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Discussion: Are you a Cigar Smoker or Cigar Collector?

Discussion: Are you a Cigar Smoker or Cigar Collector?

Happy Wednesday, folks! 

I've noticed lately, or at least more than usual, a growing number of people that seem to collect cigars rather than enjoy them.  There's nothing wrong with that - you should enjoy this hobby any way you want - but it's got me wondering: 

Are you a cigar smoker or a cigar collector? 

Of course, this distinction usually applies to higher-end cigars that are expensive, limited edition, or out of production altogether. But that’s not always the case, sometimes I see unopened boxes of regular production cigars on a shelf that have yet to be sampled. 

And sometimes, you end up being a cigar collector just because of the sheer amount of cigars in your humidor. Occasionally I’m excited about finding a box that I had forgot about, but most of the time I’m disappointed that I let cigars get past their prime by neglecting them. 

What really got me thinking about this was a post on Facebook of a cigar that’s been out of production for a long time.  Someone commented that they had a box (or maybe two) unopened, and my mind was off to the races trying to figure out if it was willpower, a forgotten stash, or their pleasure that resulted in this treasure remaining intact.  

For the cigar collectors: 

  • What is it that you’re holding on to, and why? 
  • Have you ever sampled this cigar before? 
  • How often do you smoke from this box or pack? 
  • Are you stockpiling because of time, for the enjoyment of collecting, or for resale value? 
  • Do you have anything that you’re worried is over the hill? 

For those that believe everything should burn: 

  • What do you wish you had saved more of? 
  • Is there a cigar that you would collect, if you had it? 
  • What’s the most interesting cigar that you’ve turned to ash? 

There are no wrong answers, just interesting ones!  And, it's entirely possible that there's a little bit of both in each of us.  Cheers to a great rest of your week!

DISCUSSION CONTEST DETAILS

One of the comments below will win a $25 gift card.  The gift card will automatically be sent to the email address that you login to comment with, so please use your regular sign-in.   

I’ll be randomly selecting a comment below this Sunday after sending out the Weekly Newsletter. The winner can expect a comment with his or her name in it, a congratulations email, and an email with the $25 gift card information.  The actual gift card email takes some time to generate from the system and may lag behind by up to 48 hours. 

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Comments

9/25/2019 8:12 AM
A bit of both. I have one of the huge coolidoors with a little over 1K cigars in it. A lot are older cigars going back 5 plus years. Cubans, Opus X and limit release Fuentes, padrons, tatuaje etc. I still smoke these but do so at a slower rate. More to spread out the enjoyment rather than collecting. I then have  section of daily smokes which are $6-7 smokes and readily available.
9/25/2019 11:05 AM
I thought I'd just be a cigar smoker, but as I spot new and interesting cigars, and as the collection grows, I realize I am leaning more toward a collector. I am proud of some of the interesting finds, and I take pride in sharing some of the particulars of unique sticks. I think being a collector isn't too hard; it's difficult to be a collector of meaningful sticks. I bought a handful of cigars to smoke with friends and pull them into the hobby, and I fear I might not be getting those out of the humidor quickly enough.

I have a box of limited edition San Cristobal's that have been resting for four months and I have not touched a single one. I am waiting to smoke one with my father when he is back in town later in October. I have a couple of Opus X's and a Cohiba Behike (aged for 12 years) that are scheduled to be enjoyed at my wedding in December. I collect to be enjoyed by myself and those around me.
9/25/2019 1:47 PM
I am not a collector at all, I would never buy something that I wouldn't smoke. I may save something for a special occasion but that's about it. I will say though I have "saved" one of the first cigars that really got me into the hobby coming from pipes, its called "Spectre" it was a cigar that has Latakia pipe tobacco in it and they no longer make them so I've hung onto it since my palate has changed since but I will have it someday.
9/25/2019 4:44 PM
Definitely a smoker here. I only have a handful of cigars in my possession at a time, and I consume them at about the same rate they come in.

With that being said, I do wish that I had saved more petit corona vitolas, because I have come to realize that they work out the best for me in terms of time and the company I keep (specifically, the Intemperance XVIII EC petit corona because that little guy was an awesome pepper bomb).
9/25/2019 5:05 PM
I consider myself a cigar smoker because i everything I buy is with the intent to smoke. Not hold onto. Inevitably I end up holding onto to some for awhile because I get other cigars, but my intent is never really to “collect” them. I do like to go to B&Ms and dig around to find some cool, hard to find, or really aged stuff, but I smoke em. And I like the idea of having boxes of special limited editions, or stuff that has maybe been discontinued but I’d still smoke them over time. And if anything, I’d just hold onto the boxes because I find them to be cool or unique.
9/25/2019 7:55 PM
I do both but I never collect something I didnt enjoy. Mostly to revisit later. The one cigar I wish I had more of was the 2014 las calaveras that has aged amazingly
9/25/2019 11:08 PM
Started out as a smoker... but there are so many great blends out there, and reading reviews and discussing them online only made me want to stash some away to see how much they change over the years.  Next thing you know, I have a (small) humidor full of limited editions that are saved for "special occasions."  I guess I've turned into a collector because I horde cigars that are no longer available for purchase, and I almost like looking at them more than actually smoking them, only to wish I held onto it just to look at some more.
9/25/2019 11:08 PM
Started out as a smoker... but there are so many great blends out there, and reading reviews and discussing them online only made me want to stash some away to see how much they change over the years.  Next thing you know, I have a (small) humidor full of limited editions that are saved for "special occasions."  I guess I've turned into a collector because I horde cigars that are no longer available for purchase, and I almost like looking at them more than actually smoking them, only to wish I held onto it just to look at some more.
9/26/2019 10:57 AM
I have yet to buy cigars with the purpose of collecting them. I do however have cigars that I won't just smoke for the sake of smoking.
9/26/2019 4:36 PM
Both-but I still I smoke 3-4 cigars everyday. I save all my Opus and Cuban for special occasions, and for the fact they get better with age. I have a very large collection of cigars and aging cigars is the most unpredictable part of the hobby. I’ve aged full strength powerhouses that end up smooth and flavorful, and others that end up tasting like the “Cuban” your friend paid 10 bucks for in Jamaica.
9/26/2019 6:55 PM
I'm a cigar smoker. That said, if there's a particularly good or rare cigar, I'll set aside a couple to see how they age after a certain period of time.
9/26/2019 7:57 PM
The majority of the cigars that I buy in the 5 pack quantity, I like to smoke within a month of receiving. There are a few cigars that I have got via samplers or as free bonuses with the specials that SBC has, that have a high price tag that I'm waiting for a special occasion.
9/27/2019 10:43 AM
More of a smoker than a collector, but I like to have a decent selection of cigars on hand at all times. If I find something I really enjoy or there is a limited release that seems interesting, I'll buy it and save it for later. In the end, my intent is to smoke and enjoy the cigars instead of look at them in a box.
9/27/2019 11:03 AM
I have a problem where I buy more than I can smoke which leads to an accidental collection. I have every intent to smoke them all eventually but now I'm much more selective on when and where I smoke certain cigars. I do intend to at least save one of my Karl Malone barrel aged cigars though. Go jazz!
9/27/2019 11:10 AM
A smoker.   Might buy a discontinued smoke that I like and slowly smoke them but the age improvement of a few years just makes them that much desirable to smoke.  Dont wait for a special occasion, any occasion you get to smoke is a special occasion.
9/28/2019 3:01 AM
Smoker! Through purchases, trades, splits...etc. I have acquired a wide variety of cigars. Earlier on, I had a “top shelf” section, that today would be embarrassing. Some of my cigars will be aged for specific reasons, but I will still dip in there to see how they are coming along. Other high end cigars, while not a daily experience need to be smoked from time to time. What defines a special occasion? I’m not going to have hundreds of kids! Smoke the expensive ones, smoke the cheap ones and enjoy the aging process by sampling!
9/28/2019 11:04 AM
Smoker with a huge collection.
I think it is as simple as I smoke whenever the occasion arises, but my life leaves me with less opportunities than I had imagined. Wife and the kids leave to her mothers for the weekend, check the butane. Friday night home games, put the sticks back up.
I have a 300 count full of singles I want to try, new stuff and old classics, and a 6'x4' cabinet filled with 50+ boxes. If it's a great smoke I want a box, especially if it's a first run new release because who knows what the next production run will taste like. My intention is to smoke them all, or at least have them around if I have a 25 min walk with the dog or 2 hours in the yard to myself so I can grab something perfect for the situation.
9/29/2019 6:03 AM
I'm primarily a smoker, but I do reserve some high-end sticks for special occasions.  The definition of 'special occasion' is fairly flexible, but it prevents me from smoking these on a day when I'm not prepared to fully enjoy them.  In the end they all burn.
9/29/2019 9:48 AM
A collector. I find it nearly impossible to smoke a cigar if I only have one of that kind.
9/29/2019 5:53 PM
Congrats, Gerald!  And many thanks to everyone else for participating this week