A Cheese of Visual Intrigue
Montchevre Kiss My Ash was first launched in 2018 by Saputo Cheese USA, headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, a few months after its acquisition of Betin Inc., doing business as Montchevre, a Wisconsin-based goat cheese manufacturer and marketer.
Through its Montchevre brand acquisition, Saputo Cheese USA not only broadened its presence in the specialty cheese landscape, but also has offered its customers a variety of new products that round out its goat cheese offerings, including the award-winning Montchevre Kiss My Ash.
Described as a luscious vegetable ash-covered goat cheese with a marble-textured rind and smooth ivory body, Montchevre Kiss My Ash has an elegant and unique appearance.
“This makes it a definite showstopper for cheeseboards, with a long, narrow pyramid-like shape, velvety dark ash exterior and snowy white core,” says Jennifer Englert, Saputo Cheese USA’s marketing manager. “This unique mold shape helps the cheese to ripen faster, resulting in a more even, softer center.”
The visual intrigue translates to a well-balanced, yet complex flavor.
“Along with the lightly salty, creamy flavor one would come to expect from goat cheese, comes a more acidic, full-flavored earthiness that develops a peppery bite with age,” says Englert.
She recommends pairing this cheese with a nice Sauvignon Blanc, as the crispness of the wine cuts through the cheese’s creaminess nicely.
“As Montchevre Kiss My Ash ages, its growing hearty flavor nicely complements spirits and ales with solid profiles, such as a nice brown or amber ale,” says Englert. “If you want something a little more unique, try pairing a sour ale with a more aged Kiss My Ash.”
This Wisconsin-made goat cheese is a multi-year award winner, earning Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards in 2017, 2018 and 2019. As for availability, Montchevre Kiss My Ash 4.4-ounce logs are a rare find, featured as a limited-time special holiday item at select retailers.
