A range of Blacksticks cheeses, how did this happen?
Since its creation in 2003 Blacksticks Blue, unique to Butlers, has grown rapidly in both popularity and availability as more and more people discovered a cheese that was truly special and different to other British blues.
Originally developed to satisfy a need in the restaurant business, Blacksticks Blue was spotted by Marks and Spencer and there quickly followed a widening of availability across delicatessens, food halls and other supermarkets throughout the UK. Fans of Blacksticks Blue include everyone from individual consumers to celebrity chefs!
Blacksticks, winner of seven major cheese awards in 2008 alone, offers British cheese lovers something totally unique – a contemporary British made soft blue cheese of distinction that retains the history and values of Butlers. Milder and creamier than other British blue cheeses such as Stilton, Blacksticks is the British answer to many of the popular continental blues including St Agur, Dolcelatte and Danish Blue.
And so a range of Blacksticks cheeses is born to cater for each and every taste. Made by skilled cheese makers using British milk from the farms surrounding Butler’s Lancashire dairy (including a number of family farms), each cheese is handmade and given the time and care required to allow consistent maturation to perfection because we know that you want to buy a blue cheese packed with the best taste, texture and aroma possible. Welcome to the soft British blue cheeses that you have been waiting for!
Where did the name Blacksticks come from?
Just up the road from the dairy, at the foot of Beacon Fell, there is a pretty little road called Blacksticks Lane, which is also the location of Blacksticks Farm - both characterfully named after a group of tall chestnut trees at the farm, which looks just like a bunch of tall black sticks in winter! The Butlers family farmed Blacksticks Farm for many years, making cheese there before going on to open a restaurant, Blacksticks Farmhouse Restaurant. The restaurant opened in 1961 and a few years later the cheese making equipment was given to Jean, Tom’s wife, to help her continue the family’s cheese making. So it seemed most appropriate that a brand new cheese created by the Butlers dairy should be named Blacksticks.
