Cigar Connosoirs - your help please

[neil_bolton]

My Father in law is getting married at the end of August, and this being the man who wants for nothing (Cayenne Turbo and TVR in the garage), I often struggle to find him something nice giftwise for him.

Obviously being close to him, I would like to buy something personal and to remember, and I thought that a Cigar to remember would be a good idea (this isn't his wedding gift as such).

Now I'm considering a budget of about £50 to £100 per cigar (one for him, one for me) and would like such help on what to get? I know nothing other than I enjoy the odd cigar, but I don't understand where/what/why makes one special over the other.

Could someone help me with what I should get, and also, isn't someone on here a Cigar Guru?

[neil_bolton]

Plotloss said:

Something premium and vintage.

Your budget is relatively high even for a vintage cigar.

A Vintage Cohiba Esplendido perhaps? Should be around £50 each I would have thought.

The only trouble with an Esplendido, like a Monte No1 is that you have to be somewhat portly to carry it off properly.

Theres a cracking little place in Windsor station, if I get the chance I'll have a mooch in to ask for a recommendation if you like.

But as Rich says, Bebs is your man.

Cool - I will email said Bebs and ask for his opinion. I'm off the France very soon and is there any milage in getting anything over there? (Going to drive down thru Le Mans and then to Alpe D'Huez).

[neil_bolton]

Bebs said:

I'm here

Aha! Hello sir, am I able to contact you through email and possibly sort something out?

Would you, for the good of this thread however, recommend something for two chaps to share pre-marital rites?

[neil_bolton]

Right - back again - Bebs, I will reply to your email good sir, and thanks for your help.

BG, get smoking right away - as far as I am concerned we're all allowed the luxury of a well earned cigar, very much in the same vein as a good Malt, or a good red. Certainly it would make a good hoon at the end of a long hot summers day, just that little bit, you know, satisfying, whilst listening to your favourite steed quietly ticking and creaking.

Now back to the subject: FIL has a humidor, and without knowing the exacts, a plentiful supply of cubans having only in the last year returned from the country itself having smoked his way around.

I like the idea of the kudos of a fine rare vintage just to fit in with his loves of all things fine (after all he's getting married in a flinkin' cathedral).

All of these things help go towards the 'Can I borrow the TVR/Cayenne' fund

[neil_bolton]

TonyHetherington said:

I quite like the idea of, at special occasions, enjoying a big old cigar and so the results of this thread I will read with interest!

Ta

Its very much the way I see it - its not bad for your health if you 'save' the occasion for special times - very much like dipping into a nice Red or Malt - and I thought it a nice gift for the FIL.

I don't pretend to know anything about the things, but I do enjoy the sensation and occasion of sharing a moment with someone else and something rolled on the legs of virgins

Edited by neil_bolton on Tuesday 10th July 12:13

[neil_bolton]

I also found it fascinating to read the Cigar Etiquette:

In 1967 Zino Davidoff outlined a protocol for smokers in his noted essay for connoisseurs. It is a charter and code for cigar smokers everywhere, and it remains as valid today as when he first wrote it. Among his directives were the following do’s and don'ts:

DON'T

• Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar.
• Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly.
• Ask someone else for a light ('The lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair').
• Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly.
• Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking.
• Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf.
• Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it.
• Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights.
• Clench it between your teeth.
• Get the end of the cigar wet, chew It, slobber on it.
• Smoke too quickly. Use a cigar holder.
• Stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth.
• Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill.
• Smoke while working.
• Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.
• Smoke when you're walking.
• Smoke more than half the cigar.
• Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.
• Chain-smoke cigars.

DO

• Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.
• Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.
• Take your time smoking it; a puff a minute is about right.
• Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb.
• Let the cigar die a dignified death; after it's smoked halfway, it will go out on its own. *Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.
• Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behaviour.
• The important thing to remember is that we cigar aficionados should present ourselves as considerate and understanding individuals. Changing people's preconceived notions and giving the growing numbers of aficionados a good name is well worth that little extra effort.

Edited for bloody formatting

Edited by neil_bolton on Tuesday 10th July 12:17

[neil_bolton]

Bebs said:

'Rolled on the thigh of a virgin'

There is something to this but unfortunately it does sound better than the reality..

This actually comes from the de-stemming of the leaves. The de-stemmers (often ragged ugly old women and I very much doubt they're virgins )
They wrap a leaf around their wrist and with a twisting motion remove the stem from the leaf. THEN, they flatten the leaf over their thighs!
So there you go.. there is some truth to it... unfortunately having seen it, it very much shatters ones imagination of a hot Cuban chica using her inner thigh to produce a smooth and round Havana..

Close but no cigar (badum tish)

If its alright with you though, I'll carry on maintaining my imagination of virgins rolling them on their fine thighs It'll make the cigar so much more pleasurable...