As of 2025, there are so many different kinds of Advent calendars out there. You can find countdowns to Christmas featuring daily doses of beauty products, action figures and even glasses of wine. But this year, we’re eyeing Murray’s Cheese Advent calendar, which gives you 12 delicious days of cheese and accoutrements leading up to the jolliest day of the year. And if you aren’t getting one for a friend, you’ll just have to get one for yourself!
Retailing for $90, Murray’s 12 Days of Cheese is a dairy enthusiast’s dream come true. Behind numbered door flaps, you’ll find nine drool-worthy three- to five-ounce cheeses, four house-made jams and artisanal crackers to help you create the ultimate pre-holiday snack.
Below, we’ve laid out what it includes to help you plan ahead with wine and other goodies to go with them. We don’t know the exact order you’ll get each one, so that will be a surprise!
What’s Included In Murray’s Cheese Advent Calendar
- Murray’s English Cheddar: Salty, sharp and creamy, this pairs well with cured meats or fall fruits like apples or pears. Wash it down with something like a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Murray’s Irish Cheddar: Similar to the English Cheddar, but slightly sweeter and butterier with fruity, creamy notes. Pair it with a full-bodied red like Zinfandel or a porter beer, as well as pecans, grapes and maybe some Irish soda bread for good measure.
- Rustic Red Cheddar: Nothing beats its bold and rustic flavor, which you should absolutely maximize with a mouth-drying Cabernet Sauvignon. Consider putting it out with toasted walnuts and sweet, dried apricots for a full, delicious experience.
- Truffle Cheddar: Can you get any more luxurious than this? It’s salty, savory and deliciously smooth. If you don’t have access to some truffle fries, definitely snack on some crusty bread or mild hazelnuts. Pop some bubbly too, if you have it.
- Mimolette: Although you might not recognize this cheese by name, you’d know it by sight. It’s a bright orange hard cheese that hails from France. It’s both fruity and salty and goes great with something sweet. Drizzle some honey or fig jam on it atop a cracker and pair it with something spicy and earthy to drink, like a Pinot Noir or even a glass of bourbon.
- Wensleydale with Cranberries: This is a creamy, crumbly British cheese that’s both sweet and tart. Crumble it over a salad or add it to a cheese board as a sweet accompaniment. And wash it down with some port or a fruity ale.
- Manchego: A sheep’s milk cheese that’s buttery, tangy and a little nutty. Snack on your slice alongside some fresh figs, olives or Marcona almonds. And if you have some sherry or a Spanish Rioja, we strongly suggest pouring yourself a glass.
- 12-month Gouda: Cheese is meant to be aged, which is why options like this exist. It’s rich and complex, and though it’s a little sweet, it’s also nutty and kind of sharp. Eat it alongside refreshing fruits like apples and grapes, or even a little dark chocolate. And try it with a light red like Beaujolais—you’ll love it, we promise.
- Effie’s Oatcakes: One of the non-cheese offerings, they’re light, sweet and buttery tea biscuits that are a little salty, and slightly more dynamic than a cracker.
- Murray’s Apple Butter: This will pair perfectly with any of the cheese offerings, but especially the Manchego or Gouda.
- Murray’s Spiced Cherry Jam: Even though it sounds like an unusual pairing for cheese, its sweet-but-spiced flavor makes it an excellent accompaniment to any of the more mild options, like the cheddars.
- Murray’s Wild Blueberry Jam: Equal parts sweet and tart, this jam mixes blueberries with lemon to brighten things up. Serve it with any of the cheeses in the Advent calendar and it’ll be a hit.
- Murray’s Strawberry Rhubarb Jam: Strawberries and rhubarb are a match made in heaven, and if you love a sweet flavor profile, this one is definitely for you. Pair it with the Gouda and enjoy!
Other gifts from Murray’s Cheese your friends will love:
- Cozy Night In: Murray’s Swiss Knight Fondue Mix blends Alpine cheeses with white wine and brandy for a hearty, warm dip. Just grab some fresh bread, salami and Cornichons for the ultimate pairing.
- Club Member: Welcome to the cheese club! A membership to the Cheers to Cheese Club gets subscribers a monthly dose of delicious cheese, a snack-worthy accompaniment like jam and a drink suggestion, all for under $100.
- Presentation Is Key: Every cheese enthusiast needs a good cheese board. And we love the Be Home Olive Wood Mini Square Board. It’s hand-made, earthy and timeless—what could be better?
- Miscellaneous Deliciousness: If your giftee is a fan of Italian flavors, La Dolce Vita gift box has everything they could possibly need. From sopressata to burrata, it has the ingredients for a cheese board that’ll transport you straight to the Amalfi coast. Sign us up!
