Isle of Mull Cheddar

In 1982, Jeff and Chris Reade packed up their farm and family, and transported them the 500-odd miles from Somerset to Scotland. There, they settled on the Isle of Mull, known as Scriob Ruadh.  During the summer the cows graze but with the notoriously damp Scottish climate the amount of time they can spend outdoors is limited. The quest for supplementary food led the Reades to the local distillery, Tobermory, which was facing the problem of disposing of fermented grain. It didn't take long for them to come to an arrangement, and that symbiotic relationship has continued ever since. The herd feeds on grass in summer and hay in winter but enjoys a supplement of fermented grain throughout the year, a unique addition which only adds to the cheese's deep complex flavor. The cheeses are kept in an underground cellar to mature for up to 18 months