Super premium peer pressure

[jabba]

my guess is sweden isn't very representative of europe... this may be a little closer...

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1783

I simply responded to your EuroDisney comment... I believe you brought up EuroDisney.

If you read the report I've linked to, all major countries in Europe are listed, not just Sweden. It's really an instructive read.

So anyway, what are you basing your assessment of consumer brand seeking in the USA vs. the EU on? Have you spent much time in Europe?

Personal observation, when visiting both the USA and Europe, that is why I clearly stated it's just my opinion.

 

[moki]

Personal observation, when visiting both the USA and Europe, that is why I clearly stated it's just my opinion.

Well, having lived here in the USA, and spent an awful lot of time in Europe, I'd have to say we agree to disagree.

 

[jabba]

I think you agree with me on the band off opinion... many people pass judgement based on the band/brand of the cigar. I think you proved this to be the case when you sent a guy on another board 10 mystery cigars to be identified. If I'm not mistaken he was rating $2 Montesinos better than $10 Cubans.

My whole point is... smoke what you like, and if you think you are gonna be judged unfairly based on what you like, take the band off and keep it a mystery.

 

[Devil Doc]

There's a big difference when a 20 something smokes a $2. cigar and when a 50 something smokes a #2 cigar. In the case of the former it's chalked up to inexperience and budget. In the case of the latter it's, "what's he know that I don't." And besides we've out grown peer pressure. :sign: So pay attention to your elders. :sign:

Doc.

 

[cabaiguan juan]

Man, this thread really took off and turned left real fast!

 

[Infinity]

There's a big difference when a 20 something smokes a $2. cigar and when a 50 something smokes a #2 cigar. In the case of the former it's chalked up to inexperience and budget. In the case of the latter it's, "what's he know that I don't." And besides we've out grown peer pressure. :sign: So pay attention to your elders. :sign:

Doc.

Never a true word said in jest!

Brian

 

[moki]

I think you agree with me on the band off opinion... many people pass judgement based on the band/brand of the cigar. I think you proved this to be the case when you sent a guy on another board 10 mystery cigars to be identified. If I'm not mistaken he was rating $2 Montesinos better than $10 Cubans.

Definitely agreed!

 

[IgwanaRob]

So, what kind of cigars do they sell in Disneyworld? ???

 

[golfgar]

As a teen, the standing joke was, "buy a sixpack of Falstaff, and you get 6 different beers".

How old of a teen were you when you were drinking? :laugh: I used to love Falstaff, when it was really cold it tasted really good especially since that was before I could legally drink it.

To some degree it is kinda the same with cigars, there are some we cannot legally obtain, therefore they become super premium in the eyes of some people. At some smoking places, (I dunno...The Ritz comes to mind) you can actually see guys looking at what you are smoking and then going to their drawer and pulling out all of their boxes of fake Cubans and looking down on those who have none. It happens. The guys who share the box with me, on the other hand, dont't care about what others think, we smoke what we feel comfortable smoking. I always remove the band anyway....let the bastards guess, after all maybe it is a bandless slb.

 

[jabba]

So, what kind of cigars do they sell in Disneyworld? ???

They use to sell Macs

 

[Swissy]

try a bunch of cigars, find the ones you like, and keep smoking them. Occasionally try something new, and either add it to your smoking list, or do not. Who gives a flying rats ass HOW much it costs... if you like it, then you like it. I could care less what anyone thought of what I'm smoking and how much it costs!

 

[NorCalCigarLover]

I only smoke the best cigars and drink the best booze .... well, the best for "my" palate

 

[insight]

I think you should smoke what you like and what you feel comfortable spending on a cigar or cigars and not worry about other peoples thoughts. At the same time no need to judge those that smoke primarly premium sticks.

Nice quote, very familiar and always true. I am a fairly new BOTL and I definitely notice lots of hype surrounding super premiums. My decisions to try them, however, have had much more to do with discovering what I like than any pressure to try expensive cigars. IMHO it actually seems there is more pressure on FOGs to smoke rare and expensive smokes than noobs.

 

[Chemyst]

I want to try the super premiums to see if I like them
much better than the premium smokes I now smoke.
It might be better to smoke a bit less, but better
cigars. The question is, 'Does price determine a
better smoke for you or me?'

Since I'm new, I'm trying as many different smokes
as I can, and already I know a few that I don't like
as much as some others. But I haven't really had
but one 'bad' cigar in the 6 months I've been smoking.

I've been telling myself that my next purchase will be
a sampler with some super premiums in it. But for
2 months, some other source of cigars comes along,
be it a wedding or cigar tasting at the local B&M.
So I haven't got that sampler yet. Definitely by
Xmas!

If you can afford the single price of a super premium,
then why not try some? I'll just have to wait for
my budget to loosen up a bit. Since smoking indoors
is banned by the State and my family, I expect my
cigar jar money will grow faster over the winter.
Should be a good spring in '07.

Chemyst

And the answer to that rhetorical question about price =
quality...

No, I don't think it's necessarily so. But it might be a
good indicator.

 

[NullSmurf]

Personally, I find it difficult to grasp the concept of collecting for the purpose of owning something rare.

As someone who does collect oddball cigars, let me explain it to you: it's not rational. It's the same as folks who collect stamps they never use to mail anything, or coins they'll never use to buy anything. Defies all logic.

Now, THAT I can understand :laugh:

 

[bubbaco]

Give in to the pressure and try an Opus, Just don't give $30 for it.

 

[Herfin Bigdog]

Don't believe the hype -- smoke what you like. Of course you can't know what you like until you've tried the gamut.

Don't buy the hype that you have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a cigar. Don't buy the hype that Cuban cigars are somehow "more complex" or otherwise categorically special.

It's all about your personal taste, something that is independent of country of origin, marketing literature, or price.

Very well said Moki!

I have often been let down when smoking an expensive cigar. They NEVER live up to the hype.

There are MANY cigars under 5 bucks that are quite good. Several good smokes can be found for under 3 bucks a cigar.

 

[stevehawk]

Don't believe the hype -- smoke what you like. Of course you can't know what you like until you've tried the gamut.

Don't buy the hype that you have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a cigar. Don't buy the hype that Cuban cigars are somehow "more complex" or otherwise categorically special.

It's all about your personal taste, something that is independent of country of origin, marketing literature, or price.

Very well said Moki!

I have often been let down when smoking an expensive cigar. They NEVER live up to the hype.

There are MANY cigars under 5 bucks that are quite good. Several good smokes can be found for under 3 bucks a cigar.

C'mon, Bryan! They never live up to the hype?! :0 Surely you've smoked one or two at some point that have met your expectations, or perhaps even exceeded them?

While I agree that there a lot of fine cigars to be had for under $5, I think it's a bit of a stretch to say that no expensive cigar ever lives up to the hype. Just my $.02...

 

[Mr Peat]

Don't believe the hype -- smoke what you like. Of course you can't know what you like until you've tried the gamut.

Don't buy the hype that you have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a cigar. Don't buy the hype that Cuban cigars are somehow "more complex" or otherwise categorically special.

It's all about your personal taste, something that is independent of country of origin, marketing literature, or price.

Very well said Moki!

I have often been let down when smoking an expensive cigar. They NEVER live up to the hype.

There are MANY cigars under 5 bucks that are quite good. Several good smokes can be found for under 3 bucks a cigar.

C'mon, Bryan! They never live up to the hype?! :0 Surely you've smoked one or two at some point that have met your expectations, or perhaps even exceeded them?

While I agree that there a lot of fine cigars to be had for under $5, I think it's a bit of a stretch to say that no expensive cigar ever lives up to the hype. Just my $.02...

I've had at least a handful plus but no more than 10 expensive cigars that dont live upto my expectation of what it should be for the price that I paid. But its by far a lesser number than the ones that have exceeded my expectation. I dont believe in hype or pressure. Only true way to know if a cigar is good or not is just to smoke the damn thing. I dont care if 1000 people all say Exhibit A is the best smoke they ever hand. Until I try it, I will never know if its good or not. My philosophy has always been about quality, not quantity. I'd rather smoke 5 nice cigars in a month than 30 crappy ones. But what do I know. :laugh:

 

[NullSmurf]

As a teen, the standing joke was, "buy a sixpack of Falstaff, and you get 6 different beers".

How old of a teen were you when you were drinking? :laugh: I used to love Falstaff, when it was really cold it tasted really good especially since that was before I could legally drink it.

<snip>

I was 16. My best friends were twins who came into their facial hair a bit early. We use to buy Falstaff for about 4 bucks a case. I can't remember whether it was good or bad, but do remember that was the mantra of most of the young adults we knew. We weren't buying for the refreshment.

There's a big difference when a 20 something smokes a $2. cigar and when a 50 something smokes a #2 cigar. In the case of the former it's chalked up to inexperience and budget. In the case of the latter it's, "what's he know that I don't." And besides we've out grown peer pressure. :sign: So pay attention to your elders. :sign:

Doc.

So true! The only flaw with that is that when I offer a gift, I try to offer my best.