Building a stash without breaking the bank?

[StogieNinja]

Don't try to build your stash. That'll happen on its own. Focus on singles. Take notes on the ones you enjoy - what wrapper, what kind of filler, who blended it, etc. Then buy several singles with similar characteristics. This will help you really figure out what you like.

The best advice I ever got was buy a single. If you liked it, buy a fiver. If you still like it, buy another fiver. Only then if you stil think its box worthy, should you buy a full box. As time goes on, your palate will change, develop, and you'll find what you once thought was boxworthy, you now never reach for.

I smoke about the same frequency as you, a couple times a week. I've been smoking for three years now, and have about 350 cigars. Of those, about a third I love, about a third bought just to build my stash and now that I've tried I'm pretty ambivalent about them, and about a third I bought because they were raved about and inexpensive, but I still haven't found time to even try. Which means I have about 200+ cigars I either don't care about, or haven't ever tried!

Because I only smoke twice a week, I really don't have a reason to build a stash to begin with! With 350 cigars, I could smoke for 3-4 years without running through my stash. That's excessive! Most NCs only need about 6 months to a year, some maybe up to two to peak. If I were a running a business, any analyst would say I'm carrying double the inventory I need to make sense. And that second half of the inventory? Yeah, based on the numbers, those could all be ones I don't like, or haven't gotten to try yet. I could have that money in the bank, or be putting it towards aging cigars I know I love.

So don't worry about building your stash. Concentrate on identifying what you like in a cigar and sampling. Right now, even if your stash is only 50 cigars, thats 6 months of smoking. No reason to build the stash to a high volume yet. You can build your stash later. Focus on sampling and tasting right now.

 

[sean]

...and what is the market place.

Keep posting, grasshopper. It will become available to you after you hit the post & time thresholds.

 

[mgravito]

Don't try to build your stash. That'll happen on its own. Focus on singles. Take notes on the ones you enjoy - what wrapper, what kind of filler, who blended it, etc. Then buy several singles with similar characteristics. This will help you really figure out what you like.

The best advice I ever got was buy a single. If you liked it, buy a fiver. If you still like it, buy another fiver. Only then if you stil think its box worthy, should you buy a full box. As time goes on, your palate will change, develop, and you'll find what you once thought was boxworthy, you now never reach for.

I smoke about the same frequency as you, a couple times a week. I've been smoking for three years now, and have about 350 cigars. Of those, about a third I love, about a third bought just to build my stash and now that I've tried I'm pretty ambivalent about them, and about a third I bought because they were raved about and inexpensive, but I still haven't found time to even try. Which means I have about 200+ cigars I either don't care about, or haven't ever tried!

Because I only smoke twice a week, I really don't have a reason to build a stash to begin with! With 350 cigars, I could smoke for 3-4 years without running through my stash. That's excessive! Most NCs only need about 6 months to a year, some maybe up to two to peak. If I were a running a business, any analyst would say I'm carrying double the inventory I need to make sense. And that second half of the inventory? Yeah, based on the numbers, those could all be ones I don't like, or haven't gotten to try yet. I could have that money in the bank, or be putting it towards aging cigars I know I love.

So don't worry about building your stash. Concentrate on identifying what you like in a cigar and sampling. Right now, even if your stash is only 50 cigars, thats 6 months of smoking. No reason to build the stash to a high volume yet. You can build your stash later. Focus on sampling and tasting right now.

I could not agree anymore with the post. Just recently I started making box purchases and that's because of YEARS of buying singles or doubles (with 5 packs here or there from cbid, famous, cigint) I started to really narrow down what I was looking for in a cigar. I finally settled on a few cigars I felt totally comfortable dropping one or 2 hundred dollars on. Also it took me that long just to "catch up" to so many highly regarded cigars and get to the point that I was sampling the new stuff.

When I finally decided to buy a box (or a few) I settled on looking for something that was a great value for the price and something that could age well and be phenomenal down line (especially since smoking just a few times a week will allow you to leave it the f alone). I went for a box of AF 858 Sun Growns and Oliva Vs, but I'm sure the guys here will give you a million other choices too.

 

[mwlabel]

People be coppin' my PLP style.
:thumbsup:

Hasan may have something to say about that

Shhhhhhhh. Nobody needs to know that.

 

[Clint]

4 words....
Smoke what you like.
I am trying harder to smoke what I like, and not what's hyped or favorably over-reviewed.
It's not easy, but it's simple and makes sense, and saves a lot of $$$$$.

 

[Capttrips]

I have a rather large collection of cigars, around 4200. I suggest sticking to limited editions and regional releases. Forget the stuff you can get at any B&M anyday. Check out some of the small boutique blends (El Sol, My Cuban Wheel, Dignity). Be diverse in blend and flavor profile. I'm not a big proponent of trading. I prefer to know that my cigars have been stored properly and most of the online dealers do so. Also, read reviews on the various sites. When your dealing in LE and RR you don't have the luxury to buy one and come back and buy a box later so you have to rely on some of the most trusted BOTL to help out. Just one guys humble opinion.

 

[UtahRootBeer]

Well one way that i found to help get a stash is by getting blindsided by a Hiroshima sized bomb. here is the crater left in my front room by javajunkie.

 

[MoJo]

lol, I like how he wrapped them in bows

 

[mwlabel]

4 words....
Smoke what you like.
I am trying harder to smoke what I like, and not what's hyped or favorably over-reviewed.
It's not easy, but it's simple and makes sense, and saves a lot of $$$$$.

This!

I've realized my tastes don't align with a lot of peoples. My favorite cigar of '12 was easily the Elogio Habano Corona Extra. It's my next box (or two) purchase. Other people like the really spicy, powerful smokes - which is great for them. But, when I made purchases based off others' review, suggestions, and preferences.... well, I have a lot of smokes in my humidor I'm going to smoke simply because I paid money for them.

 

[bugbear]

4 words....
Smoke what you like.
I am trying harder to smoke what I like, and not what's hyped or favorably over-reviewed.
It's not easy, but it's simple and makes sense, and saves a lot of $$$$$.

This!

I've realized my tastes don't align with a lot of peoples. My favorite cigar of '12 was easily the Elogio Habano Corona Extra. It's my next box (or two) purchase. Other people like the really spicy, powerful smokes - which is great for them. But, when I made purchases based off others' review, suggestions, and preferences.... well, I have a lot of smokes in my humidor I'm going to smoke simply because I paid money for them.

The Elogio Habano is a def fav I discovered in 2012 - Robusto is also fantastic

 

[Agentskull]

I am not on a budget yet, but if I am not careful the woman will put me on one. So i just pick random samplers to develop my tastes. Once I determine what I like I will most likely just buy that. I am not going to buy boxes of the newest cigars just because they have pretty words written about them. Not saying I won't try them. But it will most likely be a five pack if I can.

 

[Stillinger]

There are plenty of affordable smokes you can get on a budget. Most have a quality taste to them, and you'll probably get more out of them in the long run.

It's hard because lots of people want the flashy cigars, but there more than enough decent smokes you can acquire that won't cause you to have to donate sperm or sell a kidney.

Just be practical, load up when there are deals, and if you've got to have the specials, wait until you can afford the expense.

 

[jpasser4]

As a newbie myself I must say that this thread has been wonderful. Thanks for the help!!

 

[Capttrips]

What I do now is build lines. I no longer buy regular release cigars. I can get those any day of the week at my B&M. Yesterday I went to this great place in Jessup, MD. This was a 2%ers wet dream. They had things I either wasn't able to find or find at a reasonable price. I bought the following:
boxes of Tatuaje La Casita Criolla HCB, San Lotano Oval, illusione HL Nat, illusione HL Candela, EH Vidas (a must try), Tat Cazadores, Tatuaje Cazadore Especiales, Don Carlos Annivesarios, tatuaje Havana VI Verocu #5 . Also picked up singles of the Obsidian, illusione Ulta no. 1&9, illusione Epernays, and Curvaris. Hell no it wasn't cheap, but now I've filled in large gaps in my Tatuaje and Illusione collection. I've been looking for HL Candelas forever. I hate the word cheap. There are alot of good cigars out there that will stand the test of time in your humidor. Tatuaje, some Ligas, Illusione, etc. I didn't see where you posted how long you've been smoking but I wouldn't go nuts until your palate develops. Buy one or two sticks and smoke them months apart because what you like now is not going to be what you like 6 months from now. I speak from experience. I bought stuff when I first started that I smoke now and think what the hell was I thinking.
These are my suggestions:
Undercrown
Any of the Tatuaje Cojunos
Le Bijou Petite Robust
Oliva V
CAO Brazilia
Padron XXXX line
I could go on and on but those pop into my head.

 

[JHewey]

What I do now is build lines. I no longer buy regular release cigars. I can get those any day of the week at my B&M. Yesterday I went to this great place in Jessup, MD. This was a 2%ers wet dream. They had things I either wasn't able to find or find at a reasonable price. I bought the following:
boxes of Tatuaje La Casita Criolla HCB, San Lotano Oval, illusione HL Nat, illusione HL Candela, EH Vidas (a must try), Tat Cazadores, Tatuaje Cazadore Especiales, Don Carlos Annivesarios, tatuaje Havana VI Verocu #5 . Also picked up singles of the Obsidian, illusione Ulta no. 1&9, illusione Epernays, and Curvaris. Hell no it wasn't cheap, but now I've filled in large gaps in my Tatuaje and Illusione collection. I've been looking for HL Candelas forever. I hate the word cheap. There are alot of good cigars out there that will stand the test of time in your humidor. Tatuaje, some Ligas, Illusione, etc. I didn't see where you posted how long you've been smoking but I wouldn't go nuts until your palate develops. Buy one or two sticks and smoke them months apart because what you like now is not going to be what you like 6 months from now. I speak from experience. I bought stuff when I first started that I smoke now and think what the hell was I thinking.
These are my suggestions:
Undercrown
Any of the Tatuaje Cojunos
Le Bijou Petite Robust
Oliva V
CAO Brazilia
Padron XXXX line
I could go on and on but those pop into my head.

You met Rahul?

Sent from my S3 using Xparent Green Tapatalk

 

[apaniagua]

I just smoked a Nica Libre...well, that's a good budget smoke!! Hehe.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[Capttrips]

What I do now is build lines. I no longer buy regular release cigars. I can get those any day of the week at my B&M. Yesterday I went to this great place in Jessup, MD. This was a 2%ers wet dream. They had things I either wasn't able to find or find at a reasonable price. I bought the following:
boxes of Tatuaje La Casita Criolla HCB, San Lotano Oval, illusione HL Nat, illusione HL Candela, EH Vidas (a must try), Tat Cazadores, Tatuaje Cazadore Especiales, Don Carlos Annivesarios, tatuaje Havana VI Verocu #5 . Also picked up singles of the Obsidian, illusione Ulta no. 1&9, illusione Epernays, and Curvaris. Hell no it wasn't cheap, but now I've filled in large gaps in my Tatuaje and Illusione collection. I've been looking for HL Candelas forever. I hate the word cheap. There are alot of good cigars out there that will stand the test of time in your humidor. Tatuaje, some Ligas, Illusione, etc. I didn't see where you posted how long you've been smoking but I wouldn't go nuts until your palate develops. Buy one or two sticks and smoke them months apart because what you like now is not going to be what you like 6 months from now. I speak from experience. I bought stuff when I first started that I smoke now and think what the hell was I thinking.
These are my suggestions:
Undercrown
Any of the Tatuaje Cojunos
Le Bijou Petite Robust
Oliva V
CAO Brazilia
Padron XXXX line
I could go on and on but those pop into my head.

You met Rahul?

Sent from my S3 using Xparent Green Tapatalk

What a great guy. I'm definitely going back!

 

[UtahRootBeer]

That's where my problem is, i see all this great cigar porn but im still finding my taste and palate. I can taste the difference between a cheap Macanudo and a Padron and tell the quality and taste, but im still having a hard time picking up on the flavors and smells that i read other people talking about. So for now im only getting fivers until i find something i can smoke 10 of and still love then i will buy a box.

 

[SDShark]

Box is really the way to go. Save up and purchase a box it is or can be expensive but if you get a box you really like then every month buy a different one or be it the same by the time you finish your first box (at two a week) you should have a variety of smokes. It expensive to start a collection and for the most part get a bit cheaper (exceptions to the rule) while you smoke through your stash.

I have to agree with this. I smoke only once or twice a week as well lately. Been smoking just over year, and my stash isn't nearly where I want it to be. It just takes time.

 

[air2desk]

With the amount of Daily Deals being offered, all coming in at our around $3.00/sick, buying boxes isn't needed, at least initially. Buy 2 separate 10 packs and you will have a box amount for around $60. This way, you get to try different sticks for a decent price. Enjoy the ride, most of all.


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