Buying Cheddar? Even with handmade clothbound farmstead products, finding anything aged more than two years is a challenge. That’s why Hook’s Aged Cheddar Cheese from Mineral Point, Wis., is so special; some are aged up to 20 years. The bright orange cheese has an aroma of toffee and herbs, is moderately sharp and delivers an alluring hint of crunch, a hallmark of some well-aged cheeses. These attributes define the company’s 15-year-old cheese and are intensified in the rare, limited 20-year-old.
Hook’s Cheese 12-year Cheddar, $50 per pound; 15-year, $80 per pound; 20-year, $209 per pound (sold in half-pound pieces), available from fromagination.com.
