Tillamook Maker's Reserve
Tillamook Maker's Reserve is the Oregon brand's range of cheddar aged at least three years: 3-, 7- and 10-year extra sharp and an aged sweet cheddar.
Tillamook Maker's Reserve is the long-aged cheddar range of the Tillamook brand, owned by the farmer co-operative Tillamook County Creamery Association in Oregon, USA.
Every cheese in the range is cheddar, a hard cow's milk cheese, aged for at least three years. The official page lists 3-, 7- and 10-year extra sharp cheddar and an aged sweet cheddar. For this range the milk is not pasteurised but briefly heat-shocked, a practice used by some American cheesemakers. The cheese is made at the Tillamook Creamery.
Over years of ageing the cheddar becomes dense and crumbly, small crunchy crystals form, and the flavour grows deeper and sharper. The production year is usually shown on the pack.
These cheeses are best served on their own: on a cheese board with nuts, apples, dried fruit or with wine. Let the cheese stand at room temperature for 20–30 minutes before serving. In hot dishes, aged cheddar is used in small amounts for flavour.
Why it matters to you: the number in the name shows the cheese's minimum age, so it is an easy way to compare cheddars of different maturity.
Facts
| Raw material | cow's milk, heat-shocked, not pasteurised |
|---|---|
| Main use | cheese boards, with wine |
| Country | United States (Oregon) |
What it includes
How it connects to Cheese
Tillamook Maker's Reserve → kind of → 🧀 Cheddar → kind of → 🧀 Cheese
Links
- Part of
- Tillamook, 🪨 Hard cheeses, 🧀 Cheddar
Frequently asked questions
How long is Tillamook Maker's Reserve aged?
At least three years; the range includes 3-, 7- and 10-year cheddar.
Is Tillamook Maker's Reserve made from pasteurised milk?
No, the milk for this range is heat-shocked rather than pasteurised.
Similar
Tillamook Cheddar · Tillamook Farmers' Collection · Tillamook Mozzarella · Cabot Lite · Kerrygold Skellig · Cathedral City Lactose Free