reserve Champion cup going to St.Jude by St.Jude Cheese in Suffolk.
Organised by The Royal Bath & West Society, the 27th edition of the awards saw over 500 entries judged in a single day, as the competition took place during The Dairy Show for the very first time. Among this year’s entries were 20 brand new cheeses that have been created since the awards last took place, representing the sudden boom in creativity that was witnessed within the cheese industry, following huge losses in business as the hospitality sector was closed down during successive lockdowns.
A 50-strong judging panel made up of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators assessed entries in their individual classes during the morning session, awarding Bronze, Silver and Gold accolades to deserving products from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. During the second round, all Gold award winners from each category were judged alongside one another to identify the category winners, before all category winners were judged during the final round to find this year’s Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion.
British & Irish Cheese Awards 2022 trophy winners:
CHAMPION
Supreme Champion
Ashcombe, King Stone Dairy Ltd
Reserve Champion
St.Jude, St.jude Cheese
COUNTRY AWARDS
Best English Cheese
Ashcombe, King Stone Dairy Ltd
Best Scottish Cheese
Morangie Brie, Highland Fine Cheese Ltd
Best Welsh Cheese
Celtic Promise, Caws Teifi Cheese
Best Irish Cheese
Kilmora, Killeen Farmhouse
MAIN CATEGORY AWARDS
Best Flavour-Added
Mexicana, Norseland Ltd
Best New Cheese
Big Nick, Chapel Cross Tearoom
Best Export
Gorwydd Caerphilly, Trethowan's Dairy Ltd
Best Dairy Product
Greek Style Natural Yogurt, BV Dairy
Best Fresh
Hebden Goat, Tenacres
Best Soft White
Winslade, Hampshire Cheese Company Ltd
Best Semi-Soft
Merry Wyfe, The Bath Soft Cheese Company
Best Modern British
Moreton, King Stone Dairy Ltd
Best Blue
Organic Whole Blue Stilton, Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd
SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Traditional Cheddar
Pitchfork, Trethowan's Dairy Ltd
Best Block Cheddar
Vintage Somerset Cheddar, Wyke Farms Ltd
Best Sheep Cheese
Flower Marie, Golden Cross Cheese Co Ltd
Best Cheddar
Vintage Somerset Cheddar, Wyke Farms Ltd
Best Territorial
Red Leicester, Wyke Farms Ltd
Best Goat Cheese
Killeen Goat Mature, Killeen Farmhouse
Best Organic Cheese
Organic Whole Blue Stilton, Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd
Best PDO/PGI Cheese
Animal Rennet Whole Blue Stilton, Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd
Best Prepared Block Cheese
Best Mature, Saputo Dairy UK
Best Cheese from a Member of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association
Winslade, Hampshire Cheese Company Ltd
Best Cylindrical
Coloured Cheshire, Belton Cheese Ltd
Picture credit: Andrew Gorman / The Royal Bath & West Society
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