To brie or not to brie: Shakespeare Cheese is a winner

blackmorevaleNovember 26, 20210 Comment0

My cheese board this Christmas is guaranteed to give my guests the wow factor as the delicious Shakespeare Cheese from Cranborne will be the star of stars.

This brie-style cheese made with sheep’s milk is created by The Book & Bucket Company in Cranborne and has won Gold at the coveted World Cheese Awards held in Oviedo, Spain earlier this month.

This cheese stood out from the crowd as thousands of entries were judged at the city’s awe-inspiring Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos, impressing some of the world’s leading experts to collect this award.

Founder of the Book & Bucket Peter Morgan said: “I cannot express the pride I have in our small artisan company and incredible team.

“To achieve this global recognition for a dairy that has been making cheese for less than three years is unbelievable.

“As a self-taught cheesemaker to have my name alongside some of the Cheese making royalty is something I never dreamed of.

“A special mention must also go to my wife, who has been with me on every step of the journey, and also to my business partners who kept the belief during a torrid 18 months of lockdowns and setbacks.”

The Book & Bucket Cheese Company was founded in 2019 with a small range of sheep’s milk artisan cheeses, quickly filling an order book full of local hospitality, delis and farm shops.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, and the order book suddenly fell quiet as hospitality closed overnight, The Book & Bucket Cheese Company were contacted by a local farmer who was desperate for help with excess cow’s milk destined for the drain.

Peter used the time with reduced orders to develop a brand new range of cow’s milk cheeses and over the next year, doubled the range.

Now, in 2021, the company is busier than ever with the majority of the cheeses they make securing accolades and awards including the Great Taste awards, Taste of the West Awards, Artisan Cheese Awards and now the prestigious accolade of a World Cheese Awards Gold Award.

With more nations than ever represented at the World Cheese Awards this year, The Book & Bucket Cheese Company has gained an internationally recognised seal of approval from a truly global cheese event, which returned to Spain this year to form part of the Asturias Paraíso Natural International Cheese Festival 2021.

The 33rd edition of the World Cheese Awards attracted 4,000 entries across 45 countries, including India, Guatemala, Japan and Colombia, as well as established cheesemaking nations such as France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

By Karen Bate