Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop

Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop is a hard-pressed cheese not unlike cheddar but more moist. When young it is mild with a nutty flavour and smooth, close texture. As it matures it develops a good strength with a slight sharpness.

Mild at 6 months maturing to 12 to 14 months.

This cheese is named after the nearby village of Dunlop.

Nowadays the name Dunlop is generic so the cheese can be made anywhere and called Dunlop. “Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop” indicates it is made in the original area around Dunlop and with the milk from Ayrshire cows.

The making of Dunlop cheese dates back to the 1700s when Barbara Gilmour, a farmer’s wife started making a cheese at the Hill Farm Dunlop (about a mile from us here). She brought back, from Ireland, the recipe which uses whole milk. Previously skimmed milk was used for cheesemaking.

Smoked Dunlop

The cheeses are smoked over Beechwood at the local Fencebay Smokehouse.

Fencebay have been smoking quality food products ie salmon and trout etc for years so we use their expertise and experience to smoke our cheeses for us.

1kg or pre-packs

Aiket

Aiket is a soft, white, mould- ripened cheese (brie, camembert style) again made from our Ayrshire cows’ milk. When young it is firm with a chalky texture and fresh mild taste.

The white mould growing on the surface ripens the cheese from the outside in to the centre. As it does this, the texture becomes smoother and creamier and it develops a rich almost mushroom flavour. It is a personal preference whether it is eaten young or fully ripe.

Sizes: - approx 200g or 1kg rounds

The name Aiket meaning oakwood is a local name.

Paddy's Milestone

Paddy’s Milestone is our newest cheese - totally unique and beautifully packaged. It is a white, soft, fresh cheese shaped like a rock (hence the name) with a creamy texture and delicate irresistible flavour.

These weigh at slightly under 200g.

(Paddy's Milestone is the local name for Ailsa Craig, a volcanic rock which sits out in the Firth of Clyde. Ailsa Craig is now a bird sanctuary.)

Clerkland Crowdie

Clerkland Crowdie is a soft fresh cheese – rich and creamy with a sharp tang.

This is a very versatile cheese being suitable for cooking, ideal for topping carrot cake, in cheesecakes, on a biscuit or bread with smoked salmon or in pates etc.

It is a fresh cheese with no preservative so has a short shelf life of 14 days so buy little and often.

Sizes – 100g rolls or 2kg tubs. Other quantities can be made to order.

Available in little logs rolled in oatmeal and black pepper or plain (add your own choice of herbs etc).

Bonnet

A hard pressed cheese made from our Saanen and Toggenburg goats’ milk.

Well-known and extremely popular Bonnet is named after our local town of Stewarton, ‘The Bonnet Toun’. The mills in the town made bonnets for the army regiments.

Matured for 6 to 10 months.

Sizes: 3kg whole round or prepacks.

Ailsa Craig

This cheese is shaped like a rock and wrapped like a little parcel.

Creamy taste with a hint of goat, melts in the mouth - delicious.

Sizes: 180g approx.

It is named after the famous rock in the Firth of Clyde.

Glazert

A soft white mould ripened cheese is ripened similarly to the Aiket.

Fresh and chalky when young and develops a much more goaty flavour with a smooth creamy texture when ripe.

This cheese is ideal grilling or for little starters.

Sizes: log of 130g or 250g approx.

The name comes from a little burn which runs through
the village of Dunlop.