Discovering the Highland Cheese Company: Scotland’s Artisan Dairy Delight

Tucked away in the breathtaking landscapes of the Scottish Highlands lies a hidden gem that’s slowly making its mark on the world of artisan dairy, the Highland Cheese Company. 

For lovers of cheese and champions of quality, small-batch produce, this family-run business is a true delight.

A Passion for Tradition and Innovation

The Highland Cheese Company is known for combining time-honoured cheesemaking methods with a modern understanding of flavour and sustainability. 

Based near Tain, in the northern Highlands, the company takes full advantage of its pristine environment, using locally sourced, grass-fed cow’s milk to create cheeses that reflect the terroir of the region.

What sets them apart isn’t just their commitment to quality, but the incredible depth of character found in each cheese. From smooth, creamy soft cheeses to bold, mature cheddars and unique flavoured options, there’s something for every palate.

Signature Cheeses Worth Savouring

One of their standout offerings is Strathdon Blue, a beautifully balanced blue cheese made with pasteurised cow’s milk. Rich and creamy with subtle tangy notes, it’s a world away from overpowering blues, making it a favourite among cheese lovers who prefer a milder bite.

Heather Mist, a soft-rind cheese with floral notes, is another of their star creations. Washed in local heather ale and matured carefully in their ageing rooms, it’s a true expression of the Highlands in cheese form.

And don't forget their award-winning Minger, a pungent rind-washed soft cheese.

Their range often includes seasonal varieties and experimental batches that showcase the creativity of their cheesemakers, such as cheeses infused with wild garlic, whisky, or seaweed harvested from nearby shores.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at the Highland Cheese Company, it’s a deeply held value. Milk is sourced from nearby farms to reduce transport emissions, packaging is kept to a minimum, and traditional methods ensure low-impact production. They also work closely with local communities and food producers, supporting a vibrant Highland food network.

A Cheese-Lover’s Destination

If you're lucky enough to visit the Highlands, a trip to the Highland Cheese Company is a must. Many of their products are available to sample at farmers’ markets and food festivals across Scotland. Some local delis and shops carry their range, and there are even occasional open days at the creamery itself.

For those further afield, selected cheeses can be ordered online — often in curated boxes that pair beautifully with oatcakes, chutneys, and even small-batch Highland charcuterie.

In Praise of Highland Craft

The Highland Cheese Company represents the best of British artisan food: rooted in place, produced with care, and delivered with passion. It’s about more than just cheese, it’s about telling the story of the Highlands through flavour.

Whether you're assembling a cheeseboard, planning a cosy winter supper, or simply looking to support local producers, this small but mighty company deserves a spot in your fridge.

https://hf-cheeses.com

Minger enjoys sweet smell of success at Great Taste 2025

Highland Fine Cheeses in Tain, Scotland has achieved a 1-star award for its Minger at Great Taste 2025, landing more success for one the UK’s most celebrated washed rind cheeses. 

Out of 14,340 products to be entered into the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme, the pungent but popular and crowd-pleasing soft annatto washed rind cheese was named among this year’s winning products.

Dubbed ‘rather fun’ by the judges, who are made up of food critics, writers, chefs and restaurateurs, Minger was praised for its attractive appearance, subtle farmyard lactic notes and its glossy oozing paste. 

Made by the Stone Family in the Scottish Highlands, the brie-style cheese, which takes its inspiration from Reblochon and Pont-l’Eveque, was commended for delivering on fantastic flavour.

Rory Stone, head cheesemaker at Highland Fine Cheeses, told That's Food and Drink: “We have been making cheese here for over 50 years, but to be recognised at Great Taste remains a real endorsement of the skill, passion and creativity that is taking place behind our fun and quirky cheese names. 

"This soft and sticky little cheese has garnered a lot of attention for its unusual name, so it’s very pleasing to see it winning hearts in a blind tasted setting too. Great Taste is a stamp of approval, recognised the world over and is a real signpost towards the best products, so we are beyond thrilled to be among this year’s award-winners.”

There was more awards success for Highland Fine Cheeses at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier this month, where Fat Cow was named Champion in the soft cheese category. Described as nutty, buttery, sweet and well balanced, it was commended for its presentation and firm texture. 

Ooh La La, a soft and silky lactic style cow’s milk cheese, which is yet to be officially launched by Highland Fine Cheeses, received a Gold award in the soft cheese category, and Minger scooped a Bronze in the soft, semi-soft and washed rind category.

The entire range of Highland Fine Cheeses’ award-winning cheeses and butter can be purchased from hf-cheeses.com along with accompaniments, and delivery is available across the UK. Highland Fine Cheeses’ range is also available in farm shops, delis, stores and supermarkets throughout the UK and Scotland. Cheese lovers can check their local stockists at hf-cheeses.com/pages/store-locator.

Incidentally both we and our readers are please to learn that Highland Fine Cheeses does not add Bovaer additive or supplements to the feeding requirements of its dairy farmers.

Minger Cheese brings home the Gold from International Cheese & Dairy Awards

Highland Fine Cheeses has been awarded a well-deserved Gold Award in the rind-washed category at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards 2025 (ICDA) for Minger, which is a soft annatto washed rind cheese made in Tain, Scotland. 

Held at the Staffordshire County Showground at the end of last month, June, ICDA is the world’s biggest platform for championing world class cheese and dairy products.

Recognised for its sticky orange rind, pungent aroma, oozy creamy texture and nutty flavour, Minger was among 5,500 entries to be judged in a single day by cheese and dairy experts from around the globe. 

Highland Fine Cheeses’ semi-hard washed rind cheese, Fat Cow was awarded Bronze in the rind-washed category, while Blue Murder took Bronze in the soft blue category. A third Bronze was awarded to Ooh La La, which is a soft and silky lactic style cow’s milk cheese, which is yet to be officially launched by Highland Fine Cheeses. (EDITOR: I can't wait!) 

More awards success was achieved at the Royal Highland Show, which also took place last month, with Fat Cow receiving a Gold, while Minger, Blue Murder, Strathdon Blue, and Highland Fine Cheeses’ Salted Butter all achieved Bronze accolades.

The entire range of Highland Fine Cheeses’ award-winning cheeses and butter can be purchased from hf-cheeses.com along with accompaniments, and delivery is available across the UK. Highland Fine Cheeses’ range is also available in farm shops, delis, stores and supermarkets throughout the UK and Scotland. Cheese lovers can check their local stockists at hf-cheeses.com/pages/store-locator.

Crowdie makes a comeback for delicious cheesy summer spreads

Highland Fine Cheeses in Tain, Scotland is set to deliver something fresh to the feasting table this summer, with its vibrant and zesty Skinny Crowdie.

 As Scotland’s most traditional cheese, and the product that started the Stone family’s journey into cheesemaking, this lactic curd cheese is steeped in a rich heritage and brings a light and creamy reduced fat dairy option for those long sunny days.

Made using milk from free-roaming cows in the Scottish Highlands, Skinny Crowdie gets its name from its origin as a biproduct in the butter-making process, when the fat is removed from milk. The remaining curds are hung in a muslin, having previously been hung in stockings or pillowcases, and the result is a soft and crumbly spreadable cheese.

Light and creamy with a hint of lemon, Skinny Crowdie can be simply spread on an oatcake, folded into a pate, topped with berries and drizzled with honey, or even dolloped onto a hot scone with jam. 

To top off the summer spread, it pairs really well with a chilled white wine, such as Viogner or Chenin Blanc.

Skinny Crowdie is priced at £5.25 for a 140g tub and can be purchased from hf-cheeses.com, along with Highland Fine Cheeses’ other award-winning cheeses and accompaniments, with delivery available across the UK. Highland Fine Cheeses’ range is also available in farm shops, delis, stores and supermarkets throughout the UK and Scotland. Cheese lovers can check their local stockist at hf-cheeses.com/pages/store-locator.

FACTFILE on Highland Fine Cheeses

Highland Fine Cheeses is based in Tain, which is in northeast Scotland, and produces a collection of artisan cheeses including Morangie Brie, Minger and Strathdon Blue. 

Taking inspiration from around the globe, second generation cheesemaker, Rory Stone remains true to the artisan processes  his parents implemented when Blarliath Farm was a smallholding of just 14 Shorthorn dairy cows, and a randy bull called Geordie.

The Highlands were traditionally referred to as cattle country, with every farm or croft having a house cow, to supplement their diet. 

After the cream had been ladled off the top of the milk to churn butter, the remaining milk’s cultures would slowly eat the lactose and multiply throughout, souring it by releasing lactic acid. 

Eventually the milk would set and form a curd, a bit like yogurt and the curd was scrambled like eggs and hung up in a pillowcase or a muslin to drain the whey. The final addition of salt resulted in Crowdie, a soft fresh cheese, traditional to Scotland.

Highland Fine Cheeses’ story began with the resurrection of Crowdie in the family bathtub, when Rory’s father, Reggie, complained that no-one was producing it anymore, and so his mother, Susannah, set about making it. 

Crowdie is still made by Highland Fine Cheeses, albeit not in the bathtub anymore, alongside its collection of award-winning mould ripened, blue and washed rind style cheeses.

It's good to note that Highland Fine Cheeses does not add Bovaer additive or supplements to the feeding requirements of its dairy farmers.

Website: hf-cheeses.com