I'm not a CI Online Subscriber, but thought Jack's Blog item about gifting cigars was worth a comment or two anyway.

First off, I'm not sure what "In the meantime I had clipped mine" and "had no choice but to smoke it right away" have to do with one another. I've in the past been interrupted just as I was about to light a cigar, put it back in my humidor, and smoked it minutes, hours, days or even weeks later with no apparent deficiency.

Secondly, I would consider it in good taste to smoke a cigar I was gifted, with a few exceptions. In the case posited in the Blog, one of them applies:

Were I hosting a gathering, and been given a particularly interesting or fine cigar, I would likely have let the giver know that I was too busy and distracted to truly appreciate the gift at the time, and that I would appreciate it more later.

quote:

Originally posted by tiggerp:
Were I hosting a gathering, and been given a particularly interesting or fine cigar, I would likely have let the giver know that I was too busy and distracted to truly appreciate the gift at the time, and that I would appreciate it more later.

It is one thing to say you are too busy and had no time for smoking the gift, but it is another to pocket the gift and light up an inferior cigar! He obviously had time to smoke, just not the gift. I think that is not acceptable.

I just want to point out one possibility. First off the host was in costume at the time which included a cigar as part of that costume. While Jack's gift I am sure was nice I do not think the host was intentially ungrateful. I imagine the host was not only busy with making sure others were having a good time but I am sure he was thinking of staying in character and there for smoking the cigar he had as a prop. In other circumstances and settings it may be in bad taste to not smoke the gift with the friend who brought it, but in this case I think what the person did was natural.

quote:

Originally posted by Boknows:
It is one thing to say you are too busy and had no time for smoking the gift, but it is another to pocket the gift and light up an inferior cigar! He obviously had time to smoke, just not the gift. I think that is not acceptable.

Say Jack comes to your house for a party at your house, and lays a Dunhill Cabinetta, or '98 Cohiba Lancero on you. You're going to be running around, pouring drinks, serving appetizers, making sure everyone's happy. Wouldn't you rather smoke the AF 858 you have with you and save the gift for when you can focus on it? I would.

Again, I think it would be appropriate to let the gifter know this...

In addition, there's no accounting for people's taste - the last time I was at my future in-laws' house, my fiance's father politely declined my offer of a Siglo IV, and I politely declined his offer of a Dutch Masters Panetela. He's well educated, and quite successful, but he likes his DMs.

I wouldnt want to smoke an awesome cuban after i've smoked 3 or 4 inferior cigars. I would prefer to smoke the cuban with a fresh pallet. If the host had laid on the graciousness a little heavier and jack would have likely felt his gift was more appreciated.

If I were gifted a great cigar, I would retire outside and let everyone fend for themselves.