Murray's Cheese Earns 5 Awards at 2023 American Cheese Society Judging & Competition
Murray’s Cheese, the Kroger-owned specialty cheese brand, earned multiple awards for its products at the recent American Cheese Society annual conference.
Murray’s earned four Second Place awards for cheeses in its Signature Cave Aged collection, and one Third Place award for its Carpenter’s Wheel goat milk cheese which is debuting in the coming months. Held this year in Minneapolis, Minn., The American Cheese Society Judging & Competition is the largest of its kind for American-made cheeses, recognizing products for their attributes in flavor, aroma, texture and appearance.
"Through our cave aged program, we create exclusive cheeses in collaboration with several wonderful creameries and cheesemakers," said Nick Tranchina, president of Murray's Cheese. "With months or even years of research and development, our team develops new flavors using proprietary aging techniques in our temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms. We are especially proud to be recognized by the American Cheese Society for our latest project, Carpenter's Wheel, debuting in October. Additionally, Stockinghall Cheddar continues to be awarded and is building a following as the Murray's Cave Aged cheese available in many Kroger shops nationally."
Murray’s award-winning cheeses include the following, as described by the brand:
Second Place: Cave Aged Reserve Greensward
Category: Soft-ripened washed rind
The unique spruce-wrapped round made by the Cellars at Jasper Hill in Vermont and aged in the Murray's caves was originally created for Eleven Madison Park. Murray's team of affineurs washes the cheese in cider and watches over as the pucks age to perfection. Greensward has a silky, oozing, spoonable paste that combines tastes of mushrooms and brandied cherries with woodsy, sprucy notes. A recent winner at American Cheese Society 2022, Third Place Best in Show.
Second Place: Cave Aged Reserve Hudson Flower
Category: Soft-ripened with flavor added – all milks
Young wheels of sheep's milk cheese from New York's Old Chatham Creamery are coated in the Murray's caves with a blend of rosemary, lemon thyme, chervil and hop flowers. After ripening in the caves, this riff on Corsican classic Fleur du Maquis has piney, floral, rich and earthy flavors. Also a winner at the 2022 American Cheese Society, World Championship Cheese Contest, and 2019 American Cheese Society.
Second Place: Cave Aged Original Stockinghall Cheddar
Category: Cheddar wrapped in cloth,linen with a natural rind – aged through 12 months – all milks
Stockinghall Cheddar is a uniquely Murray's creation. Cheddar wheels are made at Old Chatham Creamery using Murray's recipe; Murray's caves team then receives the young wheels, wraps them in cloth, and ages them for a year. The resulting flavors are meaty bacon and sour cream with hints of pineapple. Winner of American Cheese Society 2019 Best in Show. Available in select Kroger Murray's Cheese stores!
Second Place: Cave Aged Original Buttermilk Basque
Category: Sheep's milk cheese aged 31 to 60 days
A rich, buttery cheese inspired by traditional Basque cheese, made in collaboration with Old Chatham Creamery with an original recipe developed by the Murray's caves team. The small wheels with a recognizable woven rind age in Murray's caves for one month to form a pudgy paste with a gentle earthiness.
Third Place: Carpenter's Wheel (coming this fall)
Category: Goat's milk cheese aged over 60 days
This alpine-style goat's milk cheese is a collaboration with FireFly Farms in Maryland. The cheese was originally developed with Crown Finish Caves in Brooklyn, and Murray's is proud to carry on the cheese's legacy now that Crown Finish has closed.
Last month, Murray’s Cheese underwent a brand refresh, featuring a new logo, visual brand and website. Murray's joined the Kroger family in 2017.
Murray's operates more than 1,000 cheese counters in Kroger Family of Stores. Each Murray's shop carries more than 150 cheeses, plus charcuterie, olives, crackers and specialty food items.