Have you hit your limit yet? Regarding CC inventory.

[Puros Y Vino]

For the past few years whether it's due to the Pandemic or my general mood, I have drastically reduced my CC purchases.  In particular, I've been blase' about the new offerings from Habanos.  It could be the rising prices, the NC style boxes they're pushing, the reduction in stick count per box in some cases.  I've found myself chasing a few samples here and there of packing. For instance, the new RyJ / Partagas / HU tins.  Otherwise, I've grabbed some old favourites to stockpile on when I could.  RyJ Cazadores, Monte Petite Edmundos, HUHC amongst others.

I've done a calculation based on my inventory against my smoke rate.  Given the not so balmy climate of Toronto, smoking season is limited.  I do have a Winter solution now which may increase my smoke rate.  Anyways, I've estimated based on my smoking patterns, that I would have on average 2 or 5 cigars a week, regardless of whether it's Summer or Winter.  The conclusion I've come to is that if I stopped buying today, that at that smoke rate, I'd go through my inventory in 15 to 30'ish years.  Please don't take this as some sort of humble brag. There are many with far more sticks than I have.  My goal is to spur on some discussion and see how others are approaching their acquisitions and the enjoyment of them.  .  I'm finding that at this point, I believe I have all I need to keep enjoying this hobby in terms of variety and vintages.  The allure of new, untried releases doesn't hit me as much as it used to. I'm now experiencing a different paradigm along the lines of "oh one of my Cazadores boxes is now hitting the 10YO mark, time to sample one". Or "I haven't smoked a 2001 CoLa in a while".  Yes, first world problems for sure. I will probably grab a single or fiver of something new over the next few years, but it would have to be something really appealing and based on a lot of good feedback from people who I know that enjoy similar cigars I do. 

So, to the rest of you.  Is there a number in the back of your mind that you're aiming for?  Or do you just buy on an as needed basis? Are you stockpiling based on some particular factor(s)?  Has not being able to go to Cuba due to the Pandemic put a huge dent in your ability to stock up?  Something else?  Lets' hear it!

[Çnote]

I'd like to amass around 200/25ct boxes to hit the 20 years of aging inventory, based on ideal smoking, which can start in as little as 5 years.

 

[Jimmy_jack]

I'm not as interested in buying lately...I have plenty. I would be in to trading though, my palate has changed some. So while I'm not necessarily trying to add inventory, I am open to shifting it. 

[joeypots]

50 boxes is enough  for me. At my rate of consumption I have something like 6 to 7 years worth of stock. My acquisition plan is to but about 6 boxed a year of primo regular production. 

[gojira]

At the rate that I smoke I have stock for roughly 14 years now and I continue buying cigars. As my tastes have shifted over the last few years I have around 500 or so cigars that I'd like to get rid of. I also tend to try to age quite a few boxes so around 40% of what I have is kept separately from my smoking stash. As you, I'm a little less interested in new releases now but there are still a few on my hit list, but most of these are REs that come in vitolas that I like. So the plan for now is to continue buying regular production that I like and a few of these REs but I will look into trading or selling the sticks that I don't care about any more in the future as I have a number of cigars in my mind that I don't really want to exceed (although I did that a few times already and failed to do so).

[rascalmonkey]

the amazing quality of 2019-2020 stock might complicate this line of thought

[Kaptain Karl]

I’m a ways off from some of the guys here. At the rate I smoke I have about a 4-5 year stock. I’d like to get that closer to 6-8 years by the end of this year so I can really shut down purchasing when the quality inevitably drops off when this epic 3 crop run gets used up.  

[Kevin48438]

I’m a 65% NC/35% CC smoker and I have about 5 years of stock if I were to not buy any more cigars.  I too am much less interested in sampling new stuff as I used to be.  I would rather build stock of the variety I know I love.  Sampling (buying singles) actually costs more and I end up experiencing a lot of mediocrity.  Thus, I’ve shifted my experimental personality toward spirits and coffee.

That said, cigars are only going up in price.  Better to buy now than later if possible.  My shopping now is only for the best deals.  I feel no pressure to buy anything, which may be the best benefit of having a few years of stock.

[Cold Smoke]

I hit my limit every second box.

Then, inevitably ...

[Islandboy]

Since starting collecting in 2016, my plan early on has been to eventually arrive at a substantial amount of aged stock by purchasing more than I consume for some time. And this will also allow me to buy while I’m still working, and enjoy the collection in my retirement. I’m about halfway there, with about a 7 - 8 year stock given one cigar a day. I’m finally consistently smoking sticks with 3-5 years of age, which I consider a nice milestone. I’m mostly interested in stockpiling good regular production standards, but I’ve spent much of the last year throwing money at RE’s and other unique offerings - as a bit of a reward for staying gainfully employed and financially stable through the s*#tstorm. 
 

I love everything about this journey. 

[Nevrknow]

That's what I love about this site. Being brand new to CC's most of my stuff is 19-20 boxes which learning from you guys seems to be a great time to stock up seeing as how everyone is raving about the crop from these years. I have no problem continuing buying until as said, we hit a bad year or 2. By then I hope I have enough to carry me thru.

Bummer I have no older stock to compare it to, in time I will when my boxes mature. Good Lord willing. 

I need to hit BR more often. Pretty sure I have missed some sig ii or iii with some age on them. Maybe one day. Until then I'm a 24:24 diehard. 😁

[SpecialK]

2 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

I’m a ways off from some of the guys here. At the rate I smoke I have about a 4-5 year stock. I’d like to get that closer to 6-8 years by the end of this year so I can really shut down purchasing when the quality inevitably drops off when this epic 3 crop run gets used up.  

You said something about having kids in a couple of years.... Buy all you can now... trust me on this

[Markspring1978]

I currently have enough for about 8 lifetimes. I have no idea why I keep buying like a madman. This is a sickness. I’m aware of no cure. 

[Chas.Alpha]

As long as the ‘19 and 20 stock is available, I plan on modest purchasing. I haven’t seen seasons this good since, well, ever! 😳

[Islandboy]

15 minutes ago, Markspring1978 said:

I currently have enough for about 8 lifetimes. I have no idea why I keep buying like a madman. This is a sickness. I’m aware of no cure. 

We’re here for you man. If knocking your collection down to just 6 or 7 lifetimes will help, we’re here for you. 😁

[Trapper99]

16 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

As long as the ‘19 and 20 stock is available, I plan on modest purchasing. I haven’t seen seasons this good since, well, ever! 😳

Is 2021 expected to continue this trend?

[Markspring1978]

16 minutes ago, Islandboy said:

We’re here for you man. If knocking your collection down to just 6 or 7 lifetimes will help, we’re here for you. 😁

It’s always good to have a strong support system. 

[Kaptain Karl]

17 minutes ago, Trapper99 said:

Is 2021 expected to continue this trend?

From the sound of it most of 2021 should, I’m guessing 2022 will be a drop off. I’m pretty sure it was 3 crops in a row that were epic that were now seeing in production. 

[cigaraholic]

I haven’t hit my inventory limit....any ones I’ve made I’ve broken so I stopped kidding myself. How much I’ll pay for a cigar, that’s a different story.

[djrey]

I was a NC smoker for years while only buying boxes of CC such as P shorts, BPC etc. Around when pandemic hit I switched entirely to CC. The last year has been catch up as I amassed regular production boxes and learned the different brands. Now I can enter a mode of maintenance buying only 

[LordAnubis]

For 3-5 cigars a week im at 12-7 years of stock. I buy in batches... i bought heaps in 2014 at the good peak there, and then ramped up buying recently with good stock and new (bigger) humidor and also spare finances. My humidor has space for maybe 10-15 more boxes of cigars which i anticiate filling in the next 3-6 months.

[Habana Mike]

Probably don't need to ever buy another cigar. I keep doing so though.

Thrill of the hunt I guess.

[benfica_77]

Have enough to smoke for 12 to 15 years based on my current consumption patterns. My purchasing has slowed down considerably i only purchased a box of Dip Nortenos Canada RE this year, since I know this will be the last regional in Canada or at least last one with normal packaging.  I've focused my cigar related funds in ordering an Avallo humidor. 

I still plan on purchasing a box of Siglo II, Trini Coloniales and the next Portuguese Regional Edition when it is released. Beyond that will be the occasional singles / quarter box of something that really catches my eye. I will probably have limited purchases over the next 8-10 years and start ramping up after that, I'm afraid to figure out what cigar prices will be by that point! lol 

 

[Lycosa]

I definitely haven't hit my limit yet in terms of how much cigar stock I'd like to have. The only limit I've hit is funding lol! And some others, but mainly the funding. Not only for the cigars themselves but also the storage upkeep which costs both time and money. Cigars actually motivate me in life. To bust my ass a bit to acquire that dream/goal of having a sizeable collection (people have different definitions of "sizeable collection" of course). I currently have enough stock to last about 1.5 years *if* I keep my current pace of smoking. That's not enough when you're passionate about cigars (at least for me). Once you get into cigars, there's no going back. It's an obsession and a lifestyle. That's how I feel.

[Duxnutz]

Way more than I need but less than I want!