Discussion about "The Slope" - An Introspective

[Rev2010]

Hiya guys. I would like to get your feedback on "the slope", meaning of course the large collections of cigars some fellow botl's acquire. I see many here with extraordinarily large collections of cigars with large humidors packed to the brim thus requiring a new large humi I'm not making any judgements in any way, I would just like to see some feedback from all of you on the slope - ie. what drives it, it's implications, your personal boundaries, etc.

For example, I too started with a small 25-50 count humi only smoking cigars on the weekend. Of course, as with almost all of us, that changed and I now smoke during the week as well but not every day. I generally smoke about 4 out of 7 days a week. Two of those four days it's only one cigar. On Saturday's and Sunday's however, if the weather is good, I will have two each of those days. So I have about 6 a week.

Now, I recently purchased a 300 count humi and the reason was simple... I had finally found more cigars that wow'd me enough to want to buy boxes. Why buy boxes? Well for one, singles are extremely pricey, often double the price! So I was looking to get a lot more for my money. Also, a lot of times you can only buy boxes, rather than the convenient 5 pack. So, now with a few cigars I love under my belt it only made sense.

I know everyone always says buy as large as you possibly can. To me, a 300 count seems reasonable as buying a box of 4 of my favorites would only be about 100 stogies, and so far there are only two cigars I want a box each of. I've gone through very many brands already and at this point I feel my experimenting phase is slowing down. I will always try new ones of course, but not as manically as I have been. So as a result my current holding threshold is this new 300 count. The reason is also a financial one as I don't want to start spending thousands buying dozens of boxes plus a large humi to store them all. If or when I ever decide to expand beyond that I was thinking of making my own humi from scratch anyhow.

But, what is your limit? I see some people with thousands of cigars and multiple large humi's. Often so many cigars that they have a few years supply of stogies yet still buying more. So, my question is why? Is it for the fun in the hobby? Is it a shopping addiction? What are your limits? Has it affected you or your life, good or bad?

I'm looking to have a logical and informative discussion on this. As I mentioned, this post is NOT meant to be judgemental so please let's keep it civil


Rev.

[JCK]

Took me 2 years to settle down on my purchasing frenzy.. now I'm limited to a small binge of a few boxes every few months or so. I'm working with a 150ct desktop, a Montegue Cabinet, and a small cooler for overflow that's nearly empty right now.

[supdog]

For me it's about variety. With a larger selection it's easier to pick the right stogie to fit the occasion (what ever that may be).Plus, you know that feeling you when you walk into the cigar store and see all those boxes of cigars to choose from? Now imagine that same feeling when you are opening your humi! It's also about searching for that perfect cigar, the one that makes you say "Damn, why do I bother smoking anything else?".

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by Rev2010

So, my question is why? You never know when a particular cigar you love may be discontinued and simply not available anymore.

Is it for the fun in the hobby? Yes, and for my own twisted peace of mind.

Is it a shopping addiction? Partly, as I tell people that you don't get addicted to cigars but you do get addicted to buying them. But also the above answers.

What are your limits? I have no limits except when it comes to "special limited editions".

Has it affected you or your life, good or bad? Yes. I have gotten to meet and share cigars with some of the greatest people on Earth and have become good friends with them and with alot I have never met in person, yet trust implicitly.

Answers above. Currently have 2 full 500 counts, one full 150 count, 4 full 25 count desktops and 2 full 77 qt. coolers and just about ready to get another. But that is just a drop in the bucket compared to many folks.

[d_day]

I've got three humis, all full. Well, they aren't all full, but when the box I ordered arrives later this week they will be. All tolled, I've got about 600 sticks right now. The buying usually happens when I run out of my favorites, when something hard to get becomes available, or when I find a deal too good to pass up. For instance, there was a Gene Arganese event at the local B&M last week. I picked up two boxes becuase they were great smokes and they were going for about 2/3 of normal retail.

[jjirons69]

Originally Posted by khubli

Took me 2 years to settle down on my purchasing frenzy.. now I'm limited to a small binge of a few boxes every few months or so. I'm working with a 150ct desktop, a Montegue Cabinet, and a small cooler for overflow that's nearly empty right now.

Well, Ji, time to get to shopping!!!

The economy and my two little ones in church school have me strapped right now. When I get to see daylight again, I'll do something nice for myself!

[csbrewfisher]

I started seriously collecting cigars in about July of this year. I now have about 350 resting in a desktop humi and a coolerdor. All of my purchases have been 5-packs or samplers because I'm still in the experimental phase. I also acquire new brands through passes, PIFs, herfs and bombs. I've found a few that I really like, and my palate has certainly changed in this short amount of time. My budget has now reached critical red, and not only for cigars, so I'm not spending for awhile. Besides, the coolerdor is now out of space, so I have plenty of smokes to enjoy and share, so I'm not concerned.

As far as the slope is concerned, I'm sort of obsessive. I love to research, learn, experiment and practice whatever I become interested in, so cigars was no different. You should see my guitar collection and gear.

When I manage to smoke or gift down my current selection, I'll probably start buying select boxes, mostly Nicaraguans and mostly Pepins.

[linty]

it's crazy, i started with 3 cigars, but now i have like 42 of them. I'm thinking of getting a coolidor already... but boy... like per cigar they aren't too bad, but when you start toiting boxes wow. I'm broke as it is! there was an offer here for a.fuentes (the s. lonsdales) for 62$ and as much as I wanted to, couldn't due to lack of space on the ole credit card. I find it very very easy to loose track... I wonder if there are any sad stories of people being consumed.

[RicoPuro]

I think you have a point. I started out with 3-4 cigars in a traveldoor about 6 years ago. I now have a large cabinet humidor with about 400 sticks and I am purchasing new material 2-3 days a week. In part, purchases are due to curiosity for trying new cigars, a hoarding trend when it comes to my favorite smokes and the priceless availability of a variety of smokes to choose from. Finally, everyone know a large cabinet humidor looks plain stupid half-empty

Jorge

[Rev2010]

Originally Posted by csbrewfisher

IAs far as the slope is concerned, I'm sort of obsessive. I love to research, learn, experiment and practice whatever I become interested in, so cigars was no different. You should see my guitar collection and gear.

Ha, then you and I are very alike!! I do that too with everything I get into. I'm what's called an autodidact:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/autodidact

I love to learn and love doing my own researcha and reading up on things I get interested in. I also did this with my astronomy hobby and a few other things. And actually, I'm a musician too! And yep, you should see my space as well I have a 7 string guitar, 5 string bass, Roland V-Drum kit, Mackie mixer, a few hardware synthesizers, software synths, computer for recording, effect units, other instruments etc etc etc. You know the deal


Rev.

[Ashcan Bill]

Originally Posted by Rev2010

But, what is your limit? I see some people with thousands of cigars and multiple large humi's. Often so many cigars that they have a few years supply of stogies yet still buying more. So, my question is why? Is it for the fun in the hobby? Is it a shopping addiction? What are your limits? Has it affected you or your life, good or bad?

I don't have an exact count of how many cigars I have, but I suppose I could smoke at least a few years into the future without worrying about buying anything.

Why? I just tend to stock up on things. I bought ammunition cheap and stacked it deep way back before the price doubled. I shop at Costco and buy food and what not in quantity, and let our storage capacity act as a natural constraint. You should have seen the tools I'd accumulated over the years before finally cleaning out the garage - I made three separate family members pretty happy. Cigars are no different. Just a part of my nature.

Now, I see several advantages in having an accumulation of cigars, in addition to the enjoyment I get from the hobby itself.

First, cigars tend to smoke better (in my opinion) with a little age on them. It's easier for me to buy the ones I like now and age them myself than to search for them later and hope I can find what I what. I'm talking years - not decades. I'm not a vintage smoker by any stretch.

Second, I think they're been fairly inexpensive up to now, and I much prefer to buy cheap. A year from now I suspect we'll be paying a bit more for tobacco. Time will tell if I'm right or wrong.

Third, I like to have a selection to choose from. I have at least a dozen cigars I like to rotate and smoke on a regular basis, and many more I throw into the mix when the mood strikes. Having a collection/accumulation allows me to do this.

As far as limits, I'm pretty much there. My cabinet is full. The only purchases I make now are replacements, or sale items I just can't turn away from. Even then I have to be selective as I really don't want to buy anything else I can't get in the cabinet, and we're really talking shoehorn time now.

One thing I'll add is this - I've smoked a long time. Longer than a good many on this board have been alive. Pipes. Cigs. Cigars. (Cigars only now). The point is I know my tastes. I know what I like. I can buy in quantity and be pretty certain I'm not going to be stuck with a bunch of stuff I don't like further down the road. That's a critical point, and one that newer smokers especially would be wise to consider. I can't stress that enough. What you like in the begining probably won't be the same things you like later on.

[Rev2010]

Originally Posted by RicoPuro

In part, purchases are due to curiosity for trying new cigars, a hoarding trend when it comes to my favorite smokes and the priceless availability of a variety of smokes to choose from.

I think what's been keeping me relatively in check is that I generally won't buy even a 5 pack of a cigar I've never tried before, unless it's good brand and seriously cheap. So up till now I've been buying singles. I found two cigars so far that I have to have boxes of. Outside of that there are many I really like a lot to buy again but not a full box worth. For example, I really like St. Luis Rey Serie G Maduro... a real lot. However, I really don't want to have more than 10 at a time taking space in my humi. Ultimately, I'd be happiest with 5 packs of them at a time. This way I don't have to drop so much money upfront and have them take a good portion of space in my humi. With a 5 pack I have space for others and it's easy and affordable to restock. Only problem is... I can't find them in 5 or 10 packs anywhere yet! Still working on that dillema.



Rev.

[Snake Hips]

I've set up a personal limit as well. I've got my 300-count desktop and a Vinotemp in the works. That's as far as I'm taking it though. The desktop I've got to hold the random-ass assortment that I've accumulated through the experimental stage, and the Vino is to hold the boxes of cigars I deem worthy of a box purchase, which isn't a whole lot. Unless I end up really getting into the Cuban scene where boxes and cabinets are about the only way to go, but the Vino holds quite a bit. I don't want my entire supply of disposable income absorbed into this one hobby. Once I begin establishing my tastes and favorites, my spending will slow way down because I'll move into box and 5-er purchases which take time to smoke through, even at ~2 cigars a day.

[RicoPuro]

Originally Posted by Rev2010

I think what's been keeping me relatively in check is that I generally won't buy even a 5 pack of a cigar I've never tried before, unless it's good brand and seriously cheap. So up till now I've been buying singles. I found two cigars so far that I have to have boxes of. Outside of that there are many I really like a lot to buy again but not a full box worth. For example, I really like St. Luis Rey Serie G Maduro... a real lot. However, I really don't want to have more than 10 at a time taking space in my humi. Ultimately, I'd be happiest with 5 packs of them at a time. This way I don't have to drop so much money upfront and have them take a good portion of space in my humi. With a 5 pack I have space for others and it's easy and affordable to restock. Only problem is... I can't find them in 5 or 10 packs anywhere yet! Still working on that dillema.





Rev.

I'm pretty sure JR carries them in 5-pack SLR (I just bought some this past month at their store in Manhattan). Although I'm not sure about the series G...

[madurolover]

I have decided that I am going to have a limit also. When I have no room to put another cooler I will suspend purchasing. I think part of my deal is that I like collecting. I collect change, cigar bands, cigars and pretty much anything else.