This here is the American Cheese Society's 2018 Best of Show 3rd place winner, ranked above over 2000 other cheeses. I was fortunate to get the commission of all the best of show winners each year, for the last 7. Receiving the best cheeses made in North America is a wonderful privilege I do not take for granted. Cows Creamery sent me a whole 20 lb wheel so I definitely plan to paint it more than once!

Cows Creamery, considered the maker of the best ice cream in Canada is also the maker of a champion cheddar. In 2006 they started making cheddar after the owner, Scott Linkletter, visited Scotland's Orkeny Island. He brought back the recipe of the cheddar he fell in love with to Prince Edward Island and it became "Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar". Avonlea has won Best Clothbound Cheddar three times at the American Cheese Society's Conference before this last year's Best of Show, a rare and impressive accomplishment.

This cheddar is made with vegetable rennet and thermalized (slightly warmed, not pasteurized) raw milk that becomes the 22 pound wheel. The cheesecloth wrapping the wheel allows the cheddar to breath and become a wonderful cave aged delight after a year of aging.

Country of Origin: Prince Edward Island, Canada

Availability: sold