Valentine's Day

As you are well aware, Valentine's Day is around the corner.  A week from today, we will celebrate the day whereby we show our romantic affection towards our loved ones.  For some, there will be gifts of chocolate, flowers, or jewelry.  But what about men?  Or those women who enjoy cigars and want something different besides the traditional fare?  Sometimes, it can be a daunting task to decide upon something to give someone.  As a result, I have decided to compile a short list to help my Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf should they need help dropping a hint or two.

A gift with great importance is a humidor.  Needing a place to properly store one's cigars is paramount.  It is also easy to run out of room, thereby necessitating in another, or maybe a larger, humidor.  Depending on your budget, you may decide to have a custom, handmade humidor made (such as Waxing Moon Humidors or Christian Baeck Humidors ) or you may prefer to visit your local tobacconist, who carries a nice selection of humidors, all depending on your valentine's needs and preferences.

How about accessories?  Does that special someone have a dependable cutter or lighter?  Have they lost theirs?  Or maybe would they want one in a special design?  Xikar is a brand that does all the above.  They make great cutters and punches in a variety of formats, as well as designs.  And the same can be said for their lighters, which come in everything from a single to a triple torch and with many shapes and sizes to choose from.  Furthermore, if someone wants a Mayan design (it is 2012 after all), or maybe a Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9, Xikar makes both and many more.  If you want something that looks great but also has great quality and dependability, then Xikar is the way to go.  These are also available from your local tobacconist.

Finally, something every cigar smoker loves...cigars!  Maybe you're not a smoker, and you're afraid to pick some up for fear of buying something that is not their style, or isn't to their taste.  I say don't worry.  This is where your local tobacconist comes into play again.  The staff there may know your loved one well if they've been there for a while, but if not, don't worry.  Just take a look at what they currently keep at the house.  Letting the staff know the current selection, and maybe even their favorite drinks when smoking, will help them help you better.  They may also offer suggestions based upon their tastes to introduce them to a new brand or new line by a favorite manufacturer.

I hope that I've been able to help with these suggestions.  And I hope that you have a great Dia del Amor y la Amistad!