Giving gifts can be fraught with difficulty. The biggest question is whether the receiver will love their present or whether it will be left unappreciated in a cupboard.
Nobody wants their efforts to go to waste, so we have put together a selection of cigar gifts that will delight beginners and aficionados alike.
Sharing your love of cigars, the enjoyment and the experience of smoking might be the best gift you can give. Sampler sets, limited edition singles, humidors, gift sets with drinks or accessories are all excellent gifting choices.
There are several considerations to factor into your gift buying, including personal taste, ensuring it is appropriate to the occasion, your budget, and the recipient’s level of experience.
With any gift giving, it should be tailored to the occasion, whether that is a marriage, seasonal celebration, birthday, promotion or simply a generous gesture.
In fact, almost any occasion can be suitable for gifting cigars, but they should always be tailored to the event, as well as the person receiving the gift.
A promotion or a big win at work deserves a reward, and a cigar is the perfect one. Rocky Patel’s Conviction cigar provides a bold experience in a premium toro format that comes already gift-boxed.
Celebrate a newborn with the gift of a cigar, but make it an efficient smoke, after all, life will be busy from now on with nappy changes and feeding schedules, not to mention lack of sleep.
The Partagas Shorts cigar’s minuto format is perfect for when you’re short on time and energy but really need to chill out.
It might not be on the list, but it will be appreciated when the groom’s party are celebrating the day. Opt for a box of Coronas to share or Davidoff Cuban cigars in tubed singles as thank you gifts for the best man and ushers.
These are the bespoke gifts for the ones you love. Think not just cigars, but accessories that they don’t have yet. Perhaps a new cutter or lighter as a stocking filler?
For a main gift, perhaps the Elie Bleu desktop humidor they have been lusting after, such as the stunning cedar-lined, Blue Madrona Burl Humidor.
Staying in a friend’s home as a guest for a few weeks? Bring a box of the finest cigars, and you’ll always be welcomed back.
As a classy alternative, or addition, to the bottle of single malt, give the gift of experience with a box of Petit Coronas or Cubans.
If the person you are buying for is a complete beginner or already a cigar fan, there is something for every level of experience.
Particularly important for novices is the strength of the cigar. When they don’t know their own tastes yet, an overly strong cigar can put a beginner off.
Light to medium-bodied cigars are recommended for beginners, ideally with shorter smoke times. For example, an El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme, which combines an uncomplicated smoke with a distinctive flavour.
Beginners might also benefit from some cigar-related accessories, such as a quality cutter or punch, or perhaps a torch lighter.
For more experienced smokers, you can lean toward the stronger, darker, spicier side of taste. Full-bodied cigars will go down well with aficionados who can handle a bit more boldness. To be on the safe side for both, choose a medium-strength cigar.
Format matters when choosing a cigar; a large gauge cigar will take much longer to smoke than a petite corona. Consider how committed and experienced the receiver is to smoking.
Beginners are usually better with shorter, slimmer smokes. A toro is the most popular vitola on the market and is always a safe bet, while the more experienced aficionados might enjoy taking their time over an indulgent gordo or Churchill.
A good cigar does not have to be expensive; the range of smokes can cater to every wallet. Psychologists suggest that a gift that is thoughtful can mean far more to the receiver than a thoughtless but expensive gift.
High-quality single cigars are available for less than £20. Here are a few selections for smaller budgets.
The person who has everything, who needs or wants nothing, is often the toughest one to buy for. The aficionado in your life will have everything already, plus a deep knowledge of cigars and preferences for smokes. In other words, they are hard to impress.
Rare singles and limited editions always go down better than a misjudged box of 25 sticks. Go for a Montecristo Sublime limited edition for a smooth medium to full smoke, or for the more adventurous, the triple panatela Octo Ocho Culebra from El Pulpo.
Montecristo Sublimes Cigar (2008 Limited Edition)
A box of their favourites, if you know what that is, will always be welcomed too.
If you don’t know the recipient too well, or if the choice of options is simply too overwhelming, a sample box of cigars might do the trick.
Many manufacturers create gift boxes with a selection of formats, lengths and flavours so you can try different smokes to find out what you like. They often come elegantly paired with bottles of high-quality beverages.
If you are still stuck as to what to buy, try Havana House’s very own Cortesano Origen Toro Cigar. Whatever you decide, a well-considered gift of cigars will never go amiss.
