Ballylisk of Armagh’s Triple Rose named Runner–Up
Ballylisk of Armagh’s Triple Rose cheese is celebrating having being named a runner–up in the Best Artisan Producer category at the 2018 Great British Cheese Awards [www.greatbritishcheeseawards.com].
The winners and runners–up were announced at a prestigious ceremony held on Wednesday 17th October 2018 which took place at Somerset House, London.
The Triple Rose is a white–mould, single–herd, triple cream cheese made by Dean and Mark Wright in Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. They use the milk from the pedigree herd on their family farm just down the road from the production plant. They are the only artisan cheesemakers in Northern Ireland with their own milk pool. Commercial production started in April 2018 and it is already the top–selling cheese in London’s Borough Market.
The Great British awards were established three years ago to celebrate the best of British artisan cheeses produced and distributed by independent cheese makers and retailers. The awards have grown significantly each year and this year, more than 13,000 people have voted for their favourite cheese producers and retailers.
No other food awards bring together online voting, the nominating public and a cross–section of high quality judges. This year’s esteemed judging panel included Patrick McGuigan – Food Journalist and Cheese Writer, Chantelle Nicholson – Group Operations Director for Marcus Wareing Restaurants & Chef Patron at Tredwells, Paul Thomas – Dairy Technologist, Tracey Colley – Founding Director at The Academy of Cheese, Robin Gill – Chef Owner of The Dairy, Clapham, Felicity Spector – TV News journalist & Great Taste Awards Judge, Shane Holland – Executive Chairman of Slow Food in the UK, Matthew Carver – Owner of The Cheese Bar, Jane Devonshire – MasterChef Champion 2016, Adam Woodyatt – Actor & Food Blogger, Regula Ysewijn – Food Writer, Photographer and Great Taste Awards judge, Owen Davies – Category Manager at Harvey & Brockless, Signe Johnsen – cook & author, Martin Stanhope – Editor of Countryside Magazine, Galton Blackiston – Owner & Chef Patron of Morston Hall, Abi Bond – Product Development Manager at Peter’s Yard, Clare Stiles, Marketing Manager at Peter’s Yard and Ollie Lloyd, CEO at Great British Chefs.
The Great British Cheese Awards [www.greatbritishcheeseawards.com] are organised by Great British Chefs (The UK’s fastest growing food website www.greatbritishchefs.com) and Peter’s Yard (www.petersyard.com), whose sourdough crispbread has been named as “the best biscuit for cheese out there” by judges at the Great Taste Awards 2015.
Wendy Wilson–Bett, Co–founder of Peter’s Yard and Ollie Lloyd, CEO and founder of Great British Chefs said:
“Congratulations to Ballylisk of Armagh for being a named runner–up for its Triple Rose cheese. It is a great achievement and well–deserved recognition for their dedication and expertise in making fantastic quality artisan cheese.”
“We were really pleased to receive a large number of high quality entries and a record number of nominations from the general public. They have been instrumental in selecting and rewarding the very best artisan cheese producers and retailers.”
“It is great to get the recognition from the Great British Cheese Awards, particularly as they are voted for by consumers of cheese” said cheesemaker, Mark Wright.
“We have spent years perfecting our cheese but we only went into commercial production six months ago, so to get this far in such a prestigious competition spurs us on. We have already produced a cider–washed cheese and are at an advanced stage with a blue version of the Triple Rose.”
The Great British Cheese Awards recognised producers and retailers in the following categories: Speciality Cheese Retailer, Best Artisan Producer, Best Hard Cheese, Best Soft Cheese, Best Blue Cheese, Best New Producer and The People’s Choice. For the first time the Great British Cheese Awards have received dedicated category sponsors. Slow Food in the UK sponsored the Best Artisan Cheese Producer and The Academy of Cheese sponsored Best Speciality Cheese Retailers.