Holiday Gift Ideas For Your Cigar Lover

Cigar smokers are the easiest and the hardest people to buy for when it comes to your holiday shopping list. If you're unsure of what their favorite brand, strength, wrapper type, etc... buying them cigars can be worrisome business. There is always a safe alternative with accessories and even sampler packs. If you purchase them a cigar sampler, they have more than one cigar to choose from and may even have an opportunity to try a cigar that is new to them. With cigar accessories you could be overwhelmed if you are a non-smoker buying for someone who is. I have put together a small list that hopefully will help in the search for a great gift to give that special cigar lover on your list.

Humidors:

Any cigar smoker will tell you that there is no such thing as too many humidors, or a big enough humidor (unless they have a walk-in in their home). The great thing about humidors is you don't have to spend a ton of money to get one that does it's job well and is attractive. Clicking on the pictures will take you to the product on a site for purchase

The Dakkota Jet Black 120 is a very handsome box that will hold up to 120 cigars. It includes a pair of cigar scissors that attach to the lid by a magnet that is mounted inside the lid. The externally viewed hygrometer allows you to keep an eye on the humidity inside without having to open the box. The included Humidifier elements mount flush with the lid and there is a lock to keep children and unwelcome stogie snatchers out. Cigarstix.com has these for 139.00 and it is sure to please any cigar lover.

Another beautiful box is the Napoleon No.II. It features a glass top, pull out drawers, externally viewable hygrometer, and a plate that can be engraved with the recipients name. If you really wanted to customize a box like this you can use etching cream and a vinyl mask to etch a logo or name into the glass. This box is available on StogieBoys.com for 99.95 and will hold up to 150 cigars.

This is one I have to admit I have on my wish list I gave my wife for Christmas this year. This is a cool ashtray that comes with a cigar punch and guillotine cutter. It folds up for easy storage or to take with you if you go somewhere. CigarStix.com has these for 39.00 and if my wife doesn't stuff one of these in my stocking I'm going to buy one for myself.

The Stinky Jr is a great ashtray for someone who smokes alone or prefers to have their own ashtray when smoking with others. If you have seen any of my reviews, you may have noticed I have one of these myself. It has one stirrup to sit a cigar on between puffs and is a very attractive ashtray. StogieBoys has these for just under 13 bucks.

If you know a smoker that has a smoking lounge or man cave, cigar art to decorate it would make a great gift. There are many options from cigar photography to paintings. Some of the finest I have seen are by Alberto Godoy. CigarStix.com has many paintings by Godoy available on museum quality, acid free paper and on canvas. Prices vary depending on the size and medium chosen.

The Xikar MTX multi-tool, which I own and have reviewed here on the site, is one of the best cigar scissors I have found. It is one of my favorite cigar accessories and is very useful. There is a small screwdriver blade for adjusting the flame on a torch lighter, a small poker to help free up a tight draw, bottle opener, and a cigar box opener tool. The whole thing folds up for convenient pocket carry and carries a lifetime warranty. The scissor blades are EXTREMELY sharp and give a smooth cut every time. StogieBoys.com has the MTX multi-tool for about 33 bucks. If you're cigar lover doesn't have one, they would love one. 

The Football cigar is a unique cigar gift for the football and cigar lover on your list. They are available in a mild body Connecticut shade wrapper or a medium bodied Maduro wrapper. Cigarstix.com carries these and they are available as a single in it's own box or in boxes of 3. Prices range from 19.99 to 39.99 and would be a great way to celebrate your favorite team's victory.

Speaking of football, if you read my previous reviews of the Thurman Thomas cigars then this might peak your interest. StogieBoys.com has a Thurman Thomas gift set available for 65 bucks. The set includes 10 of the Thurman Thomas cigars in either Connecticut or Maduro, an engraved 10 capacity humidor, and an autographed photo of Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas himself. If you know a cigar loving football fan, especially one who is a fan of Thurman Thomas, this is a great gift idea. 

These are just a few ideas to get the ball rolling. Most cigar lovers I know follow the notion that they can never have enough cigars, cutters, lighters, humidors, or anything else cigar related. I hope this has given you some gift ideas if you were struggling.

Jose Dominguez Signature Connecticut Gordito (5x50)

I decided since the Connecticut wrapped sticks have been such a hit with me lately to keep the momentum going. Up for review is the Jose Dominguez Signature Connecticut, offered by T.L. Johnson. I picked up four of these in a sampler awhile back. The presentation on this smoke is very nice, with a simple yet elegant band and a a cedar sleeve adorned body. Upon removing the cedar sleeve I was greeted by a shiny Connecticut wrapper with minimal veins, smooth seems, and a nice oily shine. The binder is a Dominican Olor and the filler is a blend of Dominican Olor and Dominican Habano seed. The wrapper smelled of hay and the foot offered notes of hay and sweet tobacco. The body is firm to the pinch with a little give and no flaws to be found on any of the samples smoked for the review. I clipped the double cap with my Xikar MTX and found the cold draw to be perfect with notes of hay and sweet field grass. I used my handy single flame torch to get things started with no problems. The initial third opens up with notes toasted nuts and cedar. As I progressed farther into the first third notes of leather and a few floral notes emerged. The finish is long and has a creamy nuttiness. There is a fair amount of spice on the retrohale. As I start the second third there are some coffee notes that join the cedar, leather, and nut flavors. Most of the floral notes have faded as the spice calms and the smoke becomes more creamy on the palate. About half way through the second third there is a salty component that makes itself known. As I near the final third there is a note that pops in and out on occasion, I cannot place exactly what it is but it is mildly sweet. It closely resembles a guava-like flavor but is faint enough that I cannot really tell. As I go into the final third the spice makes a bit of a comeback and leaves a notable tingle on the palate. The coffee, leather, and cedar are still present and in full swing through to the end of the burn. The construction on this stick was excellent, requiring no burn corrections or re-lights and holding ash to around an inch at a time. The body remained on the medium side of mild-medium throughout the burn and the smoke was creamy and full flavor. This stick was more complex than I had originally expected, but who would complain about that? If you haven't tried this stick and you like a flavorful and mild smoke, you should give this one a shot. The price point on these is 7-9 bucks and is not very easy to find online. I can tell you though that i know cigarstix.com has them HERE. You can find more information on Jose Dominguez Signature cigars at www.tljohnsoncigars.com/jose-dominguez-cigars.shtml and can find them on twitter at http://twitter.com/JoseDguezCigars

La Zona Connecticut Robusto (5x52)

This is the final sample sent to me by Espinosa Cigars for review on the site with my "T-Shirt Tuesday" winnings. I really enjoyed the Espinosa Habano and the La Zona Habano so I looked forward to doing the review on the La Zona Connecticut. The 2 samples I received had light caramel brown wrappers with very minimal veins. They were both had an oily sheen and hard to find seems. The binder and filler are Nicaraguan tobaccos housed in a Connecticut wrapper. The body was firm to the pinch with no soft spots and very little give. I clipped the cap with my Xikar MTX and found a perfect draw with a mild sweetness. The wrapper gave the aroma of barnyard and hay, the foot offered hay and molasses. It toasted and lit up easy with a single flame pocket torch. The Initial third with toasted nut notes with a mild natural sweetness. There was a fair amount of spice to the retrohale with a nutty finish. Around an inch into the burn the spice calmed and the smoke took on a creamy texture. Going into the second third the toasted nut notes gain some depth as some woody notes emerge along with some notes of caramel. As the final third starts some leather notes join the caramel and toasted nut. Most of the sweetness has faded into the background in the final third but is still present in the background. It's no secret I usually don't pick up a Connecticut wrapped stick unless it's for a review. Lately I have found a couple I wouldn't mind keeping in the humidor for when I need a break from the stronger sticks. This one fits the bill perfectly, with enough strength and flavor to appease the seasoned cigar smoker. It is also mellow and smooth enough to allow a new cigar smoker to enjoy it as well. The La Zona Connecticut is in my top 3 Connecticut wrapped cigars. The profile was flavorful, the smoke was creamy, and the construction was superb. The ash held to around 2 inches before falling into the waiting ashtray and was not flaky at all. The burn was a bit wavy at times but always evened itself back out without me having to make any corrections. The body remained consistently on the medium side of mild-medium throughout the burn. If you are looking for a break from a stronger rotation or you're a new smoker looking for something with a little more body than the usual Connecticut wrapped stogies, I recommend giving this a try. I look forward to more good things coming from Erik's La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Thanks again to Erik Espinosa and Espinosa Cigars for providing the cigars for the reviews on the site. The price point on these is around 4.50-5.00 per stick and are even available in crates of 80. Brad at cigarstix.com has these and now offers the "make your own sampler" for those not wanting to commit to a bundle or box before trying them. You can find a link to the cigar in this review on cigarstix HERE. You can find more information on Espinosa cigars on their site at www.espinosacigars.com and find them on twitter at http://twitter.com/espinosacigars

The Michelangelo 120 Capacity humidor

I recently received one of these as a gift from my wife, who was tired of me talking about how I needed more room. She looked at "wish list" on amazon and went by the picture of one I had listed, so she didn't get it from one of my preferred shops. I seasoned it and within 24 hours it was ready to go. It is the perfect size for a desktop humidor where storage for more than 50 cigars is needed. I replaced the foam type humidifier with a xikar 250 crystal gel element and also purchased a xikar digital hygrometer. The foam elements that cam with it would be adequate until you could replace it with something better. The very light hygrometer that came with it was mostly plastic but is adjustable. The lighter hygrometer keeps it from falling off the lid like some of the metal ring units tend to do. I attached it inside of one of my 20 cap humidors when the digital unit came in for this one. The lock is always a welcomed feature for humidors in my house, due to the fact that I have a 4 year old and they resemble treasure chests. The tray is a bit more heavy duty than the trays in my 400 capacity humidor. It has a good tight seal, which is evident in dropping the lid when it is a couple of inches from being closed. You would be hard pressed to find another box of this quality for this price. I will be purchasing a couple more of these as the collection grows and the wife allows. www.cigarstix.com has these for $58.00, which is a super bargain ( product link HERE. My wife paid more for mine because she didn't want to ask me about the best place to purchase from, she didn't want to ruin the surprise. The finish on mine was flawless and the bottom is lined to prevent it from scratching any surfaces you might sit it on. Mine currently resided on top of my big humidor with the two 20 caps on top of it. I like to call it Mount Humidor :) The handles are a nice touch, as the box does have some heft to it. To me, that's just another sign of quality in an item constructed of wood. If you are in the market for a box larger than a 50 or 75 cap, or looking for a good inexpensive started box, I highly recommend these. Brad also has many other inexpensive, yet high quality boxes to choose from at cigarstix. Check out his site, good prices and just an all around great guy to deal with.

Paul Stulac Angel Brazilian Maduro (5x58)

Use coupon code SHAGGYSTULAC to receive 10% off your order of Paul Stulac Cigars at www.cigarstix.com. A Shaggy Feetz exclusive. Code is valid until 8/3/12 so get your orders in while it's still good! Thanks Brad!

I recently won a few of the Paul Stulac cigars on twitter, as they were having a giveaway once a certain number of followers was reached. They announced I was the winner of the first giveaway and I couldn't wait to get these in the humidor. I had seen them online and the band was the first thing that caught my eye. It is adorned with a crest, skulls, angels wings, a cross, and a pair of crossed scepters. I have to say this is the most bad ass, I mean business cigar band I've ever laid my eyes on. The stated ring gauge was 58 but I would honestly have to say close to 54. The cigar appears to have been lightly box pressed, which the 58 could have been the measurement before the pressing. The chocolaty Brazilian maduro wrapper had a few very small veins but was satin smooth to the touch. If there were any flaws in the wrapper I certainly didn't see them. The wrapper had a barnyard smell to it and the foot smelled of rich, sweet tobacco. I clipped the cap with scissors and removed the band at the foot, which had the size name imprinted in gold. The pre light draw was near perfect and had a slightly sweet earthy tone to it. It lit very easy after toasting with my single flame torch. The first third started out medium in body with notes of toasted nuts and a bit of spice complimenting a sweet cedar core. The finish was a bit sweet and had a nutty flavor to it. The ash was a nice light gray/white and was nice and tight. The second third brought more of the sweet cedar and as the toasted nuttiness started to fade, notes of cocoa and an occasional hint of light coffee took it's place. Somewhere around half way through the second third the smoke became more creamy and the spice kicked up a notch. The ash held to about 2.5" and actually fell as a result of me trying to scoot the band back. The body went from medium to medium-full at the midpoint of the cigar. At the midpoint the finish lost most of it's sweetness but maintained the nuttiness. Going into the final third the spice kicked up just a tad more as notes of leather and the sweet cedar dominated the profile with a hint of something resembling caramel, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. This was a very enjoyable smoke with flawless burn (zero retouches and no erratic burn at all) and excellent construction. The flavor profile was pretty complex and maintained the sweet cedar throughout which complimented the spice perfectly. I will have to add this to my normal rotation for sure as soon as space in the humidor (and the bank account and wife) allow. You can find out more about the Paul Stulac line at www.paulstulaccigars.com, you can also find them on facebook and on twitter. My friend Brad Bortz at www.cigarstix.com has given me a coupon code for my readers to use. The code is SHAGGYSTULAC and is good for 10% off your Paul Stulac Cigar purchase. Be sure to get your order in while the coupon code is valid (ends 8/3/12). Thanks again Paul Stulac Cigars for the opportunity to give these great cigars a try and to Brad Bortz for offering me and my readers this discount at your online store.

La Reina Maduro Robusto (5x50)

La Reina Cigars are a blend of Corojo and Criollo 98. Corojo offers a stronger, spicier taste. These cigars are considered Medium to Full Bodied.

 My wife was recently given the opportunity to go on a trip for work called the Master Teachers Conference. In case you were wondering, she is a teacher at the local community college. She left last Sunday morning and finally arrived back today. That left me and our 4 year old at home to have "guy time". Through the course of our time I never found a minute for a cigar as I was trying to keep his mind off his mom being gone. This is the first time, other than a 2 day stay at the hospital,  they have been separated overnight. It proved to be stressful for him so I devoted my time to keeping him preoccupied with games and fun activities after we got home from work and daycare. After she and little man retired to bed it was finally "me time". I went to the humidor to pick my night cap. I was recently sent a couple of "stix" by Brad Bortz, the owner of www.cigarstix.com, and one of those was the La Reina Maduro in robusto size. I have never tried this boutique brand before so I decided to introduce myself. The dark maduro wrapper had a few visible veins but nothing that should alter the burn. It was firm through out with no soft spots. The wrapper had slightly sweet earthy aroma to it and the foot had a sweet tobacco smell. I paired it with some cold filtered water for the best discovery of the flavor profile. The cap clipped nice and clean with my freshly sharpened scissors and the pre light draw had a same slightly sweet eathy taste as the wrappers aroma. It started out, for me, a medium body with the flavor of toasted nuts, earthy spice, and a mild sweetness in the first third. The ash was a gray color and held tight for about 2 inches at a time. The second third kicked up in body bringing it to a medium-full. The toasted nut turned to more of an oaky woodiness as the earthy spice gave way to a more peppery tone and a slight hint of cedar joined in. As I entered the final third the body was on the higher end of medium-full and the strength increased a notch. The finish went from being toasty to a more woody with the occasional hint of citrus, almost like grapefruit. The toasted nut came back in the final third and the pepper seemed to intensify just a bit. I honestly didn't expect this cigar to be as complex or a strong as it was, but it was very enjoyable and the perfect welcome back to my nightly smoking routine. The draw throughout the burn was near perfect and burn went erratic on occasion but always corrected itself while it was resting. It gained body and strength as it burned down but was never harsh or overpowering. It was a very nice balance of sweet and spicy. If you like the bold and the flavorful, this one is worth trying. Thank you again Brad for allowing me to try this brand for the first time, I will definitely have to put a few more of these in the humidor for future late night smoking enjoyment. I recommend giving these a try. They are available at cigar www.cigarstix.com along with a variety of other premium boutique brands. I believe Brad has these by the box and also available as part of a sampler pack if you wanted to give them a try before committing to a box. You can find Brad on twitter at www.twitter.com/cigarstix

cigarstix.com

If you follow my twitter feed you know I have been excited for weeks about the launch of cigarstix.com premium boutique cigar section. I was told it would be going live around noon central time today! They carry a handsome selection of affordable humidors ranging from around 15.00 for a small humidor to 189.99 for the most expensive offering. Some will argue that a inexpensive humidor will not be worth owning and more of a headache than it is worth. I beg to differ! I have a 500+ capacity that I paid less than 200 bucks for and it holds perfect humidity. They also have a nice selection of cutters, gift sets, lighters and even cigar art. I noticed the section has JUST gone live as I type this and the selection is very nice. Offering great brands such as Sosa Cigars, T.L. Johnson, Toro Y Leon, Chess Cigars and many others as well. I am already making a wish list for my next order. My wife currently has a ban on my ordering of anything cigar related but I have always found it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission, within reasonable limits of course. I have had the chance to interact with Brad Bortz on twitter and he is a super nice guy to talk with. He has even endured my constant "Is it ready yet, is it ready yet". from what I can tell this is just the selection available at launch and the selection will only continue to expand from here. It looks like a great start for sure, some of my favorite brands are present and many more I have yet to try. Now through July 4th they are offering free shipping on all boutique stix so it's a great time to get an order in! Check them out today and get yourself some premium boutique stix.

straight from cigarstix.com "about section" Find them on twitter as @cigarstix

There are many cigar sites on the web that tout offering the lowest prices available, and virtually none that use quality and taste as their main selling point. Cigar Stix is here to do just that! Yes, our prices are quite reasonable considering the high standard of cigars found on our site, but where Cigar Stix takes pride is in its hand-selection of small-batch manufacturers and the quality of products they produce.

The choices and variation of selections will meet any cigar enthusiasts tastes! Cigar Stix is about QUALITY; Cigar Stix will not offer daily "specials" to attract your business. However, I do promise to provide fantastic customer service and great choices at reasonable prices.

I do not offer any cigars on my site unless I have had the pleasure of enjoying it myself. I take your satisfaction very personally, as do my boutique cigar manufacturers. I work closely with each boutique brand owner to assure that "our" customers receive the highest quality products available.

If boutique cigars aren't your thing, Cigar Stix can provide virtually any brand of cigar, upon request.

Thank you so much for visiting. I look forward to exceeding your expectations!

Brad Bortz, Owner

I find it refreshing that Brad won't offer a stick he hasn't smoked. To me it shows a true commitment to the customer and a extra step to insure customer satisfaction.

Check out the official press release here.

Boutique Cigars vs. Premium Cigars:In your search for quality cigars, you may have come across the term “boutique cigars.” What’s the difference between Boutique Cigars and other Premium Cigars? Both types can offer a high-quality smoke. However, what defines boutique cigars is the low production numbers of these smokes. Many aficionados define these specialty cigars as smokes with an annual production of no more than 1 million sticks.

The benefit of boutique cigar production is that they allow cigar enthusiasts the opportunity to try a wider variety of smokes that are made of high-quality tobacco and are produced using a refined production process. While some smokers will only smoke certain well-known brands, a growing number of smokers are exploring their options and enjoying the process of finding truly unique cigars that come in limited editions.

Just as premium beer fans visit microbreweries and seek out the best tasting microbrews, cigar smokers refine their palate and their cigar collections with boutique cigars. When smoking a boutique cigar, you can gain satisfaction in knowing that the smoke has been produced with a more personalized approach and will allow you to enjoy a cigar shared by a relatively small number of cigar fans.

Boutique cigars are often created with a variety of tobaccos in order to achieve a truly unique flavor. They are wrapped by hand ensuring quality control so that your cigar will burn evenly in order to maximize flavor. Unlike other premium cigars, a box of boutique cigars will not be as uniform as mass produced smokes. This factor also adds a personal touch that results in greater uniqueness between each stick. Despite a lack of uniformity, you can be sure that these high-quality smokes will ensure a superb smoking experience.

Just because these smokes are far more unique than traditional premium cigars does not mean that you will have to go on a treasure hunt around the world to find them. These days, cigars of any kind are easy to purchase from online sources, which will allow you to peruse your options from the comfort of your own home. In some cases, these smokes will need to be special ordered. Since they tend to be more expensive than other types of premium cigars, many store owners will only order them when requested by a customer. If you have never tried a boutique cigar before, it is definitely worth the experience and is a great way to refine your palate. -the blog at cheaphumidors