Boxes or Samplers?

[BlackDog]

I've been cruising the CI website the past couple of days, and they seem to have some excellent pricing on sampler packs. Do many of you guys go this route when buying your cigars? I'm wanting to put some more cigars in my coolerdor to age, and I'm thinking of buying some more Consegueras for daily smokes, and then some sampler packs for a variety of higher grade cigars.

[Mark C]

Never bought a box, mostly just samplers and 5-packs. Too many different cigars out there to stick with one kind, I like to mix it up a bit.

Then again I do the same thing with wine, beer, liquor, etc. Rarely do I eat, drink, or smoke the same thing twice in a row (or even twice a month).

[TripleF]

Me neither Never bought a box and have really never bought off the web.

[imthegoal]

I would have to agree. I have not bought any full boxes yet,even though I am bidding on one as we speak.

[massphatness]

If you're buying from CI, I would definitely open another credit card account or three. I know that doesn't address your sampler/box dilemma, but trust me ... you're going to need the extra buying period no matter what route you take.

[elderboy02]

I buy mostly samplers and 5 packs. Once I some a cigar at least twice and I like it, then I buy a box.

[Bax]

Your tastes will change as you smoke more and different types.

I'd go with samplers for now then once you've found a few special cigars then go ahead and buy a box or 2 if you want to age them. It's really tempting to get caught up in buy box after box only to realize that you've moved past a certain one that you now have 50 of. Then you look at your cooler or vino and see all the money you could have spent on CC's

[Kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by Mark C

Never bought a box, mostly just samplers and 5-packs. Too many different cigars out there to stick with one kind, I like to mix it up a bit.

Then again I do the same thing with wine, beer, liquor, etc. Rarely do I eat, drink, or smoke the same thing twice in a row (or even twice a month).

I think I've smoked 60-70 different cigars in the past 6 months (once Top25 comes back up, I'll have a record of them again ) Out of those, I've picked 2 that will be my first full box purchases.

I think it annoys one of the guys in my local B&M who is always trying to push his great box deals on me, but I just ignore him and bring my individual sticks to the register. Most of my samplers came from cbid and other BOTLs here--CS is a great place to pick up a wide variety of samples (trades, passes, wts, if you're lucky in contests, etc.)

[ucla695]

I'd go with some sampler packs and find out what you like. Then move on to boxes if you would like to age them.

[BlackIrish]

Originally Posted by ucla695

I'd go with some sampler packs and find out what you like. Then move on to boxes if you would like to age them.

Exactly.

[mugen910]

1) Ask a local buddy if he's got one to try.
2) Go to the local B&M and pick up ONLY 1 stick that you wanted to try.
3) Buy Box online or ask one of the FOG's for the best place to buy that stick.
4) Use a few of those in the box to bomb others.

[Rolando]

Meh. I am in no hurry to try every cigar in existence. In fact, if I never do I couldn't care less. I buy sampler packs so I know what boxes to buy. The only thing I care about is what I like so top 25 lists are meaningless.

I like to try new sticks but I also like the dependability of knowing about what to expect when I put match to cigar so I can pick one based on my mood.

[mikeyj23]

I think Samplers are great until you start to get a feel for what you'll want to be smoking in 5-10 years. Then boxes come into the picture. I buy a ton of singles and fivers and do a lot of box splits, since most of what I'm getting I want to try now, and it's not worth buying 25 of an unknown quantity. The boxes I have are things that I've tried on their own and decided they'll be amazing in 5-10 years, so into the agedor they go and I try not to touch them. The only problem with samplers and singles is when you bomb someone/do a pass and end up giving away something you really wanted to try - just makes you buy more

[kayaker]

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend. Use the samplers to find what you like so that you can buy boxes. Rinse and repeat.

That's the way I'm going for the most part. I know I like MC#4 so I bought a box while in Cuba. Then I bought a sampler of robustos and some loose sticks to try out different brands.

Now I'm joining the trading list to see what other Gorillas are enjoying and will probably also order some samplers by mail.

As long as you are enjoying, that what counts.

[Hexnut]

Started w singles and samplers (still buy both) until I found what I really enjoyed and bought a box. Last box was Oliva G Series Cameroon BP Robusto. Also, you tend to be a bit more generous with friends BOTL's when you've got box. Just ask chippewastud75.