A simple observation

[massphatness]

Originally Posted by dwoodward

I have noticed something very interesting the last few months. As we collect cigars and catch deals, we sometimes get a little ahead of ourselves and end up buying a collector stash of some extremely small batch cigars. We end up holding on to these cigars to smoke at a very special time. The whole problem is that no time is special enough in our minds to justify smoking them. So we keep holding them. Waiting.

The smoking hobby has almost turned some people into collectors that would rather hold onto cigars than smoke them.

Prime example: (No mean to advertise outside the trade forums, just using as example)
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=35669

So many people just hording this special "cask" of cigars. Untouched cigars still in their factory state. Will they ever smoke them? Probably not...

I guess the real question I am here asking is, why do we horde cigars like these as if they have special meaning, like they are some mythical stick that you need to be a lottery winner to smoke. When it comes down to it, cigars are cigars. Cigars are made to be smoked.

I'm the OP in the sale thread referenced. In my case, the answer is fairly straight forward: my tastes changed. I used to be a huge Gurkha whore, for example. Loved the Regent. It was my go-to stick. Over time, I became enamored with the kick in gut experience I got from cigars like Camacho, Taboo Special Forces and 601 Green Label. My tastes further evolved into the Tat & Pepin lines. The DPG Blue became my “everyday” smoke and I was all about the Tats with the exception of the White Label. Then I got shoved to the Dark Side. I fell hard for the Cubans, and in the last 18 months, I can count the number of NCs I’ve had on one hand. I sold off the vast majority of my NC stock – everything went save for those sticks where I still felt an emotional connection: a handful of DPG Blues, some San Cristobals, a few Padrons & Opus and my beloved Blacks. While I have an intact jar that I’m selling, I also have quite a few singles. If I get the urge to smoke a Tat Black, fear not, I will smoke one.

I don’t collect. What I buy, I plan to smoke. That’s not to say I don’t put a box or two away for long term aging, and who knows, if my tastes change again, I may sell those.

And I used to ascribe to the “special occasion” school of thought. However, I found I could not guarantee with absolute certainty that the cigar I was holding would match the occasion. I’ll use Davidoff as an example. I have a few on hand, and I used to reserve them only for the most special of occasions. The funny thing is, on more than one of those occasions, the cigar was off. It happens, and it underscored to me that my way of thinking might be a little “pie in the sky” because you never can tell.

Today, I have a few what I refer to as “occasion” cigars. These are from boxes whose box codes coincide with my kids’ birth years. I guess they’re quasi special event cigars, but in this case, it has more to do with the emotional value I place on the cigar because of its year than its flavor profile or rarity. The 1993 RASS I have, for example, holds more meaning to me than if I were to happen upon a 1492. I’m saving those RASS to mark milestone events in my oldest son’s life: turning 18, getting into the school of his choice, college graduation, etc. All my other cigars are up for grabs whenever the moment moves me.

[Da Klugs]

You never want your last thought (heaven forbid it comes too soon) to be , "Damn I wish I had smoked that pretty you have been saving coveting here".

Had a near death car experience a few years ago and since, no cigar (That I can find in my humi) is safe.

Accumulation is not a bad thing so long as it does not affect your lifestyle due to money issues. If everything else is cool... why not?

Unlike most vices, accumulating cigars is not asset depleting. You can always sell them and they tend to appreciate over time if you buy the right ones. Coke habits on the other hand....

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

You never want your last thought (heaven forbid it comes too soon) to be , "Damn I wish I had smoked that pretty you have been saving coveting here".

Had a near death car experience a few years ago and since, no cigar (That I can find in my humi) is safe.

Accumulation is not a bad thing so long as it does not affect your lifestyle due to money issues. If everything else is cool... why not?

Unlike most vices, accumulating cigars is not asset depleting. You can always sell them and they tend to appreciate over time if you buy the right ones. Coke habits on the other hand....

[Giant & 49er Fan]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

You never want your last thought (heaven forbid it comes too soon) to be , "Damn I wish I had smoked that pretty you have been saving coveting here".

Had a near death car experience a few years ago and since, no cigar (That I can find in my humi) is safe.

Accumulation is not a bad thing so long as it does not affect your lifestyle due to money issues. If everything else is cool... why not?

Unlike most vices, accumulating cigars is not asset depleting. You can always sell them and they tend to appreciate over time if you buy the right ones. Coke habits on the other hand....

Cheers to this. After my accident, I smoke whatever, whenever... Cigars that is!

[JohnE1000]

I was being sucked into this pattern in the beginning, but I prevented myself from falling into it. I don't keep any cigars for a special occasions . Every moment is a special occasion for me, and I don't get sucked into the hype of new a limited release cigars unless I tried them, and I know I like them.

[icantbejon]

Originally Posted by massphatness

Today, I have a few what I refer to as “occasion” cigars...All my other cigars are up for grabs whenever the moment moves me.

I'm with Vin on this, though my "occasion" cigars aren't nearly as meaningful as what he has. For example, I like to get my hands on 2 camacho liberties a year, and my wife and I smoke them on July 4th. I like getting my hands on the 2 Tat Monster series, and we smoke those on Halloween after the kids are in bed. I smoke all I get, but I do "collect" certain cigars for certain days.

[area51]

I see some of these humidors stacked with cigars and I can only think "I could never do that." I guess I have ADD when it comes to cigars I can't stock up just not my thing. Would I love to have a huge stock of thousands...maybe, but realistically I would probably just smoke through them all and call it a day. I guess every cigar I have is an occasion cigar as well as an everyday smoke.

[darkleeroy]

Originally Posted by area51

I see some of these humidors stacked with cigars and I can only think "I could never do that." I guess I have ADD when it comes to cigars I can't stock up just not my thing. Would I love to have a huge stock of thousands...maybe, but realistically I would probably just smoke through them all and call it a day. I guess every cigar I have is an occasion cigar as well as an everyday smoke.

The way they do it, is by buying more than you could ever possibly smoke, which means a couple of boxes every month for the average 1 cigar-a-day smoker.

Obviously, as a finance person, I'd suggest against doing so if the disposable income isn't present.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by area51

I see some of these humidors stacked with cigars and I can only think "I could never do that." I guess I have ADD when it comes to cigars I can't stock up just not my thing. Would I love to have a huge stock of thousands...maybe, but realistically I would probably just smoke through them all and call it a day. I guess every cigar I have is an occasion cigar as well as an everyday smoke.

It is also a a lot easier to do when your buying habits continue to stay regular but your schedule does not allow you the free time to smoke as much. This has been a big problem of mine as of late. I have just been working my azz off and at the same time getting the house ready for the baby and all the other things that come along with it so for me I have been buying more than I can smoke which most people would say, "Well buy less." This would work if deals wouldn't come up along with all the damn new releases as of late. For example, I planned on smoking my azz off this whole weekend since it was a holiday weekend and I knew we would have company in town for the shower so what better way to spend time with friends and family. I smoked one stinkin' cigar just because I was too busy running here there and everywhere so I didn;t get to do near the damage I thought I would.
Plus for me I know I will probably be forced into a buying hiatus once the baby arrives so I might as well stock up now. Not to mention I see you only have 4 posts so sit back, relax because it is a slippery slope. I too had your thought process once. That thinking is long gone now. You'll see. Next year this time you too will probably have more cigars on hand than you could possibly smoke through quickly.