As someone who has purchased food gift baskets for over a decade to surprise loved ones on birthdays, holidays and more, I‘ve developed some strong opinions on what makes an exceptional edible gift.
Over the 10+ years of sending surprises from brands like Harry & David, Stonewall Kitchen, and Hickory Farms, I‘ve crownned Hickory Farms the winner for quality gourmet taste and presentation. The iconic summer sausages and aged cheddars simply can‘t be replicated.
As a passionate foodie who has tried all of Hickory Farms most popular gift baskets myself, I wanted to share an in-depth review from a real customer‘s perspective. Consider this your guide to the iconic brand and their products as you shop for that upcoming birthday, housewarming party, or holiday soiree.
A Bit About Hickory Farms as a Company
As context before we dive into the gift baskets, I wanted to tell you briefly about Hickory Farms as a company. They‘ve been crafting gourmet food gifts since 1951 – over 70 years!
It all started when founder Richard Ransom began selling artisan cheeses at local Ohio fairs. From there, Hickory Farms quickly expanded into the nationwide staple for cured meats, premium cheeses, chocolates and more. While trends come and go, Hickory Farms remains committed to true quality and taste.
Today they offer over 500 specialty food items through online ordering, catalogs and 100+ retail stores across North America. I‘ve personally swung through their shops on my travels and was amazed by cases filled with their award-winning sausages and baskets brimming with cheese pairings.
Beyond just offering quality flavors, Hickory Farms also gives back to the community. Whether through donations supporting No Kid Hungry with their "Give Back" basket or providing US military discounts, HF spreads joy through food.
Now let‘s get into the details on their incredible gift baskets! I‘ll tell you all my favorites after trying nearly their whole product catalog myself the past few years.
Overview of The Best Hickory Farms Gift Baskets
When it comes to the Hickory Farms edible gifts, they‘ve curated a stellar selection of baskets focused on different themes. You‘ll find sets focused solely on rich cheese and wine, while others center summer sausage and mustard for ideal snacking.
Of course there are always premium, extravagant options too, loaded with over 10 of their best creations. No matter the recipient‘s taste preference, there‘s guaranteed to be a fit.
Here are 5 of my top recommended Hickory Farms gift baskets to consider:
1. Give Back Gift Basket
- 7 summer sausages
- 4 pre-cut cheese wedges
- 2 gourmet mustards
- 2 nut mixes
- $5 donation to No Kid Hungry charity
2. Wine & Savory Snacks Collection
- 2 cheeses
- Artisinal salami
- Olive oil crackers
- Cabernet Sauvignon wine
3. Hearty Bites Gift Basket
- 5 summer sausages
- Assortment of cheddar cheeses
- 2 zesty mustards
4. Thank You Treats Gift Basket
- Summer sausage
- Cheese wedge
- Chocolate caramels
- Mustard
- Cracker snacks
5. Signature Favorites & Wine Gift Set
- 3 summer sausages
- 4 cubed cheeses
- 2 mustards
- 2 nut mixes
- Cabernet Sauvignon wine
And those are just a sampling of the incredible options available! From mid-sized offerings ideal to gift that friend who loves hosting dinner parties, to over the top premium sets I‘d purchase for client gifts or a special occasion in the family – you can‘t go wrong.
To help summarize the differences between the most popular Hickory Farms baskets, I put together this comparison chart based on my first-hand experience:
| Gift Basket | Price | Weight | # of Items | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Give Back | $49.99 | 2.95 pounds | 11 | Large families, entertaining |
| Wine & Savory | $45.99 | 2.62 pounds | 5 | Couples, date night |
| Hearty Bites | $37.99 | 1.98 pounds | 7 | Tailgates, guys‘ night |
| Thank You Treats | $32.99 | 1.39 pounds | 6 | Co-workers, small gifts |
| Signature Favorites | $75 | 4.54 pounds | 12 | Clients, special gifts |
As you can see, Hickory Farms has an assortment of sizing options to cater to all needs. I love to grab one of the under $40 baskets as an easy teacher gift or to tell a friend thank you for helping me move. Then if I‘m looking to go all out for my parent‘s anniversary or a major celebration, I splurge on the Signature Favorites.
And the best part? No matter the price point, that signature Hickory Farms quality always shines through!
Next, let me tell you about my all-time favorite Hickory Farms creations found across many of their gift sets…
My Must-Try Hickory Farms Products
From years of tasting the Hickory Farms catalog of summer sausages, aged cheddars, zesty mustards and beyond – I‘m going share my personal favorites you HAVE to try:
Maple Bourbon Beef Summer Sausage
This is hands-down my #1, all time favorite product Hickory Farms produces. I always have a stick of the sweet, salty and smokey Maple Bourbon Beef Sausage in my refrigerator ready to slice off pieces for an easy protein packed snack.
3 Year Aged Cheddar
As a bit of a cheese snob, I can tell you Hickory Farms sources some incredible Wisconsin cheddars aged to perfection right in their baskets. This 3 Year Aged Cheddar crisps on the edges when charcuterie sliced but remains decadently creamy within. Divine!
Salted Caramel Milk Chocolates
The sea salt drizzled, caramel filled milk chocolate squares Hickory Farms includes in many of their sweeter baskets put any boxed candy I‘ve tried to shame. They‘re rich, but not overly sweet, with a perfect velvety smooth texture. I‘ll never share them!
Honey Mustard
Ok, you may be sensing a theme here…I love all things sweet meets savory! So Hickory Farms‘ Honey Mustard featuring notes of golden honey and stone ground mustard is essential for dipping those sausage slices or spreading across crackers.
Beyond just my favorites, all of my friends and family members who I‘ve gifted assortments to over the years have different go-to products as well. From my sister obsessed with the cranberry pistachio crisps to my parents fighting over the last summer sausage, everyone finds something they enjoy.
And the tasting experience opens up even more flavor combinations when you pair products together. Aged cheddar with the salted caramel chocolate? Yes please! Spicy summer sausage sliced with the honey mustard for dipping? A perfect flavor profile. This versatility makes Hickory Farms an ideal gift to share.
Speaking of sharing, one of my favorite parts of gifting a Hickory Farms basket is hearing the reaction of the lucky recipient. Let‘s look at some glowing reviews from actual Hickory Farms customers now…
Rave Reviews from Hickory Farms Fans
Don‘t just take my word for it! Here‘s what other happy Hickory Farms gift basket customers have to say:
"We brought the Wine and Savory Snacks basket to a family friend‘s dinner party. It was the perfect pairing with the charcuterie spread they served for appetizers. Everyone kept complimenting the quality of the salami and cheeses!" – Brian from Ohio
"My whole office loved diving into the Hearty Bites Gift Basket I received as an end of year thank you gift. The summer sausages went fast! I personally loved the unique flavors of the mustard they chose to include too." – Lauren in Michigan
"I sent the Signature Favorites basket to my parent‘s for their 50th wedding anniversary along with a sweet note. They absolutely loved it and said it felt like a luxury, royal feast with all the gourmet meats, cheeses, nuts and wine included!" – Kim in California
The real customer reviews speak for themselves – Hickory Farms gifts are crowdpleasers loved by many and perfect for celebrating special occasions in style and flavor.
Now you may be wondering how exactly Hickory Farms compares to other mail order food gift brands out there…
How Hickory Farms Compares to Similar Gift Companies
While Hickory Farms remains my top choice for quality and value, I understand you likely have more options on your radar. Here‘s a brief comparison of Hickory Farms against two competitors:
Hickory Farms vs Harry & David
- Harry & David better for fruit while Hickory Farms specialty is meat and cheese
- Hickory Farms offers more wallet-friendly price points
- Harry & David known for holiday gifts while Hickory Farms popular year-round
Hickory Farms vs Stonewall Kitchen
- Stonewall Kitchen has more food products overall though less meat focus
- Stonewall Kitchen no wine available but part of HF specialty
- Hickory Farms gift presentation less vibrant packaging than Stonewall
At the end of the day while the other brands have pros in certain areas, Hickory Farms reigns supreme for meat and cheese focused gifts full of premium flavor. Their heritage and passion for charcuterie, aged cheddars and perfectly paired accouterments always shine through.
Next, let‘s get into some tips and tricks I‘ve learned through the years for saving money on these high quality gifts. Getting a deal makes the gift even more delicious!
Saving Money on Hickory Farms Gift Baskets
While arguably worth every penny at full price based on quality alone, who can‘t appreciate saving a few hard earned dollars? Here are some insider strategies I‘ve uncovered to slash spending on Hickory Farms:
- Be on email list for notifications of online promo codes and instant savings
- Buy Hickory Farms e-gift cards when on sale to spend later
- Check Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials with savings of 25% or more
- Buy large corporation gifting packages of 10+ baskets for deeper bulk discounts
- Don‘t wait until last minute! Order 1-2 weeks in advance to avoid rush delivery fees
Timing things right with the above money saving tactics over my decade of Hickory Farms purchases has easily saved me $100s. Hopefully these tips help you score some deals and discounts too as you decide which incredible gift basket best fits your gifting needs.
Final Verdict: Are Hickory Farms Baskets Worth It?
At the end of the day, my ringing endorsement for Hickory Farms comes from direct experience, rave reviews from my friends and family, and an appreciation for supporting a brand committed to quality, community and spreading joy through food.
The decades of heritage crafting award-winning summer sausages, aged cheddars and perfectly curated gift boxes shines through with every bite. While the shipping can occasionally hit delays during peak holiday times, the classic flavors make it well worth the wait!
So for your next birthday, promotion, retirement party or just because, I fully recommend treating someone special (or yourself!) to these iconic edible delights. The Make sure to order by December 10th for guaranteed Christmas delivery!
Hopefully you found this first-hand review from a devoted Hickory Farms fan helpful. Feel free to reach out with any other questions in the comments below!
