Advice needed on how to handle this in a gentlemanly way.

[zeedubbya]

So I've got a guy I work with whom I've shared some Monte 2s with recently. He's an older gentleman who generally has lots of great knowledge and experience.. He keeps telling me how the Monte 2s I've given him don't seem right to him. He says they seem much larger and much lighter than some he remembers from the 90s. It's come to the point of me getting angry he's insinuating they may be fakes. I am 100% certain they're not. For people who've smoked Monte 2s 20-30 years ago is there a big difference you see, and how would you handle this? Please bear in mind being mean and nasty about it isn't an option and I like and respect the guy quite a lot. It just has the feeling of "youngster you don't know what a real CC is like, buying them on that newfangled Internets." I have no doubt to authenticity and have quite a lot of experience to draw upon having been appreciating premium cigars for about 15 years. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Mahstah]

Yes there is a big difference in today's monte 2s then compared the old montes, the old ones were much stronger of an cigar. As for lighter/larger I don't think so but I have no more of those old montes left anymore to compaire.

To prove it bring the box in and have him type in the serial number of the box at habanos =D

[LGC]

Just stop giving him cigars and point him to the Internet for information on counterfeits. Let him buy his own sticks.

[mcease022]

Offer to buy them back from him or like Mahstah suggested bring in the box. If he has experience he should know what a fake looks like. Although if he hasn't seen a box in years it might be tough since things have changed quite a bit.

[Colt45]

I'd agree with simply putting the perceived slight behind me and not sharing any more cigars with him.

[Squarehead]

Take it with a grain of salt.Cars look completely different today than 30 years ago and yet the fulfill the same purpose now namely taking us from A to B

[zeedubbya]

All wonderful advice thank you.

[Fuzz]

Remind him that memory is the first thing to go when you get older.

[Puros Y Vino]

Give him an NC Monte 2. See if that jogs his memory.

[Smallclub]

He says they seem much larger and much lighter than some he remembers from the 90s.

Lighter, yes, certainly.

Larger? No way, these sizes were created prior to the revolution, AKAIK…

[mygar]

Perhaps he is not insinuating that they are fake? Maybe he is just reflecting on the differences?

Unless, he explicitly states they dont seem right... or if in fact does... you can just ask if he is thinking they are fake. Sometimes our "lines" get crossed...

[DWC]

Remind him that memory is the first thing to go when you get older.

I thought the memory was the second thing to go. ...I don't remember what the first thing is. ;-}

[wabashcr]

Other than politely affirming that what you're giving him is what Cuba is making these days, the gentlemanly thing would be to let it go. Not worth getting upset over, IMO.

[Rye]

Learn and start telling him about the different seed strains that have been used over the past 30 years, different aging methods, quality controls, and assure him the size hasn't changed in almost a century.

The research will be fun for you at least, and if he's still stubborn, cut him off and see if he changes his tone!

[terrantheman]

Well I was just gifted and smoked a Monte #2 from 1980 and the size and shape are the same but the Montes these days are nowhere near in tobacco of yesteryear!

[ayepatz]

If you like him and respect him, why not try to do a direct comparison? See if you can source a couple of 90s Monte 2s and smoke them alongside more recent examples.

[JoeyW]

maby you two could sit togheter while smoking a monty 2 and he could share 20 years ago cigar tale. at one point the real question is , does he enjoy the cigar or not ...

[PapaDisco]

Well, he's right, they are different. Not bigger, but certainly lighter and with a more open draw. Most aficionados concur that today's Monte 2 (and many other vitolas) are different from their predecessors. Consistency, particularly over several decades, is not a Cuban trait

[westg]

If you really like and respect him...tell him to shut his whinging face ,,,

[squizz]

Take the box in to show him if it means that much to have it settled. Otherwise, I'd let it go. My friends always give me crap for smoking CCs. I get the "it's fake" often. Of course I know they are just busting my chops.

[Jones]

Pistols at dawn.

[Fugu]

Don't argue with him.

[Fuzz]

I thought the memory was the second thing to go. ...I don't remember what the first thing is. ;-}

I don't remember saying that...

[JamesNYC]

Other than politely affirming that what you're giving him is what Cuba is making these days, the gentlemanly thing would be to let it go. Not worth getting upset over, IMO.

That.

[Jeremy Festa]

So I've got a guy I work with whom I've shared some Monte 2s with recently. He's an older gentleman who generally has lots of great knowledge and experience.. He keeps telling me how the Monte 2s I've given him don't seem right to him. He says they seem much larger and much lighter than some he remembers from the 90s. It's come to the point of me getting angry he's insinuating they may be fakes. I am 100% certain they're not. For people who've smoked Monte 2s 20-30 years ago is there a big difference you see, and how would you handle this? Please bear in mind being mean and nasty about it isn't an option and I like and respect the guy quite a lot. It just has the feeling of "youngster you don't know what a real CC is like, buying them on that newfangled Internets." I have no doubt to authenticity and have quite a lot of experience to draw upon having been appreciating premium cigars for about 15 years. Any advice would be appreciated.

Mate?

It literally says "Rough-Housing" in your profile's 'Interests.'

As such, you should stand by your statement, and bash that old codger in the face.

He is old, and he is sure to go down like a lead ballon.

Not only that, if he actually holds great knowledge and experience, he will probably respect you more for honouring the old ways.

And will agree with everything you say moving forward.

Godspeed.