Anster, a delicate, pale and crumbly cow’s milk cheese, made by St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company in Anstruther, has been named Best Scottish Cheese at the British & Irish Cheese Awards 2025.
Typically aged for two to four months, Anster is a crumbly, Cheshire-style cheese, traditionally made using the raw milk from St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company’s own herd of home-bred cows. The flavour is mild, yet complex with a touch of citrus on the finish and mushroomy notes next to the natural rind.
Jane Stewart from St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company commented: “We were thrilled to be awarded Best Scottish Cheese at the British & Irish Cheese Awards. This important competition is recognised throughout the world as a showcase of the very best of UK dairy products and our win is a great accolade for our dedicated team here on the farm. We are very proud to be recognised by our peers in the industry we love, and to fly the flag for Scottish cheese in particular!”
Now in their 29th year, the Awards were hosted by the Bath & West Food & Drink Festival near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Nearly 600 entries were assessed, with the help of 52 judges from across the industry.
