WHAT IS HUNTSMAN?
This English bastard is an offspring of Stilton and Double Gloucester . It is basically a pasteurized cheese sandwich. Huntsman is a blend of a spicy 3 month old blue between 2 slabs of a mellower, 36 month old Double Gloucester. The actual name of this type of cheese is Double Gloucester with Stilton. But Long Clawson Dairy trademarked the name “Huntsman” while their competitor Dairy Crest created “Stilchester”.
WHERE IS HUNTSMAN MADE?
It was born in county Leicestershire at the site of the former Royal Oak pub in Melton Mowbray. This county is home to one of the Britain’s most famous hunts, the Quorn. Since 1696, a hundred dogs and 200+ horseback riders would chase foxes during the Fall and Winter months. The hunt is named after the village of Quorn where the hounds were kenneled for several hundred years. In 2004 England passed a law abolishing fox hunting but the tradition continues.
SPIDERS AND CHEESE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON?
This name is shared by the giant crab a.k.a. Huntsman spider. This arachnid is famous for its’ speed and mode of hunting. Unlike the dairy namesake, this spider doesn’t sit around waiting for people to come to it. Instead of spinning webs, the huntsman chases its’ prey on legs up to 12 inches long. They can cover 3 feet in 1 second and are about the size of a dinner plate. Contrary to their scary reputation, these spiders are considered to be among the most romantic in the arachnid kingdom.
WHAT CAN I PAIR WITH HUNTSMAN?
In terms of the cheese, pair wines and other beverages like you would with Stilton. While this is visually distinctive, for cheese flights I’d suggest sticking with one of the two separately. But as a melting cheese the three tier Double Gloucester with Stiltons work well on burgers and other dishes.