Pour Me A Slice - Cheesemonger Info

2021-2022 Bronze World Cheese Awards Seal


Flavor Profile 

  • Buttery 
  • Nutty
  • Caramel
  • Whiskey

Quick Facts

  • Cheddar
  • Infused-rind with Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • Vegetarian rennet
  • Pasteurized cow's milk

Drink Pairings 

  • Whiskey or whiskey-based cocktail
  • Hard Cider
  • Syrah

Storage

  • Store between 33-40 degrees. Avoid fluctuations outside this range, which can cause the cheese to gas off (a.k.a. blowing).
  • To avoid cross contamination, avoid storing near bloomy rind cheeses.
  • If the quarter has blown in its original packaging and no mold is present, you can leave it in the packaging if it's out of public view. It's perfectly fine to consume. Cheese is a living being that likes to breathe a little.
  • Feel free to rewrap or reseal the blown quarter. If that doesn't do it, contact your distributor or email hello@beehivecheese.com.
  • If the 4-oz retail wedges have blown, contact your distributor or hello@beehivecheese.com.


How to cut & wrap Pour Me A Slice

  • There should be rind present on every retail cut. This is because the intensity of the whiskey is greater near the rind and having rind on all the cuts will give a more balanced tasting experinece. Check out the video above for a visual. You would cut Pour Me A Slice the same way you'd cut Barely Buzzed shown in the video.  
  • Tight plastic wrap is the best to mitigate mold. Cheese paper, while sexy, reduces shelf life after cutting.

What if there's mold present?

  • For quarter wheels, if the cheese is within date and has a few spots of white, blue, or green mold, brush off the spots. Seek a credit if the mold is so pervasive that it cannot be brushed off. For 4-oz wedges in the original packaging, contact your distributor to seek a credit.
  • If you see orange, red, or black mold, discard this cheese and contact your distributor. 

Pour Me a Slice: A perfect pairing of cheese and bourbon  

In 2019, Beehive Cheese teamed up with our good friends at Basil Hayden to create something truly special: Pour Me a Slice, an artfully aged cheddar infused with Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  

The idea was simple—combine the rich, complex flavors of a fine bourbon with the smooth, creamy texture of our cheddar. After all, both whiskey and cheese are carefully crafted, and when paired together, they have the power to elevate each other.  

Basil Hayden’s bourbon brings a sweet, spicy warmth to the cheese, enhancing the natural flavors and adding depth. The cheese soaks up the bourbon's rich notes, creating a bold, but balanced experience with every bite.  

Pour Me a Slice is a celebration of two iconic flavors coming together. It’s the perfect pairing for whiskey lovers and cheese enthusiasts alike. The collaboration with Basil Hayden has resulted in a cheese that’s as sophisticated as it is fun—a true reflection of the craftsmanship and passion we share with our friends at Basil Hayden. Cheers to that!

Pairings 

Chardonnay, with its delightful vanilla and oaky flavors, creates a perfect balance with the spicy oak aging found in the bourbon on the rind. The wine's subtle notes of vanilla and oak complement and harmonize with the flavors imparted by the bourbon. This combination creates a harmonious interplay of flavors, enhancing the overall tasting experience by bringing out the best in both the Chardonnay and the cheese.

Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its dark fruit flavors, subtle hints of vanilla, and the influence of aging in oak barrels, creates a perfect balance with the oak aging in the bourbon. The wine's rich dark fruit characteristics harmonize beautifully with the flavors imparted by the bourbon's oak aging process. This combination highlights the caramel and vanilla notes, resulting in a delightful interplay of flavors that enhances the overall tasting experience. The complementary elements of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the bourbon create a harmonious and satisfying pairing.

The Red Ale, with its moderate malt flavor and subtle hint of sweetness, forms a perfect pairing with the caramel notes in the bourbon rind of the cheese. The maltiness of the beer complements the spicy caramel flavors, creating a harmonious blend that highlights the best qualities of both the beer and the cheese.

The Porter beer, known for its rich maltiness and notes of nuts and chocolate, creates a delightful synergy with the caramel and spicy notes of the cheese. The nutty and chocolatey characteristics of the Porter perfectly complement the flavors of the cheese, resulting in a decadent and satisfying combination.