Description
Smoked Winchester Cheese
About Smoked Winchester
Smoked Winchester is the smoky sibling of Lyburn Farm’s Winchester cheese, made on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire.
If you like smoked cheese but don’t want the smoke to completely take over, this is a really good place to start. Underneath it all is a mellow, creamy cow’s milk cheese with gentle nuttiness and sweetness, while the smoking adds another layer of warm, woody flavour.
It’s smoky, but it still tastes of cheese. Which, as far as I’m concerned, is rather important.
From Winchester to Smoked Winchester
The story begins at Lyburn Farm, where the Smales family turned to cheesemaking when falling milk prices encouraged them to find another use for the milk from their own herd.
Rather than making another Cheddar, they took inspiration from Dutch-style cheesemaking and eventually created Winchester: a firm, smooth cheese with a gentle sweetness and nutty flavour.
Smoked Winchester takes that cheese in another direction.
The cheese is smoked to add depth and warmth without losing the creamy character underneath. That’s what I particularly like about it. Some smoked cheeses are so intensely smoky that you struggle to taste anything else. With Smoked Winchester, the smoke is part of the flavour rather than the whole story.
The Smoking
Smoking cheese is all about balance.
Too little and you wonder why you’ve bothered. Too much and you might as well be eating the contents of the fireplace.
Smoked Winchester gets that balance just right. The smoke adds toasted, woody notes to the naturally creamy, slightly sweet cheese, giving it more depth while allowing its original character to come through.
The result is a cheese that’s approachable enough for someone new to smoked cheese but still interesting enough for those of us who already love the stuff.
Smoked Winchester – Jen’s Tasting Notes
Smoked Winchester has a firm, smooth texture with just enough creaminess to stop it feeling dry. It’s easy to slice, easy to grate and, importantly, melts beautifully.
The flavour begins gently, with creamy sweetness and a little nuttiness, before the smoke starts to appear. I get toasted almond and hazelnut notes alongside a warm, woody smokiness that lingers without becoming overpowering.
There’s something incredibly comforting about it.
It has enough smoke to make itself known, but you can still taste the cheese underneath — exactly how I think a smoked cheese should be.
How to Serve and Pair Smoked Winchester
- Make sure you take it out of the fridge a good hour before you want to eat it so it can come up to room temperature.
- Classic pairings: A lightly oaked Chardonnay works beautifully. The buttery, toasted notes in the wine echo the creaminess and gentle smoke in the cheese.
- Something a little different: Try it with a dry cider. The apple freshness cuts through the richness and gives you a lovely sweet, smoky and fruity combination.
- On the plate: Keep it simple. Oatcakes, a crisp apple or ripe pear are really all you need. There’s already plenty going on in the cheese.
- In the kitchen: This is where Smoked Winchester really comes into its own. Melt it into a toastie, grate it over mashed potato or use it in a cheese sauce when you want a gentle smoky flavour without reaching for anything else.
Jen’s note: Smoked Winchester is one of our milder smoked cheeses, but it still has oodles of flavour. I think it’s a brilliant introduction for anyone who isn’t quite sure about smoked cheese. Just remember that it has a plasticoated rind, so don’t get carried away and eat that bit!
Buying Smoked Winchester
- Brand or Producer: Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers
- Product name: Smoked Winchester
- Milk: Cow
- Country: England
- Region: Hampshire
- Strength: Mild to medium
- Vegetarian: Yes
- Suitable for pregnancy: Yes
- Allergens: MILK
Sizes and Prices
- 100g wedge, £3.80
- 500g wedge, £19.00
- Whole wheel (approx. 4kg), available to pre-order
Storage Advice
- Keep refrigerated
- Wrap in waxed paper or cling film
- Remove from the fridge before serving
- Consume within 10 to 14 days of opening
Delivery and Collection
- UK wide courier delivery
- Click and collect from our Pangbourne shop
- Free local delivery available for selected postcodes
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, salt, starter cultures, vegetarian rennet, natural smoke
