Need Suggestions for Charity Gift Basket

[Hardheaded]

So my wife wotks for a Non-profit that is having a Wine, Beer and Liquor tasting fundraiser in October. Part of the event is a silent auction. Last year they had a "Man's Basket" with a few cigars and a few tiny bottles of liquor. This year she decided they should up it a bit and do a cigar basket, so that is what we are donating to the event.

The problem is I could use some help rounding out the selection of cigars. I want a little variety, especially if it pairs well with alcohol. Here is what I had in mind so far.

10 count Herfador to hold the cigars.
Some form of cutter and lighter.
Boveda pack.
Ashtray.

Some form of top shelf Padron.
Opus or Anejo.
Some form of Davidoff.
Something from the My Father line.

And thats where I draw a blank. I may use some from Generals lines to fill out the rest of I can't think of anything better, or whatever else I find on a B&M trip or digging through my humidor. Ideally I'd like a mix of price ranges, regular production in case they want more, and for me the hardest is pairing well with alcohol. I just don't drink and smoke at the same time very often.

So for those of you with more experience here, any suggestions?

[c.ortiz108]

Would it be appropriate to include any Habanos? Otherwise, one of the higher-end Ashtons (ESG or VSG), Diamond Crown, La Aurora Preferidos, and Liga Privada come to mind. I'd get Scotch, bourbon and rum for all those.

[Tombstone]

I would stray away from power house cigars & boutique. I would go with some medium to medium plus maybe a mild or two.

For me 10 cigars off the top of my head would be

1. Rocky Patel CT or Edge
2 Nat Sherman Host
3 Ave Maria
4 Man O War
5 Undercrown
6 Herra Estelli
7 JDN Cabinetta
8 My Father Blue or Black label
9 Black ops Marduo or Habano
10 Romeo Y Juletta

There are plenty of middle of the road brands that have bang for the buck but will not break the bank. If you wanted to throw in something a little on the upper end or flashy I think a Camaco Liberty or coffin cigar, an Opus or nice Fuente, or even a Liga #9. I would also stick to more toros, and possibly a church hill. The more aficionado sizes may be lost on some.

[WNYTONY]

Sorry - don't drink so I can't really be any help with pairings.
But I don't know that you have to go so high end on the cigars. It's a charity thing and maybe there will be someone there that knows about cigars, but most likely it will be a wife trying to get them for her husband or someone just looking to donate. Padron, Davidoff, My Father and Fuente are big names that the weekend smoker will recognize - I'd stick with those type of names. Cohiba, Ashton, Camacho, Montecristo, Macanudo.

Really nice gesture by your wife to make you do this Dustin.

[Nature]

What is the crowd like that would be bidding on this? For much of the general population you wouldn't need to go with top-shelf cigars; in fact there may be more brand recognition with some of the General lines like RyJ, Montecristos, Rocky Patel, Camacho, AF, Olivas.. At least use those to round it out. No need to bust your wallet on stocking with all top tier. I don't think it will make that much difference in the bidding. Maybe have just a few premiers to draw in that potential aficionado. But then again, the casual cigar smoker may not bid on an all cigar basket. But a wannabe would! This would be the perfect package to get started or to host a poker party.

[Emperor Zurg]

If you don't drink alcohol with cigars (I don't either) then why not toss in a few things that do pair well like various tree nuts, dried fruit and aged cheeses... I think that would round out a 'cigar basket' quite nicely. As for the cigars, I'd prolly just root thru my stash and fill a glass jar with a nice variety plus a boveda pack. I find most ppl I have given cigars to have no idea how or where to keep them...(most seem to want to put them in the fridge)... oh and freeze them all first because if not the fridge, they will undoubtedly be stored at room temp.

-edit-

How could I forget chocolate? Some Lindt 70% cocoa is excellent with a cigar Lindt sea salt and caramel is good too but a bit sweet IMO for cigar pairing.

[Hardheaded]

I did not plan on going with just top shelf cigars. I want a good mix of everything, but I mostly have a bunch of real cheap knock around cigars and a decent high end supply. All of my middle of the road stuff is either full bodied or gifts / bombs and those stay mine.

Thank you all for the brand and size suggestions. I had not thought of some of those and did not think of size at all. I also did not think of snacks to pair with it either, so those will probably get added.

After talking with my wife more it seems like the people at this event usually have cash to burn. Very much an upper-middle class and up crowd. Tickets alone are $60 each, which is quite a bit for as small as the event is.

Thanks for all the help bums.

[Cameradude]

Macallan 12yr or Balvenie Carribean Cask 14yr goes well with a lot of cigars. If you wanted something with a little peat, a Highland Park 12yr or a Talisker 10yr would be good choices without breaking the bank.

My 10 cigars would be:
Padron 1964
Diamond Crown Julius
Ashton Cabinet
Perdomo Reserve Chanpagne
Montecristo Espada
San Cristobal Elegancia
Fuente Don Carlos
La Historia by EP Carrillo
Nat Sherman Epoca
La Mission du L'Atelier

If you don't mind sharing, what is the name of the non-profit?

[Sticky B]

I did not plan on going with just top shelf cigars. I want a good mix of everything, but I mostly have a bunch of real cheap knock around cigars and a decent high end supply. All of my middle of the road stuff is either full bodied or gifts / bombs and those stay mine.

Thank you all for the brand and size suggestions. I had not thought of some of those and did not think of size at all. I also did not think of snacks to pair with it either, so those will probably get added.

After talking with my wife more it seems like the people at this event usually have cash to burn. Very much an upper-middle class and up crowd. Tickets alone are $60 each, which is quite a bit for as small as the event is.

Thanks for all the help bums.

I used to go to these types of things when I worked my old job in the finance field. I bought a safari for 2 in Africa for 2 weeks. There was tons of other cool stuff too. I think I got a Tiffany's Clock too, and some ish from Sur La Table that I've never used. If the crowd is expecting to pay money, I'd give it mostly mid-top tier stuff. Like others have said, big brand names, but maybe something that is solid but "flashy" too, a weird shape, or something like a Between the Lines that is more expensive, but totally looks sweet as well.

If you're putting in scotch and not Pabst, I'd assume you'd do the same with the cigars. Aficionado or not, the winner is gonna want to feel like they got some baller-ass cigars. Big names, double bands, that type of stuff. If you could stick a CC or two in there it might draw some eyes (and dollars$$$) as well. One could always play it off like "we just had some cigars donated, didn't know at all what they were" should the wrong type of prying eyes come asking.

[Hardheaded]

So this is what I came up with based on suggestions and what I could find reliably locally. That way who ever wins it can pick up some more without having to venture online. Could not find anything too flashy, or any Davidoffs, without hitting $25 bucks a stick, which sucks.



Top row is a couple of Lat Travieluers, a Baitfish, T-52 Robusto, Padron 1964, and a Partagas I can't remember the size on.



Bottom row is pretty self explanatory.

Not pictured is the humidor, Lotus tabletop lighter, cutter and ashtray. Some purchased, some generously donated.

A donated Woodford Reserve gift set is also being paired with the cigar basket.