- Country : England
- Location : Gloucestershire, Chedworth
- Dairy : King Stone Dairy
- Cheesemaker : David Jowett
- Style : Semi-Soft
- Milk : Cow, Pasteurised, Organic
- Breed : British Friesian, Dairy Shorthorn
- Rennet : Traditional
- Rind : Natural Rind
- Age : 2 months
- Size : 6.0kg
- Shape : Wheel
- Based On : Morbier
- Notes : Having relocated King Stone Dairy from its original home in Little Rollright to Manor Farm in Chedworth, Gloucestershire in 2019, David Jowett built a new and bigger dairy for his successful Rollright cheese. He was able to use organic milk from the Manor Farm herd of British Friesians and Dairy Shorthorns. David’s passion for the alpine style cheeses of the Jura mountains meant that during the 2020 lockdown, he developed his newest cheese, Ashcombe. It is based upon Morbier, another famous cheese from the Jura mountains, clearly an area of inspiration for David’s cheesemaking and is made using pasteurised milk and traditional animal rennet. It shares Morbier characteristics of being a 6kg wheel, with a line of wood ash through the centre of the cheese. It is brine soaked for 48 hours after being made and then brine washed for up to 2 months before being released. The finished cheese has a springy texture, similar to most mountain style cheeses, with milky, fresh hay aromas and nutty, buttery flavours. The terracotta coloured sticky rind is superb with a soft chewiness and a savoury, umami flavour.
- Major Awards : Artisan Cheese Awards 2021 (Supreme Champion) Artisan Cheese Awards 2021 (Best New Cheese) Artisan Cheese Awards 2021 (Best English Cheese) Artisan Cheese Awards 2021 (Best Farmhouse Cheese) Artisan Cheese Awards 2021 (Best Washed Rind Cheese)
- Cheese Stockists : Fine Cheese Company
Ashcombe
