Stogie Commentary: Attend Cigar Events

We hope you DC-area readers can attend our first Stogie Guys Meetup tonight at Carpool in Ballston from 6:30-9 p.m. (See here for more details.) We will be there enjoying drinks, BBQ, pool, darts, cigars, and – most importantly – the company of fellow stogie enthusiasts.

But even if you cannot attend tonight, we hope you will get out and enjoy the many cigar events that take place every week all around the country. Cigar manufacturers and retailers often hold events to attract new customers.

Yet, for the average Stogie Guy, these promotional events can be much more than just an opportunity to score some freebies. (Although we like free cigars as much as the next guy!) For us, these events are best seen as an opportunity to meet your fellow cigar smokers and learn about the many complexities of stogies.

In October, George wrote about a Punch event that included a specially-designed cigar tasting kit, complete with three mini-cigars and detailed instructions. Patrick A and I attended a similar Davidoff tasting in August and a Macanudo event in June.

And even if a representative from a cigar company isn’t planning an event, just meeting up with your fellow smokes can provide a wealth of information as you talk stogies over stogies.

In the past we’ve written about the need for cigar companies to continue to educate their customers because, while cigar booms may be created by “Don (fill in the blank)” cigars and flashy advertising campaigns in Cigar Aficionado, sustainable growth is realized through educating consumers on the wonders and intricacies of premium handmade cigars.

Additionally – whether for one’s own knowledge, or to impress the next person who asks you “Whatcha smoking?” – learning the story behind the cigar also leads to a greater appreciation of the time and dedication that goes into creating it, from planting and cultivating the tobacco to developing the blend, hand rolling, and aging.

In short, these events are a win-win for buyers and sellers alike – particularly when the promotions include education about the products. The most complete list of cigar events we’ve come across is maintained here. General Cigar’s website also has a good list.

So even if we don’t see you tonight (and we hope we do), we highly recommend you take advantage of the cigar events in your area, so you can learn a little more about the hobby we all love.

-Patrick S

Tags: cigars