El Antiguo de Castilla Mixed Milk Cheese

Quesería La Antigua’s El Antiguo de Castilla is a standout mixed-milk cheese aged for five months and crafted with an unusually balanced blend: 50% raw sheep’s milk and 50% cow’s milk. Unlike most blended cheeses—typically dominated by cow’s milk—this equal fusion creates a far more complex and expressive profile. The sheep’s milk contributes depth, richness, and nutty, dried-fruit notes, while the aged cow’s milk adds a gentle piquancy and a pleasantly lingering finish. The result is a firm, aromatic cheese with character, nuance, and a flavor that evolves beautifully on the palate.

The name “El Antiguo de Castilla” pays homage to a regional tradition: historically, families in the two Castillas made cheese from whatever combination of milks their herds produced, mixing sheep, cow, and sometimes goat’s milk out of practicality rather than design. Pure-milk cheeses were rare; mixed-milk cheeses were the everyday standard. Quesería La Antigua revives that heritage but elevates it with rigorous milk selection, careful affinage, and the artisanal techniques that define their entire range.

Slice it for cheese boards, pair it with quince paste or honey, shave it over roasted vegetables, or enjoy it with charcuterie. Its balance of savory, nutty, and lightly spicy notes also makes it excellent for melting into sandwiches, gratins, or warm tapas.

• Pairings: Crianza Rioja, Albariño, or dry cider; serrano ham, Marcona almonds, or dried apricots.