4 months into the hobby. Too soon for first box?

[FH Finster]

I also, last night, after about 6 months of life with cigars, purchased my first box. Tat 2006 Cojonu. I'd describe it as everything i've ever expected a cigar to taste like. And since it seems, these are not all that easy to come by (I prefer buying from @smallbatch and they had only one box left) I went ahead and bought myself a box to ensure they're always available for my enjoyment. Quite frankly, next time small batch gets either the noella reserva or petite cazador reserva in stock, i'll be purchasing a box of each of those for the same reasons.

I've felt strongly about the LPs in the past, but since they're always available from numerous online retailers, I'd say, why bother w/ the box. Order up a fiver when you're left w/ two sticks.

 

[Clint]

Here is a VERY good post, with sound fiscal advice on responsibility and the cigar hobby: http://www.botl.org/threads/fiscal-responsibility.23224/
Hope it helps

 

[IMABEAST]

Thank you for the link Clint. It is very helpful. I actually read that post as a lurker a few months ago when entering the cigar world, as well as revisiting now. It convinced me not use credit for cigar purchases, even though I would love to get all those chase sapphire points lol. And it is indeed a slippery slope. A budget is a must.

What I do is only buy what I can pay for in overtime. Being in the Dairy business, overtime is plentiful. For me to do a 60 hour week is fairly common. I still don't want to smoke all my expendable income though.

 

[broadleaf]

two years and i still haven't bought a box...... I guess it is a preference thing

 

[apnutter]

Just had a Undercrown CV with over a year age on it and it was more awsomer than ROTT.

 

[Whtwtrman79]

Just had a Undercrown CV with over a year age on it and it was more awsomer than ROTT.

I don't know where they peak..... But definitely tastier with time

 

[3/5King]

Just had a Undercrown CV with over a year age on it and it was more awsomer than ROTT.

I'm smoking one right now lol

 

[apnutter]

Regardless which of the three the OP chooses, if he gets bored with them they will be even better when he comes back to them.

 

[Cardinal]

I don't know where they peak..... But definitely tastier with time

Definitely. I've got about 6-8 left from a box about 18 months ago and they're awesome right now. I liked them brand new too, but after a year I think they're even better.

 

[Master Shake]

I would like to add that buying a box and having those beauties delivered to your house can be a bit of an exciting rush. Don't ride the wave and go looking for your next purchase as thats how plenty of newbies to the hobby end up with massive regrets. Buying a couple fivers is one thing but when you end up with multiple boxes that you don't care for that's how people get turned off this hobby. I've seen it with a handful of my own friends a couple times when they have a humidor full of 100 bullshit sticks that they don't want to smoke so they just sit there. Don't be that guy.

 

[IMABEAST]

That's exactly why I considered a box. No way i can let a fiver sit longer than a month. And from a pricing pov, I believe I'll go with undercrown when I make the plunge. That way I will still have room in my monthly budget for a few other options.

 

[IMABEAST]

I would like to add that buying a box and having those beauties delivered to your house can be a bit of an exciting rush. Don't ride the wave and go looking for your next purchase as thats how plenty of newbies to the hobby end up with massive regrets. Buying a couple fivers is one thing but when you end up with multiple boxes that you don't care for that's how people get turned off this hobby. I've seen it with a handful of my own friends a couple times when they have a humidor full of 100 bullshit sticks that they don't want to smoke so they just sit there. Don't be that guy.

That is definitely not in the plan lol. I don't see that happening with any of these tasty morsels...and as stated by someone earlier. I'm sure all of those are more than welcome in trades and bombs to the brothers.

 

[sean]

Skip the undercrowns. A box of the 9 or 52 is a solid choice. If you don't like them after a while then maybe you just need to mix it up a little... usually early box purchases are a bad idea, but you might be the exception to the rule.

 

[IMABEAST]

Skip the undercrowns. A box of the 9 or 52 is a solid choice. If you don't like them after a while then maybe you just need to mix it up a little... usually early box purchases are a bad idea, but you might be the exception to the rule.

I'm sure I'd enjoy all 24 or 25 of them. My birthday is in one month. I have a feeling I'll get me exactly what I want lol. I'll be pondering which one I want for the next week or two before I jump. I won't smoke any of the potentials for those two weeks. I'll enjoy my other smokes instead. And if I still feel the same way about the box...then the rest is history.

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

Does that work with all product? I once went in for a box of Liga #9's with a coupon, and was denied use of my coupon on "that" product. I ended up saving more via Cigar Auctioneer, but it was a bit disappointing.

As to the issue of box buying. I wonder about the history of cigar buying, and if buying a box was ever the norm.

I wonder because, as long as I have been smoking cigars, buying by the box was a "cigarette smokers" mentality. Every cigar smoker I knew, short of those who bought themselves huge humidors and had tons of friends, would go for a variety of 5ers over a box. Heck, a simple search of this forum would find that the majority of Brothers stating variety was the spice of life and that they would buy 5's or 10's over a 20-25 count box.

Maybe I am way off the mark here? But was buying a box ever the norm?

The coupon code should work for about 90% of everything they have on the site. Some hard to find or limited items may not get a discount but I've never had the code not work. When it comes to box purchases I am game to buy a box of a cigar that I know I like, not something I tried once and enjoyed. I would never buy a box and smoke only those cigars until they were gone. As it has already been stated, variety is the spice of life.

 

[ItsBarbarino]

I would start with two fivers, if I were you. If you already like the way a cigar smokes, aging is only going to change it. While that may be for the better, you might not like an aged Undercrown.

If it's a pricing thing, consider this: Famous (site sponsor) sells the Corona Viva for $31.99 for 5, $136.99 for a box of 25. What that means is per fiver, you're paying an additional $4.592 per 5 cigars, or $22.96 per 25 cigars. Is $22.96 worth the potential downsides listed throughout the thread, or the gains you'll get from owning a box? That's your bottom line decision, in my opinion.

My experience: I've been smoking cigars for a short year and a half. I have 2 boxes (out of 9 purchased since I started) that I have consistently smoked through and not tried to sell aftermarket because I didn't want the rest; Las Calaveras, and Tatuaje TAA 2014 (I didn't count that Tat lancero sampler because I donated it to the lance pass, or The Buckingham cause it was only 10 sticks). For me, that's 22%. My tastes have changed dramatically, and still change. At this point, the only boxes I want to buy now are sticks that I have consistently enjoyed over my year and a half; Tat PCR, and Illusione Rothschildes. And maybe the Fume D'amour Lagunas.

But I will also definitely buy the Tat TAA 2015 and LC 2015 too, cause I'm a whore like that

 

[HIM*]

Having bought boxes of LPs in the past Ive come to realize I only want 5ers at a time. I love the cigars but I enjoy them fresh. By the time I get to the last in the box they've lost some of their magic IMO.

 

[Sigaar]

I say go for it. I'm about 6 months in and have bought a handful of boxes that I liked. No regrets at all. I realize there is a bit of risk involved, i.e. my tastes could change...but so far so good!

 

[FH Finster]

Skip the undercrowns. A box of the 9 or 52 is a solid choice. If you don't like them after a while then maybe you just need to mix it up a little... usually early box purchases are a bad idea, but you might be the exception to the rule.

Second

 

[IMABEAST]

I would start with two fivers, if I were you. If you already like the way a cigar smokes, aging is only going to change it. While that may be for the better, you might not like an aged Undercrown.

If it's a pricing thing, consider this: Famous (site sponsor) sells the Corona Viva for $31.99 for 5, $136.99 for a box of 25. What that means is per fiver, you're paying an additional $4.592 per 5 cigars, or $22.96 per 25 cigars. Is $22.96 worth the potential downsides listed throughout the thread, or the gains you'll get from owning a box? That's your bottom line decision, in my opinion.

My experience: I've been smoking cigars for a short year and a half. I have 2 boxes (out of 9 purchased since I started) that I have consistently smoked through and not tried to sell aftermarket because I didn't want the rest; Las Calaveras, and Tatuaje TAA 2014 (I didn't count that Tat lancero sampler because I donated it to the lance pass, or The Buckingham cause it was only 10 sticks). For me, that's 22%. My tastes have changed dramatically, and still change. At this point, the only boxes I want to buy now are sticks that I have consistently enjoyed over my year and a half; Tat PCR, and Illusione Rothschildes. And maybe the Fume D'amour Lagunas.

But I will also definitely buy the Tat TAA 2015 and LC 2015 too, cause I'm a whore like that

Having bought boxes of LPs in the past Ive come to realize I only want 5ers at a time. I love the cigars but I enjoy them fresh. By the time I get to the last in the box they've lost some of their magic IMO.

I have heard some negative testimonials about no.9s after some aging. Buy nothing but good thinga about UC'S and T52's after a little rest. Also my intent is not to age over a long period. If it happens to happen so be it. A few months rest is fine by me. And at a stick a day. I need a decent reserve to do that.

I don't mind the 5ers of the UC's. I've actually seen some grand toros for around 26 on famous. That's very reasonable although I've only had corona vivas. I wouldn't mind giving the grand toros a spin.