4 cigar gifts you can’t go wrong with
The art of giving.
Cigars make people enjoy life, or even better: the cigar experience. Of course, you can always impress with a very special stick as a cigar gift to celebrate a birthday, a wedding, a great deal, a nice purchase or just life itself. A long-gone vintage, new limited edition, over-the-top expensive single stick or hard-to-find stogie from Cuba is always a good idea (if you can get your hands on it), but if you’re looking for a more creative twist there’s plenty of options as well.
Cigar sampler gift
You might be aware of this, but if you’re not: most manufacturers offer soft-pouches, or humidified sampler—be it five-packs of the same cigar, mixed bags, or themed trial packs. Those cigar sampler gifts are very popular and you cannot go wrong with them. ADVentura’s Piece of Heart would be a wonderful cigar gift, because 2 SWF of every purchase are donated to a charitable cause in the Dominican Republic.
Other great cigar gifts are monthly subscriptions. A hugely popular starlet over the past years, Privada Cigar Club, Luxury Cigar Club, MyCigarPack, Standard & Twain, Stogiebird, Cigarclub.com and their peers have taken the industry by storm.
Every month subscribers will receive a different, curated selection of cigars (usually three to six individual sticks), according to a certain theme, story line, or simply the vendor’s choice. It’s a great way to discover new options you wouldn’t have purchased otherwise, keep your palate engaged and your senses alert. Cigar gifts as such also offer great value for money, especially when compared to the regular retail price of the monthly pack’s contents.
However, a subscription would also make for a delightful present. Find you preferred service and treat your family and friends.
Accessories or cigar gift set
Fancy cutter, lighter, humidors and travel cases are quintessential part of the lifestyle and complete a great cigar gift set. Whilst most people probably have an abundance of cheap promotional cigar gifts and giveaways that might do the job, every passionado should have an adequate selection of utensils that pay respect to the quality, care and attention to detail that goes into every single stick. And it’s just an entirely different sensation when you manicure your Salomones with an elegant pair of scissors before lighting it with a slim St. Dupont, Elie Bleu, or whichever brand you prefer. There’s plenty of options to curate a cigar gift set, suitable for every palate and budget.
You could even tinker around and carve your own wooden ashtray and include it in your cigar gift set. If your beloved one is all about DIY, you can also gift them with a DIY kit to season a humidor.
If you want to treat a real travel geek (there’ll be a life after—or with—Covid-19 as well), think about a sturdy option like Xikar’s cigar locker, a gorgeous HENK masterpiece like the cigar bone, or mini bone—and don’t forget to include one of their stellar cigars—or a lovely leather case. Now THAT is an awesome cigar gift set, but the sky’s the limit, even with the cigar world’s most alluring secondary matters.
Pairings
Man and woman do not live by cigars alone. Every now and then you need a proper drink and snack. Pairings are all the rave for passionados, so boost your spirits game, craft beer stash or wine cellar—a cigar is never just a cigar, but rather a holistic experience.
Depending on your bestie’s preferences, you could go for a characterful, full-bodied rum like a Flor de Cana 18, a deep and alluring Single Malt Scotch like Glenfarclas 25y old, mellow Blended Scotch à la Chivas Regal Royal Salute or a pristine and elegant Cognac from Hine.
Don’t forget a proper assortment of finger foods to build the magic triangle of sip, smoke and snack. What could be more comforting and fitting than a piece of mince pie, speculoos, fruit bread, or lebkuchen if it’s Christmas time. Oh, and since you’re already in holiday spice mood, for those steering away from the sauce, grab an exclusive tea blend, your favorite independent coffee roast, or one of the rather new spirits free drinks, aka non-alcoholic rum, gin, etc.
Swag & Co.
For the uber-creatives, there’s smoky swag to be gifted as well. Speaking of Christmas, how about some cigar dress socks? Is your guy or gal a true cigar lover? There you go! Add a bit of fun this Christmas to your wardrobe and a touch of smoke. Or a clip-on-holder that will peacefully rest your stogie on your Holiday-choice craft beer bottle?
Alternatively, get some fresh air into your beloved smoker’s living room, Ozonos is a fabulous Austrian-manufactured air purifier, that comes in different forms, shapes and designs. For us, this is the best solution out there to get rid of unwanted residual scents.
Whatever route you want to take, there’s plenty of traditional, more inspired or even over-the-top-crazy gifts waiting for you to grab.
Light em up, and happy holidays!
Reinhard
Sensory expert, cigar passionado, and host of the Light ‘em Up Lounge
