Quick Answer: The best: Colston Bassett ($48/lb at Murray's). Best value: Coombe Castle Blue Stilton at Costco (about $14/lb). Holiday wedge: white Stilton with cranberry (Aldi).
Our top picks
Stilton and port is the classic English Christmas cheese course, and real Stilton is easier to find than you'd think.
All 5 picks
Prices are store listings checked October 2026; cheese counter prices vary.
Best overall
Colston Bassett Stilton
- Milk
- Pasteurized cow
- Age
- About 4 months
- Maker
- Colston Bassett Dairy
Why it's here: Murray's calls it possibly the best Stilton out there: fudgy and silky, with a salty-sweet balance. Wine Spectator's taster found it closest to great Stilton's bold but restrained character.
Watch out: Pricey; a 4 to 6 oz wedge is plenty for a board of six.
Why we picked it (sources)
Murray's lists $48 per pound and suggests port (Murray’s); Wine Spectator compared it with Stichelton (Wine Spectator).
Splurge (not legally Stilton)
Stichelton
- Milk
- Raw cow
- Age
- 4 to 6 months
- Maker
- Stichelton Dairy, Nottinghamshire
Why it's here: Stilton made the old way with raw milk: sweeter and spicier, with caramel and nutty notes. Wine Spectator found it more complex than pasteurized Stiltons.
Watch out: Raw milk, so it can't be called Stilton, and it's not for pregnant guests.
Why we picked it (sources)
Murray's lists $58 per pound (Murray’s); Wine Spectator tasting (Wine Spectator); why it can't use the name (Wikipedia).
Best value
Coombe Castle Blue Stilton
- Milk
- Pasteurized cow
- Age
- About 10 weeks
- Where
- Costco
Why it's here: Genuine Stilton at about $14 a pound: young, creamy and tangy, and suitable for vegetarians.
Watch out: Younger and milder than Colston Bassett, and only some Costco stores carry it.
Why we picked it (sources)
Warehouse Runner lists $13.99 to $14.99 per pound and stock in 21 of 135 tracked stores (Warehouse Runner).
Best holiday wedge
Emporium Selection White Stilton with Cranberry
- Style
- White Stilton with fruit
- Size
- 5.3 oz
- Where
- Aldi
Why it's here: Mild, crumbly white Stilton with cranberries: Christmas colors and an easy cheese for guests who don't like blue.
Watch out: A dessert cheese with no blue veins; it doesn't replace a real blue.
Best fruit Stilton by the pound
Cropwell Bishop White Stilton with Blueberry
- Size
- 1 lb
- Rating
- 3.9 / 5 at Sam's Club
- Maker
- Cropwell Bishop Creamery
Why it's here: From one of the licensed Stilton dairies, and a pound for about $11 covers a big party board.
Watch out: Sweet, and often out of stock online.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sam's Club lists $10.56 for 1 lb and 3.9 from 37 ratings (Sam’s Club).
Buying and serving Stilton
- Label check: real Stilton carries the PDO name. It's made only in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, from pasteurized milk, by a handful of licensed dairies.
- Serve it right: take it out an hour ahead and cut thin wedges from the center out. Don't scoop the middle and pour in port.
- Pair it with tawny or ruby port, walnuts, pears, dried figs, oatcakes and a drizzle of honey.
- How much: about 1 oz per person when it's one of several cheeses.
- Skip: pre-crumbled Stilton for a board; it dries out and loses its creamy texture.
More on the cheese in our Stilton ingredient guide. For other blues, see the best blue cheese brands.
Stilton questions
What is the best Stilton to buy?
Colston Bassett, from a specialty counter like Murray's. On a budget, Costco's Coombe Castle Blue Stilton is real PDO Stilton for about $14 a pound.
Is Stilton pasteurized?
Yes. Stilton must be made from pasteurized milk. Stichelton is the raw-milk version, which is why it can't use the name.
Why is Stilton served with port?
The sweet, rich wine balances Stilton's salt and tang. It's a long English tradition, especially at Christmas.
What's white Stilton?
Stilton made without the blue mold. It's mild and crumbly and usually sold mixed with fruit like cranberries, apricots or blueberries.
How much Stilton per person?
About 1 oz per person on a mixed board, or 2 oz if it's the main cheese after dinner.
How we picked these, and sources
No recent US taste test ranks Stilton brands. We used Murray's and Wine Spectator tasting notes, store listings for price and size, and the PDO rules for what counts as Stilton. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Murray's Cheese: Colston Bassett Stilton
- Murray's Cheese: Stichelton
- Wine Spectator: the real Stilton (Stichelton)
- Warehouse Runner: Coombe Castle Blue Stilton at Costco
- Aldi: Emporium Selection White Stilton with Cranberry
- Sam's Club: Cropwell Bishop White Stilton with Blueberry
- Wikipedia: Stilton cheese (PDO rules, dairies)
Serving it after dinner? See the cheese course. For the port, see the best wines under $20. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
