Durrus

The Durrus rind varies from smooth and pale with a pinkish bloom to slightly gnarled with mottled pinks, ochres, browns and blacks. The variations depend on the season and age of the cheese but always the rind is complex and beautiful of itself. Under the rind, the paste is moist, elastic and slightly bulging. The aroma varies in intensity but is consistently of earthy wet soil, fresh hay and yoghurt. The flavour varies with age, the development of the rind and the size of cheese being tasted – there are earthy, rich, savoury flavours alongside a sweet milk. With age and particularly with the raw milk cheeses, the flavour and aroma grow more complex, deepening and developing more meaty elements. This is what Jeffa describes as ‘a deep, complex flavour which captures the elemental nature of this part of Ireland.’ Jeffa reckons the cheese is best at around 6 weeks old and is not overly affected by seasonality because the milk comes from staggered breeding.