Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), Tillamook, Ore., says it released Tillamook Maker's Reserve 2012 extra sharp white cheddar, the newest 10-year-old vintage in its Maker's Reserve program. Each year, TCCA introduces a 10-year and a three-year aged extra sharp white cheddar into its specialty line. The 2022 vintages join the existing lineup of 2016, 2017 and 2018 Tillamook Maker's Reserve cheeses.

"Our Maker's Reserve program is the pinnacle of how we do things differently here at TCCA — masterfully and mindfully," says Jill Allen, director of product excellence. "These special cheeses are selected from only the very best of our already exceptionally made cheddars, aged to perfection, and are worth the wait."

When Tillamook cheddars enter the Sensory Lab after an initial 60-70 days of aging, a team of tasting and sensory experts carefully examines each batch and grades it against the signature flavor of cheese. Very few batches of cheddar are selected to age in the Tillamook Maker's Reserve program, so it's no surprise that cheeses that are selected have won awards from some of the most prestigious cheese competitions, TCCA says, including the World Champion Cheese Contest, American Cheese Society, the U.S. Champion Cheese Contest and the International Cheese Awards.

Full of luscious tropical flavors such as mango, pineapple and starfruit — coupled with honeysuckle and warm tasty notes of brown butter and macadamia nuts — the 2012 Maker's Reserve is bursting with flavor and shatters with delightful crystals on the palate, TCCA says.

To celebrate Maker's Reserve's newest 10-year vintage, TCCA says it partnered with Truffle Shuffle, a company that specializes in interactive culinary experiences, to host a live virtual cooking class on Sunday, April 10. The event will be hosted by Truffle Shuffle's acclaimed chefs, along with TCCA's senior director of research & development, Steve Marko. During the event, Marko will guide attendees through a vertical tasting of Maker's Reserve cheddars that will culminate in a chef-led cook-along of a delectable American Wagyu Cheeseburger featuring the 2012 Maker's Reserve. Event tickets are on sale now through March 27 here. 

In addition to the 2012 vintage, TCCA also welcomed a new three-year aged cheddar into the mix. Maker's Reserve 2019 extra sharp white cheddar has a nutty nose with brown butter and caramel aromas and dense and creamy textures; it is full of flavors of sweet cream and custard, TCCA says. It is balanced with subtle salty, umami notes and a delicate smattering of crystals. This vintage is notable for its clean, nuanced palette and unique flavors.