One SERIOUS Party!!!

[cdowden3691]

I wanted to start a new post that details what was being touted as the Cigar Herf of the Year... Especially since I am more than certain that the 30 or more CL members that attended will want to share their stories, photo's and experiences of this magnificant party.

First, in the era of baseball and steriods (uh, performance enhancing drugs), I can point to a direct correlation to this herf. If there was a chance that Ron (Serious Cigars Owner) is taking steriods to improve the performance of this HERF, then he's guilty as charged simply due to the evidence (LOL, seriously, I know Ron isn't on steriods). However, this was one SERIOUSLY PERFORMANCE ENHANCED HERF (pun intended!).

Anytime a BOTL can pull off a HERF where 500+ BOTL/SOTL were fed a killer meal highlihted with a main course of smoking hot prime rib, delicious shrimp cocktail and boiled shrimp along with an open bar for all to enjoy, you've done something special. Then give back to your customers a selection of several thousand dollars worth of premium gifts, well, in my opinion, that herf elevates to the stratospheric category of "BEST ALL TIME HERF". If Cigar Aficionado has the BIG SMOKE in Vegas, then I think Ron should consider renaming this event "LITTLE SMOKE, BIG SMOKE PART II, HERFAMANIA, or maybe MOAH (Mother of all HERF's), cuz it's the BOMB when it comes to HERF's, period. The problem that we all deal with is, Ron and his family keep pulling it off year after year after year. So, my first THANK YOU goes out to Ron, his wife and the team at Serious for putting together the HERF OF ALL HERFS. Of course, as a home grown Houstonian, we know this can only happen in Texas, where everything is BIG!!!

I personally can't forget to offer a HUGE THANK YOU to CAO for being the title sponsor of the event. Tom Ozgener, President of CAO, Frank, National Sales Director, and our very own Bigfoot, Brian (our favorite CL BOTL), were out in force sharing the love of smoking the world's best hand rolled premium cigars. The Flavourettes were also on hand which always improves the performance of any herf (if you get my drift).

Some personal highlights...

1) Tim Ozgener (President of CAO) is a personal favorite BOTL for me. Tim is a wonderful individual who I met for the first time at the Big Smoke in November 2007. Tim is a walking encyclopedia for smoking the worlds best hand rolled cigars and of course shares his intimate knowledge of the CAO cigar family of stogies with anyone who wants to listen. Part of being a BOTL is PASSION for this industry and the personal experience cigars bring to one's life. Passion is a word I would use to define Tim. I appreciate and value the time I was able to spend with Tim last night and look forward to taking him up on visiting his place in Nashville. Maybe I can get that done in 2008!

2) Another personal favorite moment was when the attending members of CL presented Tim Ozgener a Stetson Style Cowboy Hat that had CIGAR LIVE written on the front of it along with all the attending members personally signed CL User ID's (for lack of a better term (cdowden3691, vegasgirl, tx_tuff, stogie for example). I'm sure when pic's are posted, it will give you an idea of what the hat looked like. The cool thing was Tim wore it the rest of the night after it was presented to him. Tim personally told me, thanks for the hat, especially since it was helping keep his head warm (LOL). I would like to thank Ron (owner of serious cigars) for allowing and participating in presenting this gift to Tim. It was done in such a visible way (inside the store with alot of cheering and photo op's for all), it was quite a cool gesture on Ron's part and I think Tim liked it as well.

3) I know I'm going to leave some out, especially since there were more than 30 CL members at this herf, but it was great to see the CL BOTL/SOTL out in such force (great herf's will do that you know) and having such a great time. The pic's will show the evidence, but if I can recall a few that I saw having a great time last night: Frank (Tx_Tuff) and Tiffany (VegasGirl), Daniel (Stogie), Bo (What's a Sysrock?), Abel and Lisa (The incognito's), John (Nicholosi), Jeff (Rowdymon), Johnathan (Jonjonmacky), dHUTCH (David), aljrka (Albert), (Sam and Martha (Samsgrl2, Mike (mphillip), Troy (boomerd35) and Rhonda (patefengreen), Darrin (SmokingHandsomeDude) and his wife (Darrin's Godiva), Brian (Bigfoot), Joe and Jen (can't remember CL id's... Like I said, I know I missed a few, so I apologize if I didn't get your name on the list. What a great time we had...

4) Anytime you can get a Cigar Manufacturer representative to state that they travel around the country 150+ days a year and have "never seen nor experienced a herf like this", then you've accomplished something very special." However, "something special" define's Ron, his wife, Courtney, and the others that make SERIOUS CIGARS what it is.

5) CAO gave away a special gift which was a leather carrying case and inside was a 50 count of the CAO Escaparate Series (From the CAO VAULT), which are not available on the open market (I don't believe). So, it was a very nice touch by Tim, Frank, Brian and the CAO family.

6) Speaking of GIFTS, I think some CL members made away with some SERIOUS stash. I think Troy took home a SERIOUS CAO HUMIDOR. It looked like about the size of my old fridge that I had in my dorm years and years ago. It was an awesome humidor and one Troy will likely enjoy for years to come. I made out with a Magaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker. It looks awesome. However, the individual who made out with the most is one couple that purchased 11 boxes of cigars (Holy Cow), their table was full of cool stuff!

6a) I bought myself a gift. My very own personalized CAO Brazilia versus Italia Humidor. I like it alot and it looks nice where I put it for now!


7) I was cool to see so many friends that I invited show up as this was their first herf. Some left before I did, but I can't wait to catch up with them and see what they think of the party.

Last, I should not forget watching the on-duty police officer who somewhat FORGOT he was on duty and started dancing to some of the fantastic music that was provided at the herf. It was quite funny and even more funny to listen to him telling another officer and some of the folks standing around. It was quite a funny site, but typical of how the evening went, a special evening for all (even the on-duty cop's)... LOL...

Ok, that's it for now, what a wonderful time, wonderful memories, all with wonderful BOTL/SOTL. This is one event I enjoyed and didn't take a single photo at, mainly because I saw many others taking photo's, so whomever has the photo's (i.e. evidence), I can't wait to see them....

What a SERIOUSLY ALL-TIME HERF that was.... Thanks to everyone for making my experience so special...

Cliff

[Rowdymon-cl]

Cliff,

You are right bubba...I don't think I can imagine a better time with all my cigar buddies.

There are so many little moments last night that I can not even begin to point them out, so I won't even try. Laughter abounded from the three...count them 1-2-3 Cigar Live Tables with folks wandering in and out.

I walked in with the plan to purchase 2-3 boxes. That didn't happen, I ended up with 5 boxes, and a whole crap ton of free CAO merch. 25 Free Cigars of various types, A Soprano's hat, CAO 'O' Ashtray, CAO Cubist Ashtray, The CAO Poker Backpack and the cX2 Humi, which btw...is frickin Awesome. Then I had to pick up a Cigar Oasis Ultra to keep it on par...

All in all I spent way too damned much money...but I will make more.

Tekhnu filled a void in my life I've been wanting to try...Comacho Scorpion, we did a good trade and I think we both walked away happy.

I'll be taking some pics in a bit, after my girl finishes up the omletes...

So to all the friends I reconnected with last night, and the new ones I made, Ron and the Serious Cigar Bunch, and the whole CAO Team...it's one of the best nights I've had in a long long time...

[Bigfoot]

Cliff,
Let me say that Myself, Frank and Tim Ozgener have never hosted a party of that size. It was truely an honor for us to be there and be a part of the biggest event that CAO has EVER been a part of.

Its BOTL/SOTL's like everyone on this website that make my job the best job in the world. I thank everyone who showed up to show there support in person or on the web...This was truly a Party/herf for the ages.

Bigfoot

[GotaCohiba-cl]

Sounds like a great time was had by all, I haven't had the chance to enjoy a herf of those proportions yet. Glad to see so many CL members getting together.

[Rowdymon-cl]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot

Cliff,
Let me say that Myself, Frank and Tim Ozgener have never hosted a party of that size. It was truely an honor for us to be there and be a part of the biggest event that CAO has EVER been a part of.

Its BOTL/SOTL's like everyone on this website that make my job the best job in the world. I thank everyone who showed up to show there support in person or on the web...This was truly a Party/herf for the ages.

Bigfoot

Hell man...

If y'all never have done a party of that size...I'ld love to see what y'all do with more experience under your belt...

[dHUTCH]

I had a blast even though I was tired as hell and hurting.........superb shindig Brian!

[mjohnsoniii]

HOW DO I KEEP MISSING THESE!?!?!?! anyway, sounds like you guys had an awesome time. good stuff!

[jitzy]

Man oh man I wish I could have been there it sounds like it was a blast

[Stogie]

It was really great to get to meet some of the members that I had not met before. One thing that the new members share with the current members is that they all love to hang out with each other. Last night was simply a blast and I could not ask to be around better people. Our members went crazy buying up boxes. I picked up a box of Brazilia for the Military Napalm that Rowdyman is working on with some of the other members.

It was simply a great party! It was great to see everyone having fun and smoking some great cigars. My favorite of the night was the CAO Escaparate Series Colombia. This cigar was so amazing that I nubbed it until my lips started burning. I think if they every release the cigar it will have to come with a toothpick so that you can finish the cigar off right down to the last piece. I still have to smoke the other special cigar that CAO brought which is the CAO Escaparate Series Criollo Maduro.

On to the cool stuff, Cliff had a great idea to present Tim Ozgener with a Stetson cowboy hat and all the CigarLive.com members signed it. Tim did a great impression of Borat with the cowboy hat on. Tim wore it the rest of the night and he looked like a Texan. It was a treat for me to get to talk with Tim Ozgener for some time. I asked him to please put the Colombia into production so I can get a box.

The music was blasting great tunes and let me tell you "It Got Serious at Serious Cigars". Ron throws this customer appreciation party for the people that support him throughout the year and it was simply remarkable in every way. Open bar made for people dancing and letting loose. The buffet was something out of this world. I actually heard that Ron's wife cooks everything. Prime Rib, giant shrimp, and great sides were unlimited and people ate until they could not eat anymore. Most of all I would like to thank Ron for having this party. You throw a Serious Party Ron!

[Scoop]

That's it, I'm moving to Houston!

[Rowdymon-cl]

Originally Posted by Scoop

That's it, I'm moving to Houston!

Come on down, the waters just fine...

[aljrka]

HOLY S**T!!

Those words alone describe the awesome party put on by the people of Serious Cigars. It was so wonderful to meet with other board members of this great forum and finally put a face to their usernames/avatars. I showed up alone but was quickly welcomed as if folks knew me for quite a while. I must say that I've been to the CA Big Smoke and this party by far is the best yet. The atmosphere at last night's party is a total 360 degrees from the Big Smoke experience. More friendly, but then again we are Texans. At one point I noticed so many folks smoking in the white tent that I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to see to the other side of the tent. The food was phenomenal, the smokes outstanding, and the conversation never ending. Thanks to everyone I met and hope to see you soon.

[Ceedee]

WOW! Truly an event for the ages! I dunno, but I think that Ron and Serious have set the bar SO high, that this party will be hard to EVER beat. I am beyond jealous of all you CL Texans! ibble: Thanks Cliff for telling us all about it!

CD

[Phil_Tha_Agony]

I had a blast at the party. I got to meet a few of you on the board and learned a lot from the cigar reps. The party was first class, simply amazing. Can't wait until next year.

[OpusX-cl]

I had a blast!

Because of this party, I found this place!