Scottish Cheese OR Scottish Charcuterie Tasting at Errichel

Errichel turns a short tasting into a useful lesson in Scottish food. You choose five artisan cheeses at 2:15pm or five Scottish charcuterie items at 2:45pm, then Becky explains what you are eating and why the chutneys and other pairings work.

I like the local focus, with more than one cheese made in Scotland and some produce made at Errichel. I also like the practical finish: you can buy favorites in the deli and try the combinations again at home. The main catch is simple but important: you must book cheese or charcuterie in advance, since changes are not accepted on the day.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate tastings: Cheese begins at 2:15pm, while charcuterie begins at 2:45pm. You cannot switch between them on the day.
• Five carefully chosen samples: Each platter comes with accompaniments and Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys.
• A hands-on food lesson: Becky introduces every item and explains flavor matches rather than simply placing food on the table.
• Useful take-home material: You keep a Scotland cheese map or charcuterie map, plus tasting notes and a flavor wheel.
• A small-group setting: The experience allows a maximum of eight people, which suits questions and relaxed conversation.
• A good deli stop afterward: The Errichel shop sells cheeses, charcuterie, chutneys, jams, prepared meals, and food gifts.

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

Your first decision is not minor. Errichel offers two distinct sessions, and the times are fixed. The cheese tasting starts at 2:15pm. The charcuterie tasting starts at 2:45pm. You are booking one or the other, not a flexible tasting where you decide after arrival.

The cheese option gives you five Scottish cheeses, with more than one local cheese in the selection. The platter comes with accompaniments, including homemade chutneys, and you receive a Scotland cheese map with tasting notes. The charcuterie option follows the same format, but focuses on five artisan meat products and includes a charcuterie map and flavor guide.

I would choose cheese if you enjoy comparing texture, sharpness, creaminess, smoke, and age. The tasting can also help if you are planning a Scottish food board at home, since you learn which accompaniments bring out certain flavors.

Choose charcuterie if cured meats are more your style, or if you want to pair the tasting with the optional beer upgrade. The cheese version can also be upgraded with wine. Alcohol is not included in the standard price, so check that you are selecting the version you want before paying.

For a group, the standard booking may seem restrictive if some people want cheese and others want meat. Errichel can arrange a mixed group directly, but you need to contact the team ahead of time. Do not count on sorting this out at the farm door.

Arriving at Thyme Delicatessen in Aberfeldy

The meeting point is Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy, PH15 2EL. The tasting starts and ends at this same location, so you do not need to plan for a transfer between venues.

That makes the experience easy to fit into a day around Aberfeldy. You can visit for the tasting, browse the deli afterward, or combine it with other Errichel activities. One family paired a farm tour in the morning with the afternoon charcuterie session, a sensible plan if you want more than a quick food stop.

Errichel is a farm setting with views across the valley. The scenery adds something to the experience, particularly on a slow afternoon when you can take in the surroundings rather than rush through a crowded food hall. The setting is also worth allowing a little extra time for, even though the tasting itself lasts about 50 minutes.

The deli gives the visit a useful second act. You may see cheeses, charcuterie, jams, chutneys, cakes, and food gifts that are not part of your tasting platter. There are also frozen prepared meals made by the chef, including dishes such as venison tagine and lamb kleftiko.

Five samples, not just five bites

The heart of the experience is the tasting platter. You receive five cheeses or five charcuterie items, with accompaniments selected to help show how each item works with another flavor.

That distinction matters. This is not simply a plate of food followed by a bill. Becky talks through the products before you taste them, giving you a reason to pay attention to differences in flavor and texture. The aim is to help you understand the food, not just decide which piece you like best.

The cheese tasting has included products such as Strathearn and Kintyre Smoked, both of which left a strong impression on the palate. Exact selections can change, so you should not book expecting those specific cheeses. The useful point is that the platter presents different Scottish styles rather than five near-identical samples.

The charcuterie tasting works in much the same way. You receive five Scottish items and learn how each one differs. One product available to buy afterward is Blackthorn ham, which gives you a chance to continue exploring beyond the tasting.

Portions are designed for tasting, not for a full restaurant meal. Still, the food and accompaniments are substantial enough that people have left feeling happy and full. If you have a large appetite, keep in mind that this is a guided platter rather than a multi-course lunch.

Why the pairing lesson adds real value

The best part for me is the pairing guidance. Chutney, cheese, meat, and other accompaniments can either sharpen a flavor or cover it up. Here, you are shown how the combinations are meant to work, which turns the platter into a small lesson you can use later.

Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys are part of the standard food service. Their presence gives the tasting a stronger local and personal touch than a generic packet of crackers and shop-bought relish. The accompaniments are not decoration. They help you notice how sweet, sour, smoky, creamy, and savory notes interact.

You also receive tasting guidelines and a flavor wheel. These are especially handy if you are new to structured tastings. You do not need specialist food vocabulary. The guide gives you a simple way to think about what you are smelling and tasting, then the host fills in the local detail.

This makes the experience friendly for both food enthusiasts and curious beginners. You can ask questions without needing to know much in advance, and the small maximum group size should leave room for a more personal exchange.

Becky’s friendly, practical guidance

Becky leads the tasting and explains the products in a clear, welcoming way. Her approach is informative without making the session feel like a lecture. That balance matters with food, since too much technical talk can get between you and the plate.

She also gives useful suggestions beyond the five samples. At the cheese tasting, you can ask which other cheeses might suit your preferences. That kind of advice is more useful than a long list of products, because it helps you choose what to buy in the deli.

The same care extends to groups with dietary needs. Errichel has accommodated dietary requirements for larger parties, but you should raise those needs when arranging the booking. The supplied information does not promise that every dietary request can be met, so advance contact is the sensible move.

Families can fit this into a wider visit. A four-year-old enjoyed the farm tour, where children could see and feed sheep, pigs, chickens, peafowl, ducks, and geese. The tasting itself is food-focused, so very young children may get more from the animals and farm setting than from the formal presentation.

The 50-minute pace

About 50 minutes is enough time to taste five items without turning the visit into a half-day commitment. You can expect an introduction, the guided tasting, explanations of the pairings, and time to work through the platter.

The pace is not built around rushing. The session has been described as unhurried, which is exactly what you want when comparing subtle flavors. If you are booking it between other plans, allow extra time for browsing the deli and enjoying the setting.

The fixed times also shape your day. Cheese at 2:15pm and charcuterie at 2:45pm are close enough that a group might be tempted to split up, but you should not assume you can move from one to the other. If you want both, contact Errichel directly before booking.

The activity is offered in English. A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation arrives when you book. The group limit is eight people, keeping the format smaller than a large public tasting.

Is $39.78 a fair price?

At $39.78 per person, the experience is not the cheapest way to eat five slices of cheese or five pieces of cured meat. That is not really the right comparison.

You are paying for five Scottish products, accompaniments, homemade chutneys, a guided introduction, pairing advice, and the printed map and flavor notes. The price also covers the setting and the chance to ask questions in a small group. For someone who already enjoys artisan food, that package can offer fair value.

The price makes less sense if you simply want a snack and do not care where the food comes from. You could spend less in the deli on a few items of your own choosing. The tasting earns its keep through the explanation and comparison, so take part actively rather than treating it as a quick plate of free samples.

The optional wine or beer versions cost extra. They may suit a birthday, gift, or special afternoon, but the standard tasting is enough if your main interest is Scottish produce. Alcoholic drinks are not included in the basic booking.

Shopping after the tasting

The deli is one of the strongest practical reasons to book this experience. Once you know which cheese or charcuterie item you like, you can buy it before leaving. You can also pick up chutneys, jams, cakes, food gifts, and other Scottish products.

This solves a common problem with tastings: you enjoy something, then forget its name by the time you reach the next town. The tasting map and notes help, while the shop lets you recreate the platter at home.

I would leave room in your bag and your schedule. The food range includes prepared frozen meals made by the chef, and the deli has enough variety to tempt you beyond the items served at the table. If you are staying in self-catering accommodation, the shop can turn a short tasting into supplies for another meal.

The deli also makes the experience more useful for a gift recipient. A cheese or charcuterie tasting can be enjoyed on the day, then extended with purchases that bring the Scottish flavors home.

Best for food lovers, couples, and small groups

This suits couples looking for a relaxed afternoon, food-focused visitors passing through Aberfeldy, and small groups who enjoy trying regional products together. It also works well as a birthday or Christmas gift, especially with the wine or beer upgrade.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants context with their food. You learn about Scottish producers, flavor matches, and buying choices in a way that is easy to remember. The map and flavor wheel give you something practical to take away rather than leaving you with only a pleasant memory.

It may not suit someone who dislikes cheese, cured meat, chutneys, or tasting unfamiliar food. The session is built around five samples in one category, so picky eaters should choose carefully. If some people in your party want cheese and others want charcuterie, arrange a mixed booking in advance.

Families can enjoy Errichel as a wider farm visit, but the tasting itself will appeal most to adults and older children who are willing to listen and taste. Service animals are allowed.

Booking, cancellation, and small practical details

You receive confirmation at booking, and the activity accepts mobile tickets. The standard experience is in English, with a maximum of eight people.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. Since the cheese and charcuterie times are fixed, double-check your choice before completing the booking.

The activity begins and ends at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy. No alcoholic drink is part of the base price, and no additional food or drink beyond the stated platter and accompaniments is included.

Should you book the Errichel tasting?

Book it if you care about Scottish food and want more than a quick shop visit. The five-item format, homemade chutneys, useful tasting notes, and Becky’s clear guidance give you a good introduction without taking over your day.

I especially like it for people who want to buy local food afterward, since the deli lets you recreate the experience at home. The valley views and farm setting add to the appeal, while the small group keeps the tasting personal.

Skip it if you are looking for a full lunch, a broad sightseeing tour, or a casual activity where you can choose between cheese and charcuterie at the last moment. For everyone else, $39.78 is a reasonable price for a focused Scottish food experience, provided you choose the correct session and make time to enjoy the deli afterward.

FAQ

Where does the Scottish tasting take place?

The experience begins and ends at Thyme Delicatessen at 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 begins at 2:15pm.

What time is the charcuterie tasting?

The Scottish Charcuterie Tasting begins at 2:45pm.

Can I choose cheese or charcuterie after I arrive?

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

What food is included?

You receive five Scottish cheeses or five Scottish charcuterie items, along with chutney and other accompaniments. Chef Paul Newman’s homemade chutneys are included.

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.

What do I take home?

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