EAR: Way too many cigars and wine. Does anyone else have this problem?

[El Presidente]

EAR: Email Assistance Required. 

 

Rob, you and I’ve talked about this before, but I figured I’d toss it out to the whole crew here and see where folks stand.

So here’s the deal — I’m 77 now, still feelin’ good, thank the Lord, but I got myself sittin’ on close to 2,700 Cuban cigars and about 800 bottles of solid red wine. Most of it I picked up before 2015, back when I was stockin’ up like I had forever.

Thing is, these days I’m only puffin’ on maybe two cigars a week, and crackin’ open a bottle if it’s a real good weekend. Bond Roberts is obviously one route , and I appreciate the reference, Rob, but I’ve also thought about tradin’ some of this stash for life experiences: a trip overseas, a nice place to stay for a week or two with my wife. Truth be told, we probably only got a handful of travel years left in us.

So here’s my question for y’all: anybody else out there in your 70s holdin’ on to way more cigars and wine than you’ll ever realistically get through? I mean, at the rate I’m goin’, I got a solid 25-year supply sittin’ in my humidor — and let’s be real, that’s just plain crazy.

 

Over to you good folk 

[Li Bai]

I'm too young myself but I've had this conversation with a good friend of mine who's 75 and I thought I'd share.

He smokes 5 cigars a day and his collection is so big it would last him 30 years or so (I did the maths, I was beginning to think my ~1300 cigar collection was decent but not since then 🤯 ).

Part of his cigars were stored in a shared collection somewhere in Cuomo, Italy and even though he never intended to sell it he did begin to think about it when prices went crazy. 

Those were handed to his daughter in Zurich who sold them as a discreet inheritance.

 

[Duxnutz]

I’d much rather enjoy passing around my collection to friends/enthusiasts than either myself or an heir selling via an auction or god forbid a random Craig’s list estate sale. 

I’ll happily take any Partagas 898s or Bolivar Coronas Gigantes you happen to have…if it helps of course. 🤷‍♀️

[BrightonCorgi]

He should sell half of each.  

If the person is in the US, selling wine you'll take a beating on compared to cigars. Depending on what state he is in, he could sell them to a restaurant. Auction houses will fleece you, but that's their business. Getting the wine to the auction house comes at a cost. If allowed, perhaps he could post the wine for sale here.  Selling in 6 or 12 bottle counts.

The cigars are an easy sell with BR or direct to collectors.

[BG318]

PM me

[gormag38]

That certainly seems to be a problem that alot of BOTLs have; leaving a stash behind. I would certainly move some of the product, and maybe hold onto a quarter or half of it. I'd reach out to members here, BR or one of the other trusted forums where that can be done. I'm sure there's plenty that would jump at the idea of getting some aged/discontinued boxes. The wine I can't really speak too much on. Someone mentioned the idea of reaching out to a restaurant, that seems like it may be the best way to maximize your return.

 I love the idea of using some of the funds to go on vacation. There's no better time than now!

[MagicalBikeRide]

We can treat things in the same way we treat money - and there are usually three options:

-1- spend 

-2- save 

-3- gift 

Sounds to me like the person in question is pretty wealthy in a cigar / wine context. I’m unsure re their wider financial stability. The obvious thought is to sell and re-invest the cash in personal experience. But perhaps a portion can be set aside to enhance the experiences of others.

There really is an unique emotion that I’ve only found through being generous to others (perhaps to the point where my gift is something they would never buy for themselves). Those are the moments, feelings and reactions that I’ll remember on my own death bed. I’m not suggesting the person gives their entire collection away, but perhaps gifting or generosity form part of the thought process. 

[WestCoastSmokin]

Gift em to friends/BOTL or sell em to us lol. Also start smoking more, maybe prioritize smoking the older cigars.

Wine, I don't know, I have zero idea. 

[Hammer Smokin']

Very few people consider how smoking will be, relative to their overall health, as they age. Not many folks burns cigars in their 60s and 70s like they did in their 30s and 40s. I've noticed it's the early to mid 50s when lifetime cigar smokers start to change habits. 

[RDB]

What a nice problem to have. It seems fairly straightforward to me:

- sell some cigars and wine, holding onto what you personally like best (with no regard to value)

- be generous with your cigars and wine, especially with younger folk for whom aged stuff is hard to experience.

Er, that’s it.

[Hammer Smokin']

For those saying, "sell, sell, sell", the economy (at least for most countries) makes it somewhat difficult to sell (for remotely close to retail pricing). Those who sell absolutely go through 3rd party sites (BR), or cut the price down to what they purchased the cigars for (plus an appropriate increase). 

In my country those selling cigars for $1K or more (which is just about every damned box these days), simply aren't selling. Not because the seller is pricing too high (relative to the new price of cigars), but rather, very few are financial able (or interested) in buying $1K+ boxes of Cuban cigars. 

[Fuzz]

Take it all with you, Viking style!!

[mohammed.s.almutlaq11]

That’s sad to feel that you won't enjoy the things you have. As for myself, I'm 30 and I have almost 2000 cigars. I smoke 3 in a week and I find cigars don't age well after 5 years, so I bought more than I should have.

[Çnote]

Liquidate. Keep only favorites and the tip of the iceburg in value to sell later. Unfortunately your consumption is going to go lower, professional experience. Stop opening solid cases and boxes, fulls have more cache to the right buyers.

Cigars are easy to ship, wine is more difficult. Your nearest Metropolitan area will have cigar and wine clubs (Chevalier, Confederie; lounges w/o humidors) with well heeled members; go make friends and sell it all small lot and direct, no auctions or bulk deals. You'll also have the fun of meeting people that will actually appreciate the experiences you have already invested in, and perhaps sample some with them, Open 1 bottle to sell 11, insane box splits, whatever is fun that gets it done. At least you'll get to enjoy some of what you laid down this way.

The other interesting option is a property trust to our heirs, but that would be contingent on exact items, provenance, cellaring, and of course, location and jurisdiction.

If you're USA especially TX please contact me

@Fuzzis right. Pile it all up, climb on top.