tigger
gutter-grade asstrash
The Cohiba Piramide EL thread that's going on in the Island of Cuba room got my mind turning earlier - especially the discussion about whether or not $27 apiece is an outrageous price to pay for a cigar.
I see strong parallels between the pursuits of smoking fine cigars, and drinking fine wines.
Both are luxury items - agricultural products far from necessary for survival, both of which can bring great enjoyment and relaxation to their consumers (or great harm if they're overused).
The best of them usually aren't consumed so much for the various drugs they contain (nicotine and alcohol respectively), as for the sensory experiences they provide.
Both benefit from aging in a controlled environment, although there are certain cigars and certain wines which some people enjoy better young.
In moderation, both can be conducive to solitary introspection, or boisterous camaraderie.
Both involve utilizing paraphernalia to one degree or another - without cutters, corkscrews, lighters and stemware none of the aforementioned enjoyment and relaxation would be possible - paraphernalia which can range from a $.59 throwaway Bic to a $700 Dupont...a 3 cent Dixiecup to a $80 Riedel glass.
In the end you're left either dumping out ashes or taking a whiz, with very little tangible left from the experience. Hopefully, though, you're smiling at the memory of good moments had.
What have you paid for these experiences? Was it Night Train or Caymus you imbibed? A fifty cent El Producto or a $150 Cuban Davidoff you pu t to the torch? Something in between? The ranges in both price and quality are tremendous.
So a $27 cigar? Have you ever dropped a C-and-a-half on a really good bottle of wine - either at a great restaurant or to celebrate a special occasion? Had a couple of glasses from a $75 bottle? If so does a $27 cigar sound that outrageous?
If the quality is there, it doesn't to me.
I see strong parallels between the pursuits of smoking fine cigars, and drinking fine wines.
Both are luxury items - agricultural products far from necessary for survival, both of which can bring great enjoyment and relaxation to their consumers (or great harm if they're overused).
The best of them usually aren't consumed so much for the various drugs they contain (nicotine and alcohol respectively), as for the sensory experiences they provide.
Both benefit from aging in a controlled environment, although there are certain cigars and certain wines which some people enjoy better young.
In moderation, both can be conducive to solitary introspection, or boisterous camaraderie.
Both involve utilizing paraphernalia to one degree or another - without cutters, corkscrews, lighters and stemware none of the aforementioned enjoyment and relaxation would be possible - paraphernalia which can range from a $.59 throwaway Bic to a $700 Dupont...a 3 cent Dixiecup to a $80 Riedel glass.
In the end you're left either dumping out ashes or taking a whiz, with very little tangible left from the experience. Hopefully, though, you're smiling at the memory of good moments had.
What have you paid for these experiences? Was it Night Train or Caymus you imbibed? A fifty cent El Producto or a $150 Cuban Davidoff you pu t to the torch? Something in between? The ranges in both price and quality are tremendous.
So a $27 cigar? Have you ever dropped a C-and-a-half on a really good bottle of wine - either at a great restaurant or to celebrate a special occasion? Had a couple of glasses from a $75 bottle? If so does a $27 cigar sound that outrageous?
If the quality is there, it doesn't to me.
