Gift to a connoisseur?

[aes8]

...tough question... If I was bringing a full box... Ramon Allones 898, Great cigar plus it's discontinued.

And if I was at the next table you would be robbed at gunpoint

[MrGlass]

Another point here for Rob.

If I was having dinner with somebody and they brought me a cigar, I wouldn't care what it was - the fact that they cared enough to do so is what really matters. I don't need it to be expensive and/or rare.

As the gift giver, I would bring a cigar I enjoy. Probably an Epicure No.2 or a des Dieux, with a Double Corona as a backup if the evening has been great and we don't quite want it to end.

[CanuckSARTech]

+1 gazillion

Rob, you're not only a great merchant, but a true gentleman. This post confirms it.

Absolutely. Rob, both of your posts are spot on. As Aizuddin said, a true gentleman, in both posts/cases.

Yes, take what you get, and just be thankful....and be a friend (that's who you're giving it to, right?).

As for me, I'd offer up whatever he/she wanted - there's the humidor, have a browse, pick out what you'd like, the floor is yours.... (that's if dinner's at my place). However, if we're out at dinner, then I'd bring my Cigar Caddy with a few different sticks in there, but a robusto of some kind (Trini T, RASS, or SDN4) and then something bigger (Trini Fundadore, LGC MdO No. 2, Dip 2's).

[CohibaBehike]

If given in the right spirit...why not?

I was given last year a Cohiba Robusto with a photocopied band by a mate of a mate who purchased them in Vietnam for $2 a piece. He genuinely said he could fix me up with some. He had no idea but loved them.

I smoked it to the 3/4 mark and had a really enjoyable conversation over a bottle of bubbly. His mate (and my good friend) came over and asked if it was a fake. I wish he didn't.

My response was along the lines of "Who gives a rat's, it is a fine cigar."

In reality it was a crap cigar. However he liked them and I am not on this earth to puncture balloons of people who have genuine intent.

Awesome, I've smoked some stuff similar to your experience. I work at a cigar shop in the states and I couldn't tell you how often a buddy hands me "a stick from his brothers cousin who knows a guys friend who has a boat that goes to havana 3 times a year" and is an "official" cuban cigar. I always play dumb and smoke it and enjoy it as much as they want me to. I've never bursted any bubbles with these guys because it's their little guilty pleasure that they hold dear. Just an interesting thought with flavored cigars and things of that nature, wasn't sure what you thought about that. Thanks for your input!

[dicko]

I agree that you should gift him with something that you enjoy. To me a gift isn't just something that the person would like, but also a small reflection of the giver.

I like this sentiment.

Give them a box of something you think is good.

[Peter11216]

Data for more cigar psychology, lacking a theory. Thanks for all the replies. All very interesting and all very helpful. For interest sake, I looked over the results and noticed that answers fall into two groups, with one subcategory of advice, and two unique answers.

First there was the specific response naming one or more brands, represented by 11 people (Firewiz25, tsolomon, Habanakane21, bundwallah, Dochowl, Colt45, laficion, Marevas, CohibaBehike, RyanS, Clint, Colt 45). Several also fell into the subcategory and said go with something you like.

Second there was the "cigars are not the point" don't worry about the tosser, represented by 6 people and initiated by El Prez, with Wicky, Aizuddin, RyanS, MrGlass, and CanuckSARTech strongly endorsing. (Can someone point me to the thread that explains what a "tosser" is? Is a tosser different from a wanker? Are they both different from an jackass? I need to know more about foreign insults.)

Then there are the unique responses.

There was one threat of armed robbery, from aes9 directed against anyone carrying around Ramon Allones 898's.

One, not fully explicit formula, that depends on who pays for the dinner, from tmacc77.

And one astute political consideration. Ken pointing out that some Americans have enough dislike of the Cuban government to be offended by anything originating from the Cuban government. On this one - is there a discussion thread regarding this. I have met a significant minority of cigar smokers here in the States who have quite serious sour grapes feelings about Cuban cigars, including a few people who have sworn to me that because the government produces them, they must be bad.

Anyways, thanks again. I don't have a theory about what would make a person fall into one or the other group, but it is fairly clear that there is a pattern here.

Best,

Pete

[ckearns]

...(Can someone point me to the thread that explains what a "tosser" is? Is a tosser different from a wanker? Are they both different from an jackass? I need to know more about foreign insults.)

Wanker = Tosser

[El Presidente]

Second there was the "cigars are not the point" don't worry about the tosser, represented by 6 people and initiated by El Prez, with Wicky, Aizuddin, RyanS, MrGlass, and CanuckSARTech strongly endorsing. (Can someone point me to the thread that explains what a "tosser" is? Is a tosser different from a wanker? Are they both different from an jackass? I need to know more about foreign insults.)

Tosser and Wanker are very similar.

A Tosser is one who perceives himself above others and goes out of his way to act in such a manner.

A Wanker is a little broader. He/she may or may not believe they are above the rest, but still manage through their words or actions to piss off everyone and get under their skin.

Yes, so some people can be both

[DaBigDog]

If you can find anything Cuban with some age to it, I'm sure it will be appreciated. It doesn't have to be a Cohiba. There are some great Boli's, PL's, etc if you can find them from 03-06

[orousso]

I guess for me, any Cohiba would do the trick, and now that the Behikes are out there I would go with that. Any connoisseur would be more than happy to get one of those!