Skitalets Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 This is a classic problem for me: what do you pull out of your humidor to share with a guest who knows cigars but is not a sophisticated Habanos connoisseur? This is not the same as asking what a good beginner Habanos is -- a lot of the friends I have come by for a smoke are not people I'm exactly grooming to be part of the club. These are folks who smoke cigars occasionally and are respectful to them, but I don't want to dip into my (diminishing) stash of Boli CEs and other stuff I love and watch them smoke fast and not appreciate it as much as others might. A "bang" factor (flashy presentation, nice band, whatever) is a plus too. I just put in my first Czar order and included some RyJ Short Churchill tubos for this purpose. I like these but not enough I'll cringe giving them out, and they're kind of a crowd pleaser -- Americans love robustos and the taste isn't too challenging. What's your go-to cigar to share with occasional smokers?
MrGlass Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Bolivar PC. I don't like them, and I have some of them. If I am gifting a cigar, this is my go-to until I run out of them.
Sutton Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Well its usually family or good friends i share with, so its whatever they want. I will let them smell them & touch & see if they like it. I also give them my opinon on how they smoke & what flavours i get from them. Shared a HQ Trinidad T with an old co worker pared with 12yr macallan. I smoked mine to the nub & the bottle is gone, my counter part could only smoke 2/3rds did it bother me ..no, I spent time with a friend that i havnt seen in a while & enjoyed a smoke & a drink with him. Other than that family and friends can smoke anything they want from my humi.
TonyV Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Well its usually family or good friends i share with, so its whatever they want. I will let them smell them & touch & see if they like it. I also give them my opinon on how they smoke & what flavours i get from them. Shared a HQ Trinidad T with an old co worker pared with 12yr macallan. I smoked mine to the nub & the bottle is gone, my counter part could only smoke 2/3rds did it bother me ..no, I spent time with a friend that i havnt seen in a while & enjoyed a smoke & a drink with him. Other than that family and friends can smoke anything they want from my humi. Exactly my opinion also.
Lotusguy Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 For a good friend almost nothing in my humi is off-limits. If they don't smoke often, I will help them pick something that they will enjoy.
Hohenthal Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 For a good friend almost nothing in my humi is off-limits. If they don't smoke often, I will help them pick something that they will enjoy. second that.
Guest rob Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 I share my good smokes with the non-initiated all the time. Gave a good buddy of mine a Sir Winny the other day... and he wouldn't know a premium from a machine made. It feels good to share.
tydra Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Try out this scenario: A relative I know knows I have a stash of cigars stowed away; he never fails to pointedly ask me for a cigar during EVERY occasion we happen to be in, and kinda "obliges" me into handing out one of the cigars I'd be carrying. Would it pain him to bother getting his own cigar once in a while?! In such a case, I'd carry one of my "failed try-out" cigars such as a monte open or maybe even a super partagas. It's not really to do with the cost of the cigar, rather than wasting the amount of time you've had invested aging them, does that make sense? So I have quite a few boxes of H. Upmann Majestics and Super Partagas for such people.
riazp Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 For a good friend almost nothing in my humi is off-limits. If they don't smoke often, I will help them pick something that they will enjoy. I'm with Claus on this one. Here's my secret, only my close freinds knwo that my cooler is actually a humidor...so they get what they want in it. But they know me so well that they know which cigars not to take lol. FOr the others, I have the moochador. A nice 100 ct desktop with stuff like RyJ MF's, JLP's and various NC's. They just think my cooler is just a cooler lol.
Len Posted October 26, 2011 Posted October 26, 2011 If they have the palate of a billy goat a NC at all times, recently friends that I know appreciate a good cigar i've gifted BRC and PP.
Orion21 Posted October 26, 2011 Posted October 26, 2011 When I share my cigars they get to smoke what I am smoking. Recently it was a Monte Edmundo with my brother-in-law, before that it was a RyJ Short Churchill with my father-in-law etc. That way we can compare notes on the same cigars. To me it makes it more fun...
Skitalets Posted October 26, 2011 Author Posted October 26, 2011 This is what Partagas Culebras are for... Never had one, though based on the FoH review I'd guess lots of casual smokers would be blown out by this cigar!
Habanos2000 Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 With a friend that understood cigars, I wouldn't hesitate to have them have the pick of my humidor. For an "occasional" cigar smoker I'd point them towards a Boli or Punch PC, maybe a Party SD4. I do have some cheap Jose Piedra's, but wouldn't want to take the chance of turning a friend into an enemy!
investandprosper Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 In the past, when playing poker with friends, I've given out cigars that weren't quite my favorite and have found that they didn't really like them either. It kind of pushed them away from the hobby. I've become good friends with a gent over the past year. We play golf on the weekends and get together with our wives to grill steaks and burgers at least once a week. He had smoked cigars in the past, but never a Cuban, so during a round I brought a couple of Boli PCs. He said it was the best cigar he's ever had. The next week, I brought some Partagas P2s. Then QdO Coronas, Monte 4s, ERDM Choix, Punch PCdP, and most recently a couple of Boli BBFs. Kind of eased him into the hobby and he really appreciates and enjoys the flavors of a good Habano. He always says the cigar is the best he's ever had and nubs it. Now, I always give a friend the same cigar I'm lighting up.
NitrousPurger Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 I give Monte #4 's For sure. I keep my other stuff and hand out # 4's like its candy. I have a box that isn't bad but I never find myself wanting something that is just on the boring side. Here in the US, give any Cuban to someone and just because its Cuban they will be very grateful. Plus the #4's price point doesn't make your wallet cry every time you give one away.
Kapsimalis Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 This does entirely depend on who were talking about. I always have a box of Rafael Gonzales Panatelas on hand for people who just want a smoke because myself and some other buddies are smoking. Next step up is the occasional smoker. I have a couple of Monte 4 boxes. One is a 25 box of perfect Monte 4's and the other a ten count box of meh montes. Just lacking flavor. In other words the occasional smoker just wants some thing burns well and it smooth. Then we have the occasions I smoke with my dad and future brother in law. Both appreciate a fine cigar(not as madly in love as myself but they have a good taste in cigars) they both have there own cigars but I definitely have 4-5 times more then both other combined. Anyways they are both easy to please so dependig on the day and mood cigars can range from a great Monte 4 to Cohiba maduro genios or Hoyo dc. for my special occasion cigars to celebrate let's say when my future brother in law marries my sister I will dip into my box of Monte 4 gran reserva's. I have only smoked 1 to see just what they are and they are finger licking good... That's my input folks.
Professor Twain Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 I like having a variety of cigars for them to choose from, telling them a bit about the flavor profile a bit, and letting them pick. For example, the Hoyo Short Robusto or Epi #2 are good mild cigars that have a bit of sweet woody and floral flavor. I might also include a Monte 4 or 5 in the mix, telling them that it would be medium bodied, and have mocha and espresso. Then I might have a Boli Coronas Junior or RASS or Partagas Short (describing the characteristic flavors) to give them something more full bodied. Most people will self select based on the mild, medium, or strong characterization, and for more experienced cigar smoker, based on the flavor profile as well. I took my travel case with about 30 cigars to a party after a rehearsal dinner and found that this worked great, everyone found something they liked, and nobody pitched the cigar before they finished.
Skitalets Posted October 28, 2011 Author Posted October 28, 2011 I like having a variety of cigars for them to choose from, telling them a bit about the flavor profile a bit, and letting them pick. For example, the Hoyo Short Robusto or Epi #2 are good mild cigars that have a bit of sweet woody and floral flavor. I might also include a Monte 4 or 5 in the mix, telling them that it would be medium bodied, and have mocha and espresso. Then I might have a Boli Coronas Junior or RASS or Partagas Short (describing the characteristic flavors) to give them something more full bodied. Most people will self select based on the mild, medium, or strong characterization, and for more experienced cigar smoker, based on the flavor profile as well. This is a great idea. I honestly don't give people too much credit in this department, but just picking for others isn't working that well. Will have to try categorizing the smokes I can offer by how full bodied they are and see what people think.
kevinfj Posted October 29, 2011 Posted October 29, 2011 On the golf course I always gift NC's. Most people who golf who are willing to accept a cigar have no idea about the difference. I'm willing to bet most golfers who are cuban cigar smokers have experienced this.....you gift a CC to someone who you think will enjoy the experience and they end up chewing the thing for 20 minutes and then tossing it. FOR SHAME! I always have a stash of NC's on the course. FJ
jedipastor Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 It depends on who I'm sharing it with. For someone who's never had a real Habano cigar, I like to hand them a BRC. If they are really into Nicaraguans, most things from Partagas or Bolivar will do really. If they want something very different than they get in NCs, then HdM or Trinidad is usually where I grab from if it's early in the day, or maybe a RASS. And if I really like the guy, I might give him one of my '08 Mag 46s, lol. But only if I really like him, because those things are gold.
Rushman Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 If they are friends, whatever they want. Not much in my personal stash that's off limits. All the rare stuff is in my wife's storage humidor. If they arent friends, give them something nice and by the time the nubs are laid to rest you will be!
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