Scottish Cheese OR Scottish Charcuterie Tasting at Errichel

Small plates, big Scottish flavor. Errichel’s tasting in Aberfeldy gives you a focused introduction to artisan cheese or charcuterie, with five samples, chutney, pairings, and a useful tasting map to take home. I especially like the small group limit of eight, which helps the host give each item proper attention. I also like that the produce can be bought afterward at the deli, so you can repeat the tasting at home.

The main thing to watch is the booking choice: cheese begins at 2:15pm and charcuterie at 2:45pm, and you cannot switch between them on the day. At $39.78 per person for about 50 minutes, it is good value for serious food lovers, though alcohol costs extra.

Key things to know before booking

• Choose one tasting carefully: Book either the five-cheese session at 2:15pm or the five-charcuterie session at 2:45pm.
• Taste Scottish produce, not generic pub snacks: The cheese selection includes more than one local cheese, while the charcuterie focuses on artisan Scottish items.
• Expect guidance, not just a plate: Each of the five samples is introduced with notes on flavor and suggested pairings.
• Take home useful tasting material: You receive a cheese or charcuterie map of Scotland, plus a tasting guide and flavor wheel.
• Leave time for the deli: Cheese, charcuterie, chutneys, jams, cakes, ready meals, and other food gifts can be bought at Errichel afterward.
• Add drinks only if you want them: Beer with charcuterie or wine with cheese is available as an upgrade for an extra charge.

What happens at Errichel in about 50 minutes

This is a compact tasting rather than a long farm tour or full meal. You meet at Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, and the experience finishes at the same spot.

The host introduces the five items on your platter and explains what makes each one different. You are not simply handed five bites and left to guess. The tasting includes guidance on flavor, texture, and pairings, along with a tasting map and flavor wheel that help you organize what you are noticing.

That makes the session useful for beginners. You do not need to arrive with a trained palate or a head full of cheese terms. The explanations are designed to make the food easier to understand, not to turn lunch into a classroom.

The timing is also sensible. Fifty minutes gives you enough room to taste slowly and ask questions, but it does not take over your whole afternoon in Highland Perthshire. If you plan to combine it with other Errichel activities, the short format is a real advantage.

Keep in mind that the supplied food is a tasting platter, not a large restaurant lunch. Several people have described leaving happy and full, but you should think of it as a generous snack or light meal rather than a three-course experience.

Choosing between cheese at 2:15pm and charcuterie at 2:45pm

The most important decision comes before you arrive. The cheese tasting starts at 2:15pm. The charcuterie tasting starts at 2:45pm. You book one or the other, and changes cannot be made on the day.

The Scottish cheese tasting

The cheese option includes five artisan Scottish cheeses, served with chutney and other accompaniments. More than one cheese is local to the area, and the selection can include cheeses from around Scotland.

The presentation appears to be designed around comparison. You taste two pieces of each cheese, with a suggested accompaniment for at least some of the pairings. That lets you see how chutney or another partner changes the flavor rather than treating every sample as an isolated bite.

Past examples mentioned by name include Strathearn and Kintyre Smoked. Those details give you a sense of the range: expect different styles and flavor profiles rather than five versions of the same mild cheddar.

The cheese session suits you if you enjoy discovering regional products, shopping for food to take home, or learning why a particular chutney works with a particular cheese. It is also a nice choice for a relaxed birthday afternoon or a gift experience.

The Scottish charcuterie tasting

The charcuterie option provides five artisan Scottish charcuterie items with suitable accompaniments and Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys. The host explains the individual products and the flavors that work alongside them.

The charcuterie session has an especially appealing optional upgrade: you can add a Scottish beer tasting for a supplement. That pairing makes practical sense, but the basic experience does not include alcohol, so check the price before you arrive if beer is important to you.

A specific product praised after the tasting was Blacky Ham, which was also available to buy afterward. If you want to recreate the platter at home, ask about the items available in the deli while your tasting is still fresh in your mind.

Charcuterie is likely the better fit if you prefer savory, cured meat and beer to cheese and wine. It also works well for people who want to compare seasoning, smoke, salt, and texture across five different items.

Can a group split between both?

If your group cannot agree, Errichel says it may be possible to arrange cheese for some people and charcuterie for others by contacting the business directly. Do this before booking or well before the day of your visit. Do not assume the two menus can be mixed automatically.

The pairings are the heart of the experience

The most useful part of this tasting is not simply identifying what you like. It is learning why the accompaniments work.

The cheese platter comes with Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys and other pairings. One sample may be sweeter, sharper, smokier, firmer, or creamier than the next, and a chutney can bring out a different side of the same cheese.

The charcuterie follows the same idea. A cured meat can taste saltier, richer, or more balanced with the right accompaniment. The host talks you through those combinations, giving you a simple framework you can use when you buy Scottish produce later.

That practical lesson adds value. You are not only paying for five samples. You are also learning how to build a better plate at home, which is why the tasting guides and flavor wheels are worth keeping.

A friendly host makes the difference

The experience depends heavily on the host, and Becky and Rebecca are specifically praised for making the session warm and easy to follow. Their approach is described as friendly and clear rather than formal or intimidating.

Becky has been praised for talking through every cheese and explaining the pairings in a way that remains interesting without becoming patronizing. Rebecca is also credited with giving careful attention to groups and explaining the charcuterie and beers.

That matters in a tasting. Food talk can quickly become fussy, especially when unfamiliar cheeses or cured meats are involved. Here, the emphasis is on helping you enjoy the flavors rather than testing you.

The tasting is also described as un-rushed. With a maximum of eight people, you have a better chance of hearing the explanations and asking questions. Larger parties may need to contact Errichel about arrangements, especially if dietary requirements or mixed menus are involved.

Errichel’s setting adds more than decoration

The tasting takes place at Errichel, in the Aberfeldy area, with views over the valley. The setting has been praised as beautiful even on a wet, dreich Scottish day, and the scenery is one reason to allow extra time around the tasting.

This is not a city food counter where you rush in, eat, and leave. The farm setting gives the produce a stronger sense of place, particularly when the tasting includes Scottish items and food made on site.

If you are planning a full day at Errichel, a farm tour can be combined with the afternoon charcuterie tasting. The farm tour has included sheep, pigs, chickens, peafowl, ducks, and geese, making it suitable for families with young children. The four-year-old in one family group especially enjoyed seeing and feeding the animals.

The farm tour is separate from the cheese and charcuterie tasting, so confirm the timing of both activities before building your day around them. The food tasting itself lasts about 50 minutes.

The deli is part of the experience

Do not treat the deli as an afterthought. It is one of the strongest practical reasons to book this tasting.

The cheese and charcuterie sampled during the session can be available to buy afterward. You can take home favorites rather than trying to remember a name from the platter several days later. The deli has also been described as carrying fresh cheese, charcuterie, jams, chutneys, cakes, foodie gifts, and frozen ready meals made by the chef.

Examples of ready meals purchased after a visit include venison tagine and lamb kleftiko. These are not part of the tasting, but they make Errichel useful for stocking up on food for later in your trip or for an easy meal at home.

The deli also gives you a way to extend the value of the tasting. Buy one cheese, one chutney, or a preferred charcuterie item and try the pairing again with friends. The map and flavor wheel can help you remember what you tasted and how it was presented.

There is also a café-style reason to linger. Coffee and cake are available, and one group returned the following day after noticing the cakes during the tasting visit.

Is $39.78 a fair price?

At $39.78 per person, this is not a bargain snack, but the price is reasonable if you care about artisan Scottish food.

You receive five separate tastings, accompaniments, homemade chutneys, an introduction to each item, and printed tasting material to take home. The small maximum group size also gives the session more personal attention than a large commercial tasting.

The value is strongest when you use the information afterward. If you only want a few slices of cheese or meat, buying something at the deli will cost less. If you want context, pairings, a guided format, and the chance to compare five products in one sitting, the tasting earns its price.

Alcohol is not included. Wine can be added to the cheese option, and beer can be added to the charcuterie option, for a supplement. You can also attend without drinking, which keeps the basic price clearer and suits anyone driving or avoiding alcohol.

I would call it good value for a food-focused afternoon, a birthday treat, or a gift. It is less suitable if you are looking for a full meal, a long farm activity, or a broad sightseeing tour.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the cheese tasting to you if you enjoy regional food, chutneys, farm shops, and trying products you may not find elsewhere. It is also a good pick for couples and small groups who like talking about food as they eat.

Choose charcuterie if cured meats and savory flavors are more your style. The beer add-on makes it an appealing option for a relaxed afternoon drink, though you should arrange that upgrade in advance if needed.

Families can enjoy Errichel as part of a wider visit, especially if they add the farm tour. A four-year-old may not care about the tasting itself, but the animals provide a separate activity that can suit young children.

The tasting also suits people who want to buy Scottish food afterward. The ability to purchase many of the products on the platter means you can turn a one-time experience into a meal or gift back home.

Practical details worth knowing

You receive confirmation at booking, and the ticket is mobile, so there is no need to print anything. The experience is offered in English.

Service animals are allowed. The activity has a maximum of eight people, which is helpful if you prefer a quiet tasting with room for questions.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

The meeting point is Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK. The activity ends back at the same location.

Should you book the Errichel tasting?

Book it if you want a friendly, small-scale introduction to Scottish cheese or charcuterie, especially if you have time to browse the deli and enjoy the valley views. The pairing advice, homemade chutneys, printed tasting map, and chance to buy the same products afterward give it more substance than a simple sample plate.

Choose your menu carefully before you pay. Cheese is at 2:15pm, charcuterie at 2:45pm, and changing your mind on the day is not possible. If your group wants both, contact Errichel ahead of time.

I would skip it only if you need a full meal, dislike guided food tastings, or are not interested in buying artisan produce afterward. For everyone else, this is a well-sized, personable stop in Aberfeldy that turns Scottish food into something you can taste, understand, and recreate at home.

FAQ

Where does the Scottish cheese or charcuterie tasting take place?

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

How long does the tasting last?

The tasting lasts approximately 50 minutes.

Do I choose cheese or charcuterie when booking?

Yes. You book either the Scottish Cheese Tasting at 2:15pm or the Scottish Charcuterie Tasting at 2:45pm.

Can I change from cheese to charcuterie on the day?

No. Changes between the two tastings cannot be accommodated on the day. Groups wanting both options should contact Errichel directly in advance.

What food is included?

The cheese option includes five artisan Scottish cheeses. The charcuterie option includes five artisan Scottish charcuterie items. Both come with chutney and other accompaniments.

Is alcohol included?

No. Alcoholic drinks are not included in the standard experience. A wine tasting can be added to the cheese option, and a beer tasting can be added to the charcuterie option, for an additional charge.

What do I take home after the tasting?

You take home a cheese map of Scotland or a charcuterie map of Scotland, along with tasting guidelines and a flavor wheel.

How many people can join the activity?

The tasting has a maximum group size of eight people.