Scottish Cheese OR Scottish Charcuterie Tasting at Errichel

Errichel turns a short tasting into a proper introduction to Scottish food. You choose either five artisan cheeses at 2:15pm or five Scottish charcuterie items at 2:45pm, then settle in with pairing advice, homemade chutneys, and views across the Aberfeldy countryside. Becky leads the session with a friendly, clear style.

I like the small maximum of eight people, which gives the tasting a personal feel, and I like that you can buy many of the featured foods at the deli afterward. The main catch is simple: you must pick cheese or charcuterie when booking, since Errichel cannot change your choice on the day.

Key points to know before booking

• Two separate sessions: Cheese starts at 2:15pm, while charcuterie starts at 2:45pm.
• Five Scottish tastings: You receive five cheeses or five charcuterie items, plus suitable accompaniments.
• A useful take-home guide: Your Scotland map, tasting notes, and flavour wheel help you repeat the experience at home.
• A very small group: The experience accepts no more than eight people.
• A working farm and deli setting: You can browse Scottish cheeses, meats, chutneys, cakes, prepared meals, and food gifts afterward.
• Optional drinks: Beer with charcuterie or wine with cheese can be added for an extra charge.

Five Scottish flavours at Errichel Farm

The appeal here is not a long tour with a packed schedule. It is a focused food session in a farm setting, where you can slow down and pay attention to what is on the plate.

Your platter contains five artisan Scottish cheeses or five artisan charcuterie items. The exact selection is not listed in advance, so you should expect a changing mix rather than a fixed menu. That is useful for regular visitors, but it means you cannot choose the individual items before arriving.

With the cheese tasting, you may try products from different parts of Scotland, including more than one local cheese. Past selections have included Strathearn and Kintyre Smoked, two names worth asking about if they are available during your visit. The point is not just to eat five pieces in a row. Becky explains how each cheese differs in flavour and texture, then shows you why a particular chutney or other accompaniment works with it.

The charcuterie option follows the same structure. You taste five Scottish items and learn what makes each one distinct. The setting and presentation make this feel more like a guided food lesson than a quick sample at a shop counter.

That distinction matters. If you already enjoy food tastings, you will appreciate the chance to compare several products side by side. If you are new to artisan cheese or cured meat, the tasting notes give you a way to describe what you are eating rather than simply deciding that you like it or do not.

What happens during the 50-minute session

Allow about 50 minutes for the experience. You meet at Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy, postcode PH15 2EL, and the activity finishes back at the same place.

The session begins with an introduction to the five foods. Becky talks through the origins and character of each item, then guides you through tasting them. The approach is friendly and unhurried, with room to ask about flavours and possible pairings.

For the cheese session, the accompanying chutneys are made by Chef Paul Newman. These are not just decorative extras. They help show how sweetness, spice, fruit, and acidity can change the taste of a cheese. One piece may work best on its own, while another becomes more interesting with a chutney or selected accompaniment.

The charcuterie platter also comes with accompaniments. The supplied information does not give a fixed list, so you should not expect the same items on every date. That flexibility is part of a small farm deli experience, where the selection can reflect what is available.

You keep a tasting map of Scotland, along with tasting notes and a flavour wheel. I like this practical touch. It gives you a record of the session and helps you remember which products to seek out later. The notes also make the tasting accessible for people who do not normally know how to compare cheeses or charcuterie.

Choosing cheese at 2:15pm or charcuterie at 2:45pm

This is the decision to get right before you pay. Errichel sells the two tastings as separate bookings, and changes cannot be made on the day.

Choose the cheese session at 2:15pm if you enjoy dairy products, chutneys, and regional food stories. It is also the better match if wine sounds appealing, since an upgraded version pairs the cheese with a wine tasting for an additional charge.

Choose the charcuterie session at 2:45pm if you prefer cured meats or want beer with your food. The upgraded charcuterie version includes a beer tasting for an extra fee.

If your group is split, do not simply book one option and hope to change it later. Contact Errichel directly before booking or as early as possible. The farm can arrange for some people to have cheese and others to have charcuterie, but this needs to be organised in advance.

The 30-minute gap between the cheese and charcuterie sessions could work for a group planning both, but you should confirm arrangements directly rather than assuming two separate bookings will fit neatly. The standard information confirms the separate start times, not a combined tasting format.

The farm setting adds more than a backdrop

Errichel is a working farm and food stop rather than a tasting room in a city centre. The views across the valley are a major part of the appeal, especially on a clear day. Even in wet Scottish weather, the setting gives the session a sense of place that a generic indoor tasting would lack.

You can also pair the food experience with other time at the farm. A family who attended a farm tour before the charcuterie tasting saw and fed sheep, pigs, chickens, peafowl, ducks, and geese. The farm tour is not included in this cheese or charcuterie booking, but it may be worth asking Errichel about combining the activities if you are planning a full visit.

Families may find this particularly useful. A four-year-old enjoyed the farm tour, while the tasting gave the adults a more food-focused activity later in the day. The tasting itself is not described as a children’s attraction, but the farm setting gives families more to do than simply sit at a table for 50 minutes.

The property also has a deli with Scottish cheeses, charcuterie, jams, chutneys, cakes, and food gifts. There are prepared frozen meals made by the owner and chef, with examples including venison tagine and lamb kleftiko. Buying something for later turns the tasting into a useful source of ideas for meals at home.

Pairings, chutneys, and what you take home

The strongest part of the format is the explanation of pairings. You are not given five foods and left to work them out alone. Each item comes with guidance on what to eat alongside it and why the combination works.

This is particularly helpful with cheese. A chutney can bring sweetness or spice, while another accompaniment may sharpen or soften the cheese’s flavour. The same principle applies to charcuterie, where beer, chutney, or another selected food can alter the balance of salt, fat, smoke, and spice.

The tasting map gives you a simple record of Scottish food production. You can mark the products you liked, keep the flavour notes, and use the map when you shop at the deli or elsewhere in Scotland.

Several elements may be available to buy afterward, including cheeses and charcuterie tasted during the session. That is a real advantage. Many tastings end when the plate is cleared, but here you can try to recreate the experience for friends at home.

I would allow extra time after the session for browsing. The tasting lasts about 50 minutes, but the deli can easily add another stop to your visit, particularly if you enjoy chutneys, cakes, ready meals, or regional food gifts.

How much value do you get for $39.78?

At $39.78 per person, this is not a bargain snack. You are paying for five tastings, accompaniments, a guided introduction, printed tasting material, and the setting.

The value improves if you care about Scottish produce and want more than a plate of food. Becky’s explanations help you understand what you are tasting, and the flavour wheel gives you a way to continue learning. You also leave with ideas for products to buy and pairings to try at home.

The small group matters here. With a maximum of eight people, the session is likely to feel more personal than a large food tour. You can ask questions, take your time, and get recommendations for other cheeses or meats that may suit your taste.

The price does not include alcohol. Wine with the cheese or beer with the charcuterie requires an upgraded booking and a supplement. No other extra food or drink is included, so you should treat the tasting as a substantial snack or light meal rather than a full restaurant lunch.

For someone who simply wants to eat five pieces of cheese or meat, the price may feel high. For someone who values guidance, Scottish sourcing, a farm setting, and the chance to shop afterward, it is easier to justify.

What the hosts do well

Becky is the main guide named in the experience details, and she brings a warm, direct approach to the session. The emphasis is on explaining rather than showing off. That makes a difference if you are interested in food but do not have specialist knowledge.

She can talk through the individual cheeses, suggest other products you might enjoy, and explain why the pairings work. The same care carries into the charcuterie tasting, where the host describes the food and drinks in an easy-to-follow way.

The staff have also handled dietary needs for larger groups. You should still contact Errichel before booking with specific requirements, since the standard experience does not list every possible substitution or allergy arrangement.

Service is one of the reasons I would choose this over a self-guided deli purchase. You can buy excellent food from a shop without assistance, but you may not know which products belong together. Here, the tasting gives you a starting point.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the experience to food-focused visitors staying in or passing through Aberfeldy. It fits well into a day exploring the area and does not take up an entire afternoon.

It suits couples looking for a relaxed local activity, families combining farm time with food, and small groups celebrating a birthday or giving the tasting as a present. The Christmas gift example also makes sense because the session is easy to understand and offers something to take home.

Cheese lovers should choose the earlier session. Charcuterie fans should book the later one. If you are undecided, consider the drink upgrade, since wine and cheese or beer and charcuterie can help settle the choice.

You should be comfortable with a set tasting format. This is not a cooking class, a full farm tour, or a long producer visit. You receive five selected items and a guided explanation in a compact session.

Practical details that affect your day

The meeting point is Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel Farm, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK. The activity ends at the same location, so you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and the experience is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book. Service animals are allowed.

The group limit is eight people, which is good news for anyone who prefers a quieter tasting. It also means spaces may be limited, so booking ahead makes sense if your schedule is fixed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the session are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local Scottish time.

The most important practical tip is to check your start time and tasting type twice. Cheese is at 2:15pm, charcuterie at 2:45pm, and the two cannot be switched at the farm.

Is the Errichel tasting worth booking?

I would book this if you want a short, well-guided taste of Scottish food in a farm setting. The five-item format, small group, useful tasting map, homemade chutneys, and deli make it more rewarding than a simple sample plate.

Choose cheese for regional dairy products and wine pairing. Choose charcuterie for cured meats and the option of Scottish beer. If your party wants both, contact Errichel before making the booking.

Skip it if you want a full meal, a large farm tour, or a hands-on cooking class. But for a relaxed 50-minute food experience near Aberfeldy, with good guidance and something useful to buy afterward, the $39.78 price is reasonable.

FAQ

Where does the Scottish cheese or charcuterie tasting take place?

The tasting takes place at Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK. The activity finishes back at the same meeting point.

What time is the cheese tasting?

The Scottish Cheese Tasting starts at 2:15pm.

What time is the charcuterie tasting?

The Scottish Charcuterie Tasting starts at 2:45pm.

Can I change from cheese to charcuterie on the day?

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

What is included in the tasting?

You receive a platter of five Scottish cheeses or five Scottish charcuterie items, accompaniments, Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys, a guided introduction, and a Scotland map with tasting notes and a flavour wheel.

Are drinks included?

Alcoholic drinks are not included in the standard experience. You can book an upgraded cheese tasting with wine or an upgraded charcuterie tasting with beer for an additional charge.

How many people can join the experience?

The activity has a maximum of eight participants.