Graham’s has become the first UK dairy to appoint a ‘Milk Sommelier’ to help Milk-lovers find the hidden depths of their favourite tipple. I’ve been drinking milk all my life and never stopped to think about the flavour (unless it’s started to turn, then I’ll spend a few minutes deciding if it’s good enough for my tea).

Douglas Wood – Milk Sommelier

Douglas Wood has turned his expert nose to the meadows of Bridge of Allan as he identifies the notes and flavours subtly present in some of Graham’s creamiest milks.  From white chocolate and vanilla to almond and grassy tones, Wood has sniffed, sipped and swirled the Graham’s Organic and Gold ranges, to unlock the intricate aromas present in each product.

Doug’s Tasting Notes and Food Pairings include:

• A family favourite, Semi-Skimmed milk is a lighter milk that’s full flavoured with grassy notes and a hint of sweetness. Pair with a wholesome, gravy soaked cottage pie and a side of seasonal vegetables.
• The ‘balanced and fresh’ Organic Semi-Skimmed Milk is a full palate, fragrant offering with hints of buttermilk, vanilla and a touch of almond. What better accompaniment to a chocolate cookie, soft in the middle and warm from the oven, than a chilled glass of Graham’s organic milk?
• The Organic Whole Milk with Cream at the Top is richer in flavour, with smooth, creamy notes of white chocolate and panna cotta and a hint of grass towards the end. The cooling milk will soothe the palate after a fiery, flavoursome lamb jalfrezi.
• Gold Smooth, made from the milk of the Jersey cows, is a velvety rich milk, with bready notes and textured depths of vanilla and toasted nuts. Enjoy as an everyday indulgence, or as the perfect accompaniment to homemade apple and blackberry crumble.
• Lush, creamy flavours define Graham’s Gold Top, with fruity undertones and a great clarity of flavour.  Closer in texture to single cream than milk and naturally sweet, Gold Top is the perfect wholesome accompaniment to everyone’s classic family favourite, a Sunday roast chicken dinner.

Carol Graham, Marketing Director at Graham’s The Family Dairy said: “It’s been exciting to discover the hidden depths of flavour and texture in our milk range.  It’s just a bit of fun but it’s clear that there is a Graham’s milk for any palate and the food pairing options are endless.  We always knew our Gold range was fantastic in porridge but Doug – and Lily – have identified some other delicious flavours and pairings.”

Milk Tasting Evening

I’ve been to some pretty unusual events on the back of our blog, a seven-course tasting menu with matching milks might just be the strangest one yet.

The Bon Vivant provided the food and Doug Wood was on hand to guide us through Graham’s range of milk. By the third course, swirling and sniffing our glass of white had become second nature.

It’s a bit of fun, but some serious thought had gone into the pairings. The indulgently creamy organic whole milk was the perfect partner to The Bon Vivant’s spicy venison and harissa pastilla. I’m no stranger to enjoying a glass of milk with a spicy curry, but in future, I don’t think a semi-skimmed will cut it – I’m reaching for Graham’s organic whole milk with cream at the top.

Milk Tasting Menu

Palate Cleansing Cocktail
Clarified Milk Punch 

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Haggis Bon Bon with gravy paired with Semi Skimmed
Lighter – Full of flavour – Grassy notes – Sweetness

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Venison and harissa pastilla paired with organic whole with cream on top
Rich smooth – Creamy – Panna cotta – White chocolate – Hint of grass

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Crispy chicken skin dinner paired with Gold Top
Lush – Creamy – Fruit undertone – Clarity of flavour – Single cream – Naturally sweet

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Palate cleansing sorbet

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Apple and blackberry crumble paired with Gold Smooth
Velvety – Bready – Depths of vanilla – Toasted nuts 

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Freshley baked Chocolate Chip Cookie paired with Organic semi-skimmed
Balance – Fresh  – Full palate – Fragrant buttermilk – White flowers – Almond

The final course gave me a ratatouille moment, I was instantly transported back to my childhood where life didn’t get much better than a cold glass of milk and a freshly Baked Chocolate Chip cookie.

After 14 glasses of milk, I was finished.

I’ll be going back to enjoying milk in moderation, but will be sure to take a few moments to appreciate the hidden depths in a drink we don’t usually stop to think about.

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