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Calling All Cigar Aficionados- Advice Needed(Vanity)

Posted on 09/25/2002 7:53:09 AM PDT by yankeedame

Help! I need some advice from all you cigar aficionados. My husband is a new car/truck saleman for Dodge. To all his high end truck customers ($30K+) he gives them a fine cigar as a kind of lagniappe. He's been doing this for about 4 months now; a marketing promo I'll admit, but one that's been working out very well.

Now here's where I need the advice: My husband doesn't smoke. That being the case, the selection of cigars he gives away have been pretty limited to what-looks-expensive-and-cost-a-lot ($6-$19 per).I mean the selections are all over the board.

So, I would appreciate any suggestions and/or recommondations on what kind of fine cigar he should use; something he can stick with.

(If this would help: A general profile of these high-end truck buyers is male, 45+y.o., owns his own business, born and raised here in/around central Ohio area, and he may or may not smoke...but 99% of them will smoke a fine cigar, esp. if they got for free.)

Thanks in advance for any and all help.


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To: AnalogReigns
i love torpedos too but they can burn hot sometimes and spoil the smoke if you don't light it correctly
21 posted on 09/25/2002 8:36:39 AM PDT by housethatruthbuilt
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To: The_Victor
I 2nd the humidor vote...essential to keep cigars, particularly when its dry (as in winter--or in an air-conditioned room). If nothing else, keep them in a large sealable jar..with a little sponge glued to the lid... A dry cigar is practically worthless....

www.cheaphumidors.com is a good source, as these things are often way (WAY!) over priced (especially at your local cigar store).....
22 posted on 09/25/2002 8:37:18 AM PDT by AnalogReigns
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To: ConservativeDude
I agree- The Macanudo Portofino is delicious and not too strong for a novice smoker and it is in the $7-8 range last time I looked. It was $4 before the cigar craze hit and it may have gone back down- hmmmm I gotta look. They are SOOOoooo smooth and good.
23 posted on 09/25/2002 8:38:10 AM PDT by Mr. K
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To: The_Victor
I prefer a “Guinea Stinker” when I wear a wife-beater T-shirt.

After a fine micro-waved dinner... a stale White Owl.

After sex... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

24 posted on 09/25/2002 8:40:16 AM PDT by johnny7
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To: sinkspur
In commandeering the info in these posts, I have gone to JR Cigars to look for Padron....am I doing something wrong? Or do they not carry them?
25 posted on 09/25/2002 8:42:56 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: sinkspur
In commandeering the info in these posts, I have gone to JR Cigars to look for Padron....am I doing something wrong? Or do they not carry them?
26 posted on 09/25/2002 8:43:27 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: yankeedame
Definitely go to JRCIGARS.com. I am a regular on the BB over there, and the place is full of great information.

As for the gars named here, some are good choices, some are not. Opus X is a stellar cigar, but a newbie is gonna hate it because it is very strong. For newbies, I recommend Macanudo (first, everyone knows them as a "premium" cigar; second, it is a decent mild cigar).

Montecristo is a good mid-range cigar. So is Bolivar. Fuente is good, but pricey.

Finally, as I have been of little help here, I would recommend a tubed cigar....at least that way, the cigar will last the trip home in the new car....Montecristo has a number of tubed cigars.

27 posted on 09/25/2002 8:44:22 AM PDT by ContemptofCourt
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To: ConservativeDude
I do not believe that they carry Padron. I know that they carry Fuente, but you have to call for them, as they are not listed on the website.....
28 posted on 09/25/2002 8:45:30 AM PDT by ContemptofCourt
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To: ContemptofCourt
since those were the two names I had searched and come up blank, I thought I was missing something. thanks!
29 posted on 09/25/2002 8:48:12 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: yankeedame
On second thought, here is a better idea. Invest in the humidor - one with a glass lid. It should cost no more than $50.

Get a couple types of cigars: Macanudos for the newbies, something stronger for the guys that know their cigars. Someone has suggested CAO, but for that money, you might as well buy Fuente. Like Macs, everyone knows Fuente.

Since this is really a marketing gimick, you would want to go with what is "popular" or "known well," so the customer feels happy at the end of the day. This way, your hubby can have the glass topped humi on his desk, and customers will be able to see in, and get that mouth-watering feeling. Once the deal is done, your hubby can offer the humi to the customer and he can choose what he wants. That'll have them leaving with a smile on their face.

30 posted on 09/25/2002 8:52:04 AM PDT by ContemptofCourt
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To: yankeedame
Most people on this thread appear to give you advice according to what they like. What your husband needs, however, is a a safe choice that makes him look good.

Although the person receiving the cigar may not be a smoker, he may want to brag about the gift to some one that does know about cigars. So the cigar should be well-known and respected. In addition, it should <>look good and well-constructed.

His safest, I believe, is Arturo Fuente, Opus X. It is a complete waste of a very fine cigar on a non-smoker, but should he ask someone else that person will undoubtedly express admiration. Your husband's customer will certainly feel well-treated by him. The drawback is that it is hard to get these cigars, and especially under $20.

It may be more practical to get Arturo Fuente Don Carlos, which is also Fuente's top of the line (black band). These you can get for about $10 a stick, especially if you by a box, and they are usually available. This, too, is a universally respected cigar and will certainly not make your husband look cheep.

Another safe name is Ashton, especially the Cabinet Series.

I would NOT go for maduro, since some non-smokers may be put off by the more pronounced flavor. A mild, non-maduro cigar is a safer bet.

Finally, a caveat: your husband may buy cigars by a box, which is signficantly cheaper. If he does not store them in a humodor, however, they will be wasted. Not only the money will be wasted, too, but the customers may be offended, thinking (erroneously) that your husband gives them left-overs.

Whatever you decide, make sure you do not go by some one's taste and preferences (that, of course, includes me): ensure that the choice is good marketing: it must be a universally respected cigar, it should look good, and it should be fresh.

31 posted on 09/25/2002 8:52:59 AM PDT by TopQuark
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To: housethatruthbuilt
Ack! Why did you tell her about Davidoff Millennium Blend Series Robusto? Now there will be fewer for me!
32 posted on 09/25/2002 8:54:27 AM PDT by Fifth Business
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To: ContemptofCourt
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner.

Glass humidor on desk + choose a cigar + wide selection of mild to strong, tubed, etc.

Customer leaves with a smile!!! Style!
33 posted on 09/25/2002 8:55:58 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: TopQuark
Hmm, all this talk about cigars - I'm gonna go smoke a La Luna African Fuerte for lunch.....
34 posted on 09/25/2002 8:56:12 AM PDT by ContemptofCourt
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To: ConservativeDude
JR doesn't carry Padron's. Try Mike's Cigars, or Holt's.

Sometimes these growers work out exclusive deals with certain distributors. JR makes it a practice to not carry cigars for which the growers demand a certain price. He stopped carrying Fuentes when they were in short supply because he felt he was gouging his customers by selling cigars for double the price he felt they ought to bring.

I've been buying cigars from Lew Rothman for years, and, for my money, the best cigar on the market is his JR Ultimate Presidente, a private label brand that's as good as anything I've ever smoked. You can get a box of 20 for $70.

Names don't mean anything to me; I've smoked $1 cigars that are better than $6 cigars.

35 posted on 09/25/2002 8:57:23 AM PDT by sinkspur
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To: ConservativeDude
If there is one thing I know, its cigars. I have accumulated well over 1,000 -- my wife calls me a cigar collector, not a cigar smoker. Eh, we all have our vices....
36 posted on 09/25/2002 8:57:55 AM PDT by ContemptofCourt
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To: yankeedame
Ashtons are nice.

He might want to go with mild to middle of the road if he's handing them out to non smokers or novice smokers.

37 posted on 09/25/2002 8:58:38 AM PDT by Eagle Eye
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To: yankeedame
Lots of suggestions for cigars so far. Whatever you buy,
be sure to invest in a humidor to keep them in.
38 posted on 09/25/2002 8:58:39 AM PDT by redhawk
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To: ContemptofCourt
And let me guess....do you have a cigar room? If so, please describe so the rest of us can envy.
39 posted on 09/25/2002 8:59:29 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: ContemptofCourt
Great idea!
40 posted on 09/25/2002 9:00:24 AM PDT by Eagle Eye
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