Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is a pasteurized cow’s milk cheese modeled after the traditional English clothbound cheddars. Wrapped in muslin (cloth) and rubbed with lard, this beautiful cheddar is sweet and creamy with delicate grassy notes. Cabot carries the grassy, fresh characteristics of grass-fed cow’s milk, which helps to keep the cheese light yet complex. Its wonderful flavor profile makes Cabot a crowd-pleasing and award-winning cheese.
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar hails from Cabot Creamery in Vermont. Once the cheese is wrapped in muslin, it’s sent to the cellars at Jasper Hills Farm where it’s aged between 10 to14 months. The cellars at Jasper Hill provide a space for the cheese to release moisture and develop the creamy yet crumbly texture of aged cheddar. As the cheese ages, moisture is slowly released through the muslin coating, which helps to create its fantastic consistency.
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar demonstrates the fantastic marriage between crumbly and creamy cheeses. While its texture is crumbly the finish is creamy and lingering. There are notes of caramel with a slight hint of apricots. The cheese finishes with a lasting flavor of roasted hazelnuts, which in turn makes this cheese perfect for any season.
As is customary with most cheddars, Cabot Clothbound Cheddar pairs exceptionally well with beer. For a fantastic and crowd-pleasing pairing, pair Cabot with a brown ale or porter to bring out the caramelized notes in the cheese, along with either honey or fruit preserves. The honey will bring out the earthy sweetness of the cheese while a fruit preserve will play up the lightness and freshness of the cheese. For an adventurous pairing, pair Cabot with dark chocolate and a sparkling wine, preferably a Riesling that will bring out the sweeter fruitiness of the cheese. When choosing a Riesling, look for a drier version that will not overwhelm the cheese with its sweetness but rather help to draw out the natural sweetness of the cheese.
When I first tasted Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, I was immediately transported to the rolling hills of Vermont. The freshness and grassiness of the cheese conjured up images of springtime and green meadows. Along with the freshness of the cheese, the creaminess was immediately comforting and familiar in the best way. To me, this cheese is complex yet simple, thus making it worthy of a full month of celebration.
Either way, Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is a fantastic cheese, whether for a night in or as the star of a cheese platter for a party. Cabot provides a warm, comforting feeling because of its familiar taste but also lends itself to a complex flavor profile that’s pleasing to even the most seasoned palates.