The Original Gourmet Cheese Club Review

The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club delivers three different farmhouse cheeses each month. Subscribers will enjoy hand-selected, carefully aged cheeses from around the world paired with detailed tasting notes and cheesemaker profiles.

This cheese subscription helps you discover cheeses you wouldn't normally buy at your local grocery stores—think Brie from the Île-de-France, Leicester from English farms, or Italian Taleggio matured in the caves of Valsassina. Each monthly selection of cheeses is freshly cut from its respective wheel or block prior to shipping.

There are two membership options available: The Original Gourmet Cheese Club or The Rare Cheese Club. The Original Club focuses on traditionally made cheeses, whereas The Rare Cheese Club specializes in small-batch, artisan cheeses. Both monthly shipments deliver roughly 1 ½ lbs of cheese in total. No matter which option you choose, you're in for a treat!

This review is of The Original Gourmet Cheese Club by The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).

Quick Backstory + What I Got

Before we dive into my most recent box, I wanted to give a quick backstory...

In December, I experienced my first-ever layoff. After grinding for two years, going from a part-time editor to Director of SEO, a corporate restructuring knocked me back down to the professional floor. And, ouch, that really hurt both my heart and wallet!

Thankfully, spending extra time with my toddlers and starting our homeschool journey really cheered me up. But I'll admit that I'm still learning how to be content with less, and have greatly missed our random runs for fun treats and going out to eat.

So when The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club reached out to see if I wanted to sample their latest selections, I replied with an ecstatic YES. This stay-at-home mom and foodie was more than ready for some affordable fun!

I received the following international cheeses:

• Mahón (Spain)
• Asiago DOP Stagionato Mezzano (Italy)
• Artikaas Youngsters Hickory Smoked Gouda (Netherlands)

Let's see what each of them was like!

Mahón

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I had never heard of this buttery beauty before, but wow! Upon first bite, you could tell it was one of those cheeses that could mesh well with a variety of pairings.

Aged for three months, this semi-curado has a creamy interior and a salty, yet slightly sweet, exterior. The texture had a wonderful weight to it, but wasn't overly rich. My two-year-old son chowed down on the tiny cubes I cut for him as if they were candy, while I enjoyed snacking on them as wedges while cooking dinner.

I simply adored the texture and flavor of this Mahón. However, I'm very curious to try an older variety to experience the tangier notes and crumbly finish that come with further aging.

Asiago DOP Stagionato Mezzano

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Can't go wrong with Asiago! Similar to the Mahón, this Italian Asiago was buttery, yet had small hints of chestnuts after settling in your mouth.

I ended up shaving this Asiago to add on top of an arugula salad one night, then linguini and grilled chicken the next. It was light and airy, but a great final touch to each meal.

While I enjoyed this Asiago, it didn't wow me like the Mahón did. However, it served its intended purpose of adding some subtle hints of flavor.

Artikaas Youngsters Hickory Smoked Gouda

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Gouda's one of those cheeses I can typically take or leave, but this one in particular impressed me.

With the age of this cheese being only 2 months, you could really savor its creamy and toasty interior. While the smoky exterior was still noticeable, it was nowhere near as pronounced as an older Gouda's would be.

For me, I'm usually only able to eat a few bites of Gouda before I'm over it. But this time, I found myself a little sad once it was done, which was a pleasant surprise!

The Verdict

Ever since my layoff, I've learned to take nothing for granted, and this seasonal treat from my favorite subscription box meant more than ever. My family and I delighted in every selection from The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club, but agreed that Mahón was the clear winner!