The best splurge cheeses worth the price — premium, special-occasion cheeses that justify their cost, and what makes them exceptional.
Sometimes a cheese is worth splurging on — a special-occasion treat whose quality, craft, and flavor justify the price. Here's a guide to the best splurge cheeses worth every penny, and what makes them exceptional.
When to Splurge
While everyday cheeses offer great value, certain premium cheeses reward a splurge for a special occasion, a gift, or simply a treat. These are cheeses of exceptional quality, craft, and flavor — often traditionally made, carefully aged, and protected by origin designations. Splurging on a great cheese, enjoyed slowly and savored, can be one of life's small luxuries. Here are some splurge-worthy cheeses and why they're worth it. (Prices vary, so seek the best examples you can find.)
Aged Comté and Alpine Cheeses
A long-aged Comté (24, 36 months, or more) is a sublime splurge — complex, nutty, fruity, and crystalline, with flavor that varies by terroir and rewards slow tasting. Other premium Alpine cheeses like a well-aged Gruyère, Beaufort (especially summer or chalet versions), or an award-winning Alpine-style cheese (like America's Pleasant Ridge Reserve) are similarly worth the splurge. These cheeses showcase what mountain milk and master aging can achieve, offering depth few cheeses match.
Top Blue Cheeses
Premium blue cheeses make a worthy splurge. A true Roquefort (cave-aged sheep's-milk blue) or a top-quality Stilton offers intense, complex flavor. Rogue River Blue, an acclaimed American blue wrapped in pear-brandy-soaked leaves, has won world championships and is a special-occasion treat. These exceptional blues, paired with a good sweet wine, deliver a luxurious experience that justifies their cost for blue-cheese lovers.
Fine Soft and Bloomy Cheeses
For soft-cheese lovers, splurge-worthy options include a ripe raw-milk Camembert de Normandie or Brie de Meaux (the real, traditional versions, far superior to mass-market imitations), an indulgent triple-cream like Brillat-Savarin or Délice de Bourgogne, or the seasonal, spruce-wrapped Vacherin Mont d'Or in winter. These cheeses offer luxurious texture and flavor that everyday soft cheeses can't match, making them perfect for a special treat or celebration.
Aged and Artisan Treasures
Other splurge-worthy cheeses include a long-aged Parmigiano-Reggiano (a 36-month or vecchio wheel, with incredible depth), a fine aged Gouda (with butterscotch and crunchy crystals), a top artisan goat cheese like Humboldt Fog, a clothbound farmhouse cheddar, and rare cheeses like Castelmagno. These represent the pinnacle of their styles, with the craft, aging, and flavor to justify their price. Seeking out the best examples from a good cheesemonger ensures a splurge well spent.
Making a Splurge Worth It
To get the most from a splurge cheese: buy a smaller amount of something exceptional rather than a lot of something ordinary; ask the cheesemonger for the best examples and to let you taste; serve it at room temperature to appreciate its full flavor; pair it thoughtfully (a fine wine, simple accompaniments); and savor it slowly. A great splurge cheese is about quality over quantity — a little of something extraordinary, enjoyed mindfully, is a true luxury. Treat it as the centerpiece it deserves to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cheeses are worth splurging on?
Premium cheeses like long-aged Comté, true Roquefort or Rogue River Blue, raw-milk Camembert de Normandie, triple-creams, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, and top artisan cheeses justify their price with exceptional quality and flavor.
What makes a splurge cheese worth it?
Exceptional craft, careful aging, traditional or protected production, and complex, distinctive flavor that everyday cheeses can't match — best enjoyed slowly and savored.
How do I make the most of a splurge cheese?
Buy a smaller amount of something exceptional, ask the cheesemonger for the best example and a taste, serve it at room temperature, pair it thoughtfully, and savor it slowly.