Scottish Cheese OR Scottish Charcuterie Tasting at Errichel

The best thing about this 50-minute tasting at Errichel is its clear focus on Scottish produce. You choose either five artisan cheeses at 2:15pm or five charcuterie items at 2:45pm, then taste them with chutneys and other carefully chosen accompaniments. I like the useful tasting map you take home, and I like that the same cheeses and meats are available in the deli if you want to repeat the experience later.

Becky gives the introduction in a friendly, relaxed way, explaining why each item is special and how the pairings work. The setting above Aberfeldy adds real pleasure, with broad valley views and a farm shop full of local food. The main catch is simple but important: you cannot change from cheese to charcuterie on the day, so choose the right session when booking.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate tastings: Cheese begins at 2:15pm, while charcuterie begins at 2:45pm.
• Five Scottish samples: Each session includes five artisan cheeses or five artisan charcuterie items.
• Practical tasting guidance: You receive a map, tasting notes, and a flavour wheel to keep.
• A strong local-food setting: Errichel combines the tasting with a deli, farm shop, restaurant, and fine views over the valley.
• Small group format: The maximum group size is eight people, allowing time for questions.
• Good follow-up shopping: You can buy many of the sampled products, chutneys, cakes, ready meals, and foodie gifts at the deli.

Choosing between Scottish cheese and charcuterie

This is not one combined tasting. It is two separate bookings, offered less than an hour apart. The cheese session starts at 2:15pm, and the charcuterie session starts at 2:45pm. If you want to attend one, book that exact option.

The cheese tasting suits you if you enjoy comparing texture, age, strength, smoke, and milk character. Five cheeses give you enough variety to notice real differences without turning the session into a blur of samples. At least some are local to Scotland, and the tasting notes help you remember what you tried.

The charcuterie option takes a different route through Scottish food. You taste five artisan items, with attention to flavour and pairing. One tasting has been offered with Scottish beers as an upgrade, while the cheese version can be paired with Scottish wine for an extra charge. Alcohol is not part of the standard price, so check the upgraded option if that matters to you.

For a mixed group, Errichel can arrange cheese for some people and charcuterie for others if you contact the team directly. Do not assume you can make that switch after arrival. The two sessions are booked separately, and last-minute changes are not accepted.

Arriving at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel

The meeting point is Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL. The tasting starts and ends at this same spot, which makes it easy to combine with time at the farm shop or a meal.

Errichel is more than a room with a tasting table. You arrive at a working farm and food destination with a deli, restaurant, and scenic views across the valley. The setting matters because it gives the food a sense of place. You are not simply sampling anonymous products in a town-centre shop.

The surrounding scenery is one of the strongest parts of the visit. Even on a wet Scottish day, the views add atmosphere. If the weather is good, allow a little time before or after the tasting to look around and enjoy the setting rather than rushing straight back to the car.

The small maximum group of eight is another plus. A tasting like this works best when you can hear the guide and ask about a particular cheese or meat. A large lecture would miss the point. Here, you can focus on taste, texture, and pairings without feeling lost in a crowd.

What happens during the 50-minute tasting

The session begins with an introduction to the five items on your platter. Becky explains what you are about to taste and points out the features that make each product distinctive. The presentation is designed to help you taste with purpose, not just eat five snacks in quick succession.

You receive a tasting map of Scotland, along with written tasting notes and a flavour wheel. These are useful souvenirs, but they also give you a simple way to compare the samples. You can note which item was smoky, sharp, creamy, savoury, mild, or more intense.

The platter includes five cheeses or five charcuterie products, depending on your booking. It also comes with accompaniments and Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys. Those chutneys are not just decoration. They show how a sweet, sour, or spiced note can change the way a cheese or meat tastes.

The pace is unhurried. You have time to try each item, listen to the explanation, and return to a sample after tasting the accompaniment. That matters with cheese in particular. A product that seems mild at first can taste very different with chutney or another pairing.

The tasting ends back at the meeting point. There is no separate transport or second stop to manage, so the whole visit is easy to fit into an afternoon in Aberfeldy.

The cheese tasting: five Scottish cheeses with useful pairings

The cheese session is the better choice if you want an introduction to Scottish cheesemaking without committing to a long food tour. The five samples offer a manageable range, and more than one is local to the area.

I like that the focus is not only on naming the cheese. The guidance covers why a particular accompaniment works with it. That is the practical lesson you can take home. You begin to see how chutney, smoke, sweetness, or acidity can bring out different parts of a cheese.

Specific favourites mentioned during the tasting include Strathearn and Kintyre Smoked. The Kintyre Smoked is especially useful for anyone who wants to try a cheese with a clear smoky character rather than a plain mild cheddar-style flavour.

The cheese is served in portions that allow you to compare all five without feeling overwhelmed. You also receive suggestions for other cheeses you might enjoy, which can help if you are less familiar with Scottish varieties.

After the tasting, head into the deli before leaving. The cheeses sampled are available to buy, making it easy to build your own platter at home. You can also pick up chutneys and other accompaniments, so the tasting does not have to end when the plate is cleared.

This follow-up shopping is one of the best-value features. You are not left with a list of products you cannot find. You can buy the cheese you liked most and use the tasting map to explain it to friends later.

The charcuterie tasting: five Scottish artisan items

The charcuterie session starts at 2:45pm. It follows the same basic format, with five Scottish artisan items, an introduction to each one, tasting guidance, and a map with notes and a flavour wheel.

The charcuterie tasting works well for anyone who prefers savoury food to dairy. It also makes sense if you have already done the cheese session and want to compare two different sides of Scottish food production.

Pairings are central here too. The guide explains how flavours work together rather than simply identifying each slice. One standout item to look for in the deli is blacky ham, which has been singled out as a good purchase after the tasting.

You can book an upgraded version with a Scottish beer tasting for an additional charge. That could be a good match for the savoury platter, but the standard ticket does not include alcohol. If you want the beer option, arrange it before arrival.

The farm shop also makes the charcuterie session feel more useful than a one-off snack. You may find more meats, chutneys, jams, and prepared foods to take home. That gives you the chance to recreate a simple tasting board later.

The people guiding the tasting

The strongest human element is Becky, who leads the tasting in a friendly and clear manner. Her style is informative without becoming formal or patronising. That helps if you know little about cheese or charcuterie and do not want a specialist lecture.

Rebecca is also praised for taking time with families during farm visits. If you are combining this tasting with another Errichel activity, that suggests a patient approach across the wider site. The tasting itself remains the main focus, but the staff can help you make more of your visit.

The guide does not simply recite product names. You learn how pairings work and why the makers’ choices matter. For me, that is more useful than a long list of awards or technical details. You leave with a better sense of how to taste, not just five food memories.

What else you can do at Errichel

The tasting fits naturally with time in the deli and farm shop. You can browse fresh cheeses, charcuterie, jams, chutneys, and food gifts. The shop also carries frozen prepared meals made by the chef, including dishes such as venison tagine and lamb kleftiko.

Coffee and cake are available at the site, making it possible for one person in your group to sit with a drink while others take the tasting. This can help if not everyone wants the same food option, though the tasting itself must be booked as cheese or charcuterie.

A farm tour can also be combined with the afternoon tasting. The wider farm visit includes animals such as sheep, pigs, chickens, peafowl, ducks, and geese. That makes Errichel a stronger choice for a family day out than a tasting room alone, especially if children need another activity.

Keep the timing in mind. The cheese and charcuterie sessions are short, so any farm tour should be planned around the published times. The tasting starts at a fixed hour and cannot be casually shifted if you arrive late.

Is $39.78 good value?

At $39.78 per person, this is not a cheap snack stop. It is a guided food tasting with five products, accompaniments, homemade chutneys, written tasting material, and a small group setting.

I think the price makes sense if you care about Scottish food and will use the information afterward. The tasting map and flavour wheel give the session lasting value, while the deli lets you buy products you already know you like. That is better value than paying for five anonymous samples and leaving without any way to find them again.

The price is less attractive if you only want a quick bite or if you are not interested in hearing about food production and pairings. You may also spend more after the tasting in the shop, especially if you see cheeses, meats, cakes, or prepared meals you want to take home.

Alcohol costs extra. The standard price does not include wine, beer, or other drinks, so budget accordingly if you want the upgraded pairing. Tea, coffee, and cake are also not included in the tasting.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this for food-focused couples, small groups, and anyone building a Scotland itinerary around local produce. It is also a good gift because the session is compact, practical, and easy to combine with a wider visit to Errichel.

Families can make it work, particularly if they add the farm tour. The tasting itself is designed around food, so very young children may be more interested in the animals or cake than in tasting notes. A mixed group can contact Errichel in advance to arrange cheese for some people and charcuterie for others.

This is not the right pick if you want a full meal, a long farm tour, or a drinks-only session. It is a focused introduction to five products, not an all-afternoon food itinerary.

Service animals are allowed. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the maximum group size is eight.

A few practical tips for a better visit

Book the exact option you want. Cheese is at 2:15pm and charcuterie at 2:45pm, and the team cannot accommodate changes on the day.

Arrive with enough time to find Thyme Delicatessen and settle in. The tasting begins at a fixed time, and a short session leaves little room for catching up if you are late.

Leave time for the shop. This is where the tasting pays off, especially if you want the same cheese, blacky ham, chutney, or another Scottish product for home.

If you are buying food for later, bring a suitable way to carry it, particularly if you plan to purchase chilled items. The supplied information does not specify storage arrangements, so ask the deli team about anything that needs to remain cold.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the session are not accepted or refunded.

Should you book the Errichel tasting?

Book it if you want a short, well-guided introduction to Scottish cheese or charcuterie in a scenic farm setting. The small group size, clear tasting notes, homemade chutneys, and chance to buy the same products afterward give it more substance than a basic sample plate.

Choose cheese if you want to compare textures and smoky or creamy flavours. Choose charcuterie if you prefer savoury meats, and consider the beer upgrade if that pairing appeals to you. Just make the decision before booking, because Errichel cannot swap the two options on the day.

FAQ

Where does the tasting take place?

It takes place at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK.

How long does the tasting last?

The tasting lasts approximately 50 minutes.

What time is the cheese tasting?

The Scottish Cheese Tasting takes place at 2:15pm.

What time is the charcuterie tasting?

The Scottish Charcuterie Tasting takes place at 2:45pm.

Can I change from cheese to charcuterie on the day?

No. You must book the option you want, as changes cannot be accommodated on the day.

What is included in the cheese tasting?

You receive five Scottish cheeses, chutney and other accompaniments, a Cheese Map of Scotland, tasting notes, a flavour wheel, and a guided introduction to each cheese.

What is included in the charcuterie tasting?

You receive five Scottish charcuterie items, chutney and other accompaniments, a Charcuterie Map of Scotland, tasting notes, a flavour wheel, and a guided introduction to each item.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic drinks are not included. An upgraded cheese option with wine or charcuterie option with beer may be available for an additional charge.

Can a group choose both cheese and charcuterie?

Yes, Errichel can arrange for some people in a group to choose cheese and others to choose charcuterie if you contact the team directly.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.