Gift guide Charcuterie gifts for him
Gift guide · For him
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Quick answer: The best charcuterie gift for a man who loves meat and cheese is 50 Boards, Built by Science (paperback $25.99) with a whole dry salami and a jar of whole-grain mustard, about $38 to $50. For a tool, the Wüsthof cheese plane won America's Test Kitchen's test. For the guy who wants to make his own salami, Ruhlman and Polcyn's Charcuterie.
Giving a paperback? Amazon shows the delivery date at checkout. For Christmas, aim to order by mid-December.
Men who love charcuterie are usually in it for the meat: the salami, the summer sausage, the sharp cheddar and the drink that goes with it. The best gifts lean into that. Something to eat now, a tool he'll use every time he builds a board, or, for the hands-on type, a book that teaches him to cure his own.
Prices are typical ranges, checked October 2026. We have no paid relationship with any brand below. We wrote the Charcuterie Lab books. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.
| Pick | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Boards, Built by Science | Best overall | $25.99 |
| A whole dry salami | Best edible gift | $8–15 |
| Boska Monaco+ cheese knife set | Best knife set | $30–45 |
| Wüsthof Gourmet cheese plane | Best tool | $25–45 |
| Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing | Best for the DIY type | $22–35 |
| A pair of Glencairn whisky glasses | Best for a whiskey drinker | $20–35 |
| A meat and cheese gift box | Best ready-made gift | $30–190 |
| An acacia wood serving board | Best for the guy who hosts | $20–35 |
| Around the World in 16 Boards | Best for the adventurous eater | $16.99 |
| A jar of hot honey | Best stocking stuffer | $9–13 |
| A whole-grain mustard | Best cheap add-on | $5–9 |
| A cheese-of-the-month club | Best splurge | $$$$ |
Best overall
Paperback $25.99 · ebook $14
Fifty complete boards, including a meat lover's carnivore board, a game day board and a beer and charcuterie board, each with the shopping list and amounts. Tie a whole salami to it and the first board is already started. More about the book
Best edible gift
Typically $8–15
Whole and unopened, a dry salami keeps about 6 weeks in the pantry (USDA). A gift that waits for the next party. Best salami, ranked
See it on AmazonBest knife set
Typically $30–45
Dutch cheese-tool maker Boska's step-up set: a brie knife, a cheese knife and a Parmesan knife in satin-finish stainless steel. Best cheese knife sets
See it on AmazonBest tool
Typically $25–45
Won America's Test Kitchen's test of nine cheese planes for clean, even slices every time. A tool he'll use on every block of cheddar. Best cheese knife sets
See it on AmazonBest for the DIY type
Typically $22–35
The classic on making your own bacon, sausage and cured meats. For the person who wants to cure, not just serve.
See it on AmazonBest for a whiskey drinker
Typically $20–35
The Scottish tulip-shaped tasting glass, made to concentrate a whisky's aroma. Give it with a block of aged cheddar and our pairing guide. Whiskey and cheese pairing
See it on AmazonBest ready-made gift
Typically $30–190
We ranked ten. Our top pick is Harry & David's Ultimate Meat and Cheese box, about 5.5 lb of sausage, salami, cheese and crackers for about $110.
See our ranked gift boxesBest for the guy who hosts
Typically $20–35
Dense, affordable hardwood with a warm grain. Look for 16 inches or longer. Best charcuterie boards to buy
See it on Amazon
Best for the adventurous eater
Paperback $16.99 · ebook $9.99
Sixteen international boards, from a Bavarian beer-hall spread to a Korean BBQ board. Under $17, so it pairs easily with a six-pack from the same country. More about the book
Best stocking stuffer
Typically $9–13
Chili-infused honey for salami, pizza, fried chicken and sharp cheddar. Best hot honey, ranked
See it on AmazonBest cheap add-on
Typically $5–9
The condiment hosts forget. It's what makes salami and cheddar taste finished. Best mustard for charcuterie
See it on AmazonBest splurge
$$$$: price varies by plan
Murray's Cheese and several other shops ship a monthly box of cheeses picked by a cheesemonger. Check each club's plans for current prices.
See it on AmazonShelf-stable meat and cheese travels well and keeps until he's ready. Pack a whole dry salami (unopened, it keeps about 6 weeks in the pantry), a waxed or vacuum-packed aged cheddar, a sleeve of crackers, a jar of whole-grain mustard and a small knife. Add the book, and it's a full board night in a box. Our DIY gift basket guide has packing lists at $25, $50 and $100, and the best salami, ranked tells you which one to buy.
About $69–95
Fifty boards, a whole salami to start the first one, the knives to cut it and the mustard that finishes it.
A board book with a whole dry salami and a jar of whole-grain mustard, about $38 to $50. Or a tool he'll use every time: a good cheese knife set or the Wüsthof cheese plane.
Something to eat now and something to build with: a whole salami, aged cheddar and mustard, plus a cheese knife set or a board book. A ready-made meat and cheese box from Harry & David is the no-effort option.
Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing by Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn. It covers curing, smoking and sausage-making at home.
Aged cheddar, smoked Gouda, blue cheese, salami, dark chocolate and candied pecans. Our whiskey and cheese pairing guide has the full list, by whiskey style.
A whole, unopened dry salami doesn't: it keeps about 6 weeks in the pantry. Once sliced, wrap it and refrigerate it.
Free printable
Tuck it inside the book. There's a space to write which board you'll make together, so the gift comes with a date on the calendar. Two cards per page, prints on plain paper or card stock.
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