FESTIVE REVIEW: Taste test for local cheeses and soft drinks

With so many iconic producers on our doorsteps in the Melton borough we are almost spoiled for choice when it comes to pork pies, from the Dickinson and Morris Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe and Brockleby’s Pies, and beers from the town’s award-winning Round Corner Brewing.

In this review, I was given the opportunity to sample a range of cheeses from Clawson Farms and soft drinks from Bottesford-based Belvoir Farms.

There was much anticipation preparing to taste the cheeses, starting off with Aged Rutland Red, which came with the glowing reputation of recently being awarded a prestigious Super Gold Award at the World Cheese Awards in Switzerland.

It is made with pasteurised cow’s milk, hand-buttered, clothbound and then matured for up to 12 months – it has a sweet and caramelised flavour and we enjoyed it with grapes and sliced apple and also on crackers with a dab of chutney. It went down a treat, especially with a glass of red wine.

Next up was the 1912 Golden Blue, which a lovely rich cheese which proved to be incredibly tasty as the filling in a toasty. It is a strong blue and also goes really well with grapes and we enjoyed it with sliced pieces of pear.

The 1912 Artisan Stilton comes in a similar packaging to the Golden Blue but it is very different in taste and texture – it is creamy and tangy and is a superb example of Stilton.

It went excellently with Digestive biscuits and cream crackers, teamed with grapes and some lovely walnuts we had forgotten we had in the cupboard.

The Captain Bulldog Vintage Cheddar has a distinctive flavour which many will enjoy – this went down a treat with some crusty bread and grapes.

If you like your cheeses spicy, you will love the Wizard’s Fire – a Red Leicester with Scotch Bonnet and Harissa ingredients – which also tasted wonderfully in a toastie with onions and sliced fruit.

While many of us will be enjoying a beer, the odd glass or three of wine, some fizz or a tumbler of Whiskey, there will be times when we will want a non-alcoholic alternative.

Among the drinks we sampled from Belvoir Farm, my favourite was undoubtedly the Sicilian Blood Orange Lemonade. The natural ingredients flood out and there is a beautiful kick from the fresh citrus and the Italian oranges.

Mulled wine will be a staple again this festive season but Belvoir Farm offer a superb alcohol-free version in the shape of their Mulled Winter Cordial.

This is a versatile soft drink because you can just add water and ice but there is the option of mixing it with red wine and warming it up if you fancy the traditional Mulled Wine.

If you are looking for a mocktail, the Pink Grapefruit Paloma is well worth a try. Tequila can be added if you want an alcoholic flavour.

And in terms of soft drinks you can’t really beat the Sparkling Elderflower, which features hand-picked local elderflowers with lemon juice and pure spring water. I would also recommend the ‘lighter’ version.

Go to www.belvoirfarm.co.uk and www.clawsonfarms.co.uk to find out more about these products.