Having your cake and not being able to smoke it......

[dentonparrots]

I was initially gave a couple of Dunhill Don Candido 501's from a very good friend and after learning they were pretty rare this in turn made me look into cigars etc. Thank God I didn't smoke them before I researched the fact that they were so valuable!

I've now been really suckered into the passion and real appreciation of cigars. In the last month or so I've tried a good number of brands including H. Upman, Dunhill, Bolivar, Luiz Martinez, Monte Cristo, El Rey Del Mundo, Cuaba, Romeo Y Julieta, Punch, Cohiba amongst others from my local tobacconist (I'm sure the till beeps just because I walk into the store!).

The other night the same friend popped round and incredibly gave me a full box of 25 of the Don Candido 502's...you have no idea how dumstruck I was. Here they are with a coffin of the 501's.

I cannot believe I have some of the worlds finest ever made cigars in my home that I can admire and smell (oooooooooohhhhhh) whenever I want but here's the thing....I couldn't ever smoke them! Would you?

Imagine lighting that very first one and taking 1 away from a full box? It would be like shooting one of my kids (on a second thought...).

The waves of guilt washing over me would drown the appreciation ones, screwing a momentous occasion right up!

Also, here's another problem; where can I go from here? I'm JUST getting wrapped up in this passion but it's like saying to a jeweler, here's a piece of diamond and some 24ct gold...fancy some copper and a cubic zirconia?

Still, I can't complain, it's not a bad position to be in is it ;-) ?

At least I get to smell them forever! The waves of smugness are washing all over me..

[Miami101]

Mate you only live once!

Smoke them:

[dentonparrots]

» Mate you only live once!

» Smoke them:

You have nooooooo idea how strong my bain is telling me to do just that! I've got a little Don Candido angel one side saying "Save them, appreciate, smell them, KNOW you've got them as a complete box, heirloom, smell, be smug, smell them" and then I've got the other little sh@t saying "Where's the lighter?"...I LOVE that little one sooooooo much compared to the other boring git

[Taino]

That's like winnig the lottery mate! you are one lucky SOG, congrats. Smoke a couple and I hope they are in good shape, so you can enjoy them.

[winelover]

If you don't smoke them you should at least share the proceeds of any sale with your friend. Perhaps if he knew how much they went for on the open market he wouldn't have been so generous?

[winelover]

BTW - Congrats on the nice score.

[dentonparrots]

» If you don't smoke them you should at least share the proceeds of any sale

» with your friend. Perhaps if he knew how much they went for on the open

» market he wouldn't have been so generous?

That's the amazing thing, he has an idea of what they are worth and STILL gave some to me. He's looking at selling another 4 boxes (2 of which haven't had their seal broken yet) and also some of his 501's in the double coffins at an auction organised through one of the cigar stores in London, apparently they're holding a Cuban Dunhill sale.

He also has a full box of Partagas Churchills and again they are rare to be available in that size by all accounts

[Fishhound]

Smoke one already.

[northo]

Bloody hell dp, you're one lucky bastard, with a particularly fine choice of friends. With a full box I would smoke one and experience cigar heaven. Either way make sure you have a tip-top place to store them (ideally in a plastic ziplock baggie). If not some of the bigger cigars stores offer storage, though I only know ones in london. Tho I'm sure Rob would graciously 'look after them' for you. ;-)