Situation

[NCost]

So I have run into a situation...

I have a friend that I would consider a BOTL although he's recently fallen out of smoking much of anything lately. The last 4 times he's come over he's had his pick in my box, which is no problem because he normally enjoys them, and knows what he wants. That being said, the last four times he's smoked 1/2 to 2/3 of each stick and stopped. Closer to 1/2 of each.
Now he's picking $9+ sticks out of my selection and throwing $4.50 of that away.

He wants to come over this weekend and do some shooting and smoking. I told him we can clean up my range a bit and shoot but if he's going to smoke then he needs to bring his own or I'll make the selection out of my selection for him. He admits he hasn't enjoyed smoking lately but wanted to try another this weekend.

Am I nuts, being to picky about it? I guess I'm tired of watching him waste good cigars w/o so much as a thanks for the smoke.

What would you do?

 

[Fitze55]

If its a problem, just remove the cigars you don't want him to smoke or isolate the cigars you want him to smoke and he can choose from those.

I don't think its a major biggie. If it was a the exception and not the norm i would say he can have his pick. Since he;s only smoking half a stick I would reduce his selection to cigars you can see treated that way.

At the end of the day your still offering him a cigar, right?

 

[Craig Mac]

It is frustrating to "waste" sticks on a friend. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask him to bring his own if he is in a phase of not really enjoying stuff right now. Or worst case just give him a smaller/quicker smoke or something less expensive out of your stash. I know your a generous guy Nico, but at the same time you don't owe him the luxury of wasting your cigars.

 

[dpricenator]

 

[Soundwave13]

A gift is a gift. Let him enjoy it how he likes.

I do hear ya though - I have a good friend who chews the crap out of his cigars and often only smokes half - I had to learn how to emotionally detach myself from my gift, before I could hand him another Opus X or Tatuaje...

 

[Cornrow_Wallis]

When my buddies want to smoke I just grab 2-3-4 of whatever and we all smoke the same thing. Oliva, Diesel, etc. Something good, but not very expensive. That way I don't care when they butcher them and they don't think that I'm handing out junk and keeping the nice stuff for myself.

 

[hdroadglide]

hand him a stick of YOUR choosing and go from there.

 

[jayro75]

If your friend isn't worth $9 you really need to reevaluate your friendship. They are just cigars and my friend can take and do what he wants with whatever I have. If I can throw away a $20+ stick after less than half because it doesn't do it for me my friend sure as hell can as well.

 

[itallushrt]

hand him a stick of YOUR choosing and go from there.

Exactly! If you need to validate your selection give him the ol', "I really like these. Tell me what you think about 'em."

 

[Jfire]

I enjoy 3 dollar sticks as much as 10 dollar ones. Hand him a 3 dollar stick and if he's not enjoying it maybe cigar smoking isn't for him............

 

[orangedog]

A gift is a gift. Let him enjoy it how he likes.

If your friend isn't worth $9 you really need to reevaluate your friendship. They are just cigars and my friend can take and do what he wants with whatever I have. If I can throw away a $20+ stick after less than half because it doesn't do it for me my friend sure as hell can as well.

agree on both of these. roll with the punches.

 

[Dr. Xikar]

If your friend isn't worth $9 you really need to reevaluate your friendship. They are just cigars and my friend can take and do what he wants with whatever I have. If I can throw away a $20+ stick after less than half because it doesn't do it for me my friend sure as hell can as well.

See... No, I'm not sure about this one...

If the friend is worth the stick, but wasting it, it's still a waste. I have friends that are worth filet mignons, but they couldn't tell the difference between jerky and premium steak... So they get jerky. If they're going to enjoy both the same then it's not rude to give them the cheaper, just easier on the giver and the same to the receiver. (This is a sorta shoddy analogy, but hopefully you get the drift)

I mean, a gift is a gift, so let him do as he wishes with it... But also, why give a gift that won't be enjoyed? I wouldn't give my girlfriend a nice pocket knife, and I wouldn't give my BoTL's a nice purse. I also wouldn't give a friend who isn't in a smoking mood a luxury stick... If he's going to enjoy it, he can have the run of my humi, but if he's not going to enjoy it, why not give him a nice cheapy? I have plenty of budget sticks I like that I wouldn't be crushed to see crushed out halfway, but they are good cigars. I'd say that's the way to go. When he's back on his metaphorical cigar feet and enjoying them, load hiim up with good stuff, but until that time, let him knock around a knockaround stick.

 

[trk8]

When my buddies want to smoke I just grab 2-3-4 of whatever and we all smoke the same thing. Oliva, Diesel, etc. Something good, but not very expensive. That way I don't care when they butcher them and they don't think that I'm handing out junk and keeping the nice stuff for myself.

I'm more inclined to this my self

 

[Le Buzz]

If he goes for the tats just say "no these need more age... I'm letting them rest. Here smoke this, this is ready." Then hand him a 5 vegas.

Problem solved. Or get a tupperdor going with cheapies and hand it to him and say "take your pick."

 

[Herfin' Harg]

When my buddies want to smoke I just grab 2-3-4 of whatever and we all smoke the same thing. Oliva, Diesel, etc. Something good, but not very expensive. That way I don't care when they butcher them and they don't think that I'm handing out junk and keeping the nice stuff for myself.

Ditto.

And besides, I'm sure we all know plenty of good sticks out there in the $3-5 range. A good cigar is a good cigar regardless the price, and any friend worth keeping will be grateful for whatever you hand him.

 

[CigarSaint]

Ditto.

And besides, I'm sure we all know plenty of good sticks out there in the $3-5 range..

<---------- Brickhouse for the price is damn good! IMHO

 

[strife]

Just curious, does he ever come over with cigars and offer you one?

 

[jayro75]

See... No, I'm not sure about this one...

If the friend is worth the stick, but wasting it, it's still a waste. I have friends that are worth filet mignons, but they couldn't tell the difference between jerky and premium steak... So they get jerky. If they're going to enjoy both the same then it's not rude to give them the cheaper, just easier on the giver and the same to the receiver. (This is a sorta shoddy analogy, but hopefully you get the drift)

I mean, a gift is a gift, so let him do as he wishes with it... But also, why give a gift that won't be enjoyed? I wouldn't give my girlfriend a nice pocket knife, and I wouldn't give my BoTL's a nice purse. I also wouldn't give a friend who isn't in a smoking mood a luxury stick... If he's going to enjoy it, he can have the run of my humi, but if he's not going to enjoy it, why not give him a nice cheapy? I have plenty of budget sticks I like that I wouldn't be crushed to see crushed out halfway, but they are good cigars. I'd say that's the way to go. When he's back on his metaphorical cigar feet and enjoying them, load hiim up with good stuff, but until that time, let him knock around a knockaround stick.

Regardless they still can have their choice of what they want to try. If your wife wanted a pocket knife I bet you;d buy it for her, and if your BOTL wanted a purse you may look at him odd but you'd get it for him if that's what he was in to. Friendship isn't about giving him a cheaper stick because he won't know the difference. It's about what's mine is yours and you take what you think you'll enjoy. These are just cigars and not worth being upset over if someone puts it out.

 

[Robban]

good cigars w/o so much as a thanks for the smoke.

I wouldn't offer cigars to a friend who doesn't even say thanks, that's just ungrateful!

 

[RonC]

I dont like to waste a real good cigar on a casual smoker who does not appreciate a better cigar. So i keep a friends humidor, and dont care what they choose out of it. I also have a high end humidor that nobody goes into but me.