The Importance of Having Cigars You Don't Like

[Shelby07]

A while back I decided I was going to stick with cigars I knew and liked and quit chasing every new cigar that came out. I just discovered that there is a real reason not to do that.

The other day a bunch of friends came over for my birthday. As always happens, a few of them who were non smokers wanted to smoke a cigar.

Now, I'm not saying I dislike my friends or want to give them crappy sticks. I always try to give things to fellow BOTL's that I feel they will enjoy, and to be quite honest, I derive a lot of personal pleasure from maybe introducing them to something new or getting them something that might be hard to get. The expense is never an issue. But a non cigar smoker is quite another thing. They neither know, nor would they recognize a good cigar. The scenario is always the same. They take the cigar and ask me to cut it for them. Then they light it with all the care and delicacy usually reserved for arsonists. They stick the foot directly into the flame and suck hard enough to pull a golf ball through a straw. Once "lit" they take it out of their mouth and admire this once beautiful thing that now looks like something that just went through a blast furnace, and lovingly and wistfully proclaim what a great smoke it is. "Mmm.. That's a good cigar... Lots of chocolate!". (Sometimes I think I could shit in a maple leaf and someone would light it and tell me it tastes like chocolate.) Soon after, the thing that brought them so much blissful pleasure is standing straight up in an ashtray, crushed like a smart car that just tangled head on with a freight train.

So, I've been giving them the crap and stuff I don't like (mostly acquired a while back from folks who received points for their "generosity.") My friends must really like them because they continue to ask for more whenever they come over.

Well, this time when I looked in my humidor, I found that I had nothing I disliked. It pained me to see some good cigars be sacrificed for the sake of politeness.

So, I'm going to start chasing a few more cheap sticks that might actually hold some promise of being decent. I figure if I have to sacrifice them to the God of friendship I might as well keep the price down.

[craig]

Well, at least they don't expect Cubans, like they do here. My step-bro has boxes of fake Cohiba's that he uses for the purpose, but they're so gross that I couldn't finish one.

I really like Flor de Oliva for the situation that you describe. At under $1.50 each, they're one of the best values on the market IMHO - and good enough that I'm happy smoking them (because someone is bound to say, "I'll smoke along with you"). The only knock is that they aren't as complex more expensive smokes. Four wrappers to choose from - Corojo, Gold (Connecticut), Regular (Sumatra, sweetened a bit I think), and a Maduro.

[bigwhiteash]

Just keep that box of Sancho Panza Double Maduro around for times like these...

You can even sneak one yourself once in a while!

[badwhale]

Just keep that box of Sancho Panza Double Maduro around for times like these...

You can even sneak one yourself once in a while!

I was thinking Tuskers, but I see your point.

Will

[knightnorth]

Man Shelby - half the post it seemed like you were talking about me. It were like ye knew me. (or you're the guy who keeps looking through my window.) But I'm hoping my palate and my passion for arson come around. The reason why I haven't asked to do the Newbie Sampler Thread yet is because I'd have no idea the importance of what someone sent me - let alone appreciate it.

[Eville]

I used to keep a bundle of Rosa Cubas around for just such an occasion.

[Roham]

Just keep that box of Sancho Panza Double Maduro around for times like these...

You can even sneak one yourself once in a while!

That's exactly what I do!

[basil]

Mark, those Casa Royales you were wondering about would probably fit the bill. Not as cheap as a good bundle, but nice cigar. Me, I'd still be disappointed to watch one of these meet an early end in the ash tray.

[Shelby07]

Mark, those Casa Royales you were wondering about would probably fit the bill. Not as cheap as a good bundle, but nice cigar. Me, I'd still be disappointed to watch one of these meet an early end in the ash tray.

They always looked interesting, but I was determined to burn through all the stuff I knew I wouldn't smoke before I tried anything else new. If I really like them I'll keep a box around. My biggest problem right now is that I don't have too much room in the humi for any new stuff, let alone things I won't smoke.

[logan37]

A while back I decided I was going to stick with cigars I knew and liked and quit chasing every new cigar that came out. I just discovered that there is a real reason not to do that.

The other day a bunch of friends came over for my birthday. As always happens, a few of them who were non smokers wanted to smoke a cigar.

Now, I'm not saying I dislike my friends or want to give them crappy sticks. I always try to give things to fellow BOTL's that I feel they will enjoy, and to be quite honest, I derive a lot of personal pleasure from maybe introducing them to something new or getting them something that might be hard to get. The expense is never an issue. But a non cigar smoker is quite another thing. They neither know, nor would they recognize a good cigar. The scenario is always the same. They take the cigar and ask me to cut it for them. Then they light it with all the care and delicacy usually reserved for arsonists. They stick the foot directly into the flame and suck hard enough to pull a golf ball through a straw. Once "lit" they take it out of their mouth and admire this once beautiful thing that now looks like something that just went through a blast furnace, and lovingly and wistfully proclaim what a great smoke it is. "Mmm.. That's a good cigar... Lots of chocolate!". (Sometimes I think I could shit in a maple leaf and someone would light it and tell me it tastes like chocolate.) Soon after, the thing that brought them so much blissful pleasure is standing straight up in an ashtray, crushed like a smart car that just tangled head on with a freight train.

So, I've been giving them the crap and stuff I don't like (mostly acquired a while back from folks who received points for their "generosity.") My friends must really like them because they continue to ask for more whenever they come over.

Well, this time when I looked in my humidor, I found that I had nothing I disliked. It pained me to see some good cigars be sacrificed for the sake of politeness.

So, I'm going to start chasing a few more cheap sticks that might actually hold some promise of being decent. I figure if I have to sacrifice them to the God of friendship I might as well keep the price down.

I thought this is what left over Gurkha's were made for?

[Stinkdyr]

Great thread! I keep a box of La Finca coronas in my humi for this purpose. I often remove the labels when I hand them out, saying, "Let's do a blind taste test of this latest find!"
Yep, you will almost always get fave reviews of whatever you hand them. Everyone says they like my La Fincas! And yes, I smoke one right along with them. I don't hate them.