140g, $5.00

available at fine foods stores in Ontario.
We bought them at Fifth Town Cheese – fifthtown.ca/
For more information visit countycrackers.com

It’s not often Shelf Life has the opportunity to begin a review with the following words: we kid you not. These crackers are definitely, thoroughly, and scrumptiously out of this world. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that what we have here is a cracker paradigm – they simply define the genre. So how do they do it? We have no idea, but here’s what’s so good about them: first, they smell buttery and rich, but they’re not oily on the fingers. They have an appealing, grainy heft, like a mash-up of Digestive biscuit, shortbread and oatcakes. Flavour-wise, the oatmeal is right up front – not too sweet, not too salty, beautiful between the teeth, excellent on its own but also able to shoulder a dab of creamy chèvre or some of that duck confit we hope we’ll get for Christmas – and the hint of rosemary is a perfect fit. Best of all, the toastiness holds it all together. It’s uncanny – straight out of the box, these crackers taste warm. What we really like about this product is that it can handle the high end as well as the low: it would go down a treat with champagne, and also with peanut butter and pickles. (BTW, did someone mention ice cream with these crackers?) The only small caveat we have is a complete reversal from Shelf Life’s usual gripes – County Crackers’ packaging is too forgettable, and a bit naff, like something from a gift shop. It’s not often we recommend a more assertive presentation, but these babies deserve it.

FIVE STARS*****