The ?Last Supper? herf!

[El Catador]

Given the growing interest in: Rare, aged and premium cost cigars, wines and spirits being shown in the forums, I was wondering if any members would be interested in participating in a ‘Last-Supper’ style herf?

The aim of the event would be to provide an opportunity to get together and sample/compare some of the finer, more sought-after and critically acclaimed examples of the above (but without spending thousands).

The way it works.

Those attending would each contribute an item (or items) roughly similar in value, to be shared by the group, be it: Cigars, Champagne, Whisky, Cognac etc.
Depending on numbers, we would agree in advance both: a budget and a list of potential sampling candidates.

As a ‘For instance’, If I use the Behike launch party as a model (where the tickets cost ?150). The event presented a means of sampling not only all three Behikes in one sitting, but also of washing them down with some good champagne, cocktails, cognac and canap?s etc, all at the same time.
So, for arguments sake, if we agreed upon a similar budget for the ‘herf’ (i.e. ?150), it would open the doors to sample, not only a variety of top-end cigars, but also the kind of champagnes, wines, whisky’s and cognacs that are normally only drunk ‘once-in-a-blue-moon’.

Depending on numbers and interest, we could raise or lower the contribution level to meet expectations and requests. We would of course also need to agree upon: a time and date and suitable venue.

To kick things off with a few ideas/suggestions.

From my point of view I’d be up for some good French wines, perhaps a Montrachet or two, a good vintage Dom Perignon, a Grande Champagne Cognac or vintage Armagnac, or something along similar lines, but would also be happy to entertain a suitable whisky, or even port.

I’ll stay out of the cigar selection – there are others with far greater experience – perhaps someone from the ‘Teddington crew’ might be able to offer some suggestions?

I guess at this stage all I’m looking for is an idea of how many might be interested, a budget, and what types of cigars, wines and spirits other people consider worthy of their ‘Last-Supper’?

Anyone game?

[monkey66]

I would be interested but envisage some logistical challenges.

[bopmachine]

I'd be interested.

[El Catador]

I would be interested but envisage some logistical challenges.

It's a fair point.
I've been giving some thought to the more obvious issues, trying to anticipate what's likely to arise, and have some ideas and solutions ready that I think will satisfy.

Let's see what kind of a response we get over the next few days and I'll post up a more detailed proposal.

P.S. Would be useful if interested parties could give some idea of what they themselves would like to smoke/drink (eat?) at the herf, and if they are happy with the suggested budget (or even what they might propose to bring).

Cheers

P.P.S. Put me down for the champers - A D.P. or perhaps a Cristal?

[bopmachine]

I dont have any preferences; im looking at this as a means to be exposed to some of the finer things. Less than ?200 preferred budget

[Big_T_UK]

I am sitting on some '85 Krug, '00 Dom P, 90's vintage Rose Veuve Clicquot but forget the exact year, NV Pol Roger, NV Veuve Clicquot, NV Louis Roederer, NV Tattinger. Some interesting ports also. However it would have to be something fairly earth shatteringly good to smoke for me to start opening bottles, I can no longer afford to replace them.

Regarding smokes, I am not sure anybody who would be up for this dinner would be sitting on anything suitable, just aged regular production cigars would not suffice, I suspect. As you say we can source interesting things from Teddington.

This is not going to be cheap......GOOD, keeps the riff raff out!

[El Catador]

Excellent selection!

I've got a DP or two from the 90's that could be contenders, and one or two others that might suit the occasion (vintage Bolly, Cristal etc).
So, it looks like the bubbly can certainly be catered for.

How about the 'spirits'?

It occurred to me that most people sitting on an aged Cognac or Armagnac (or whisky) would most likely have already opened it.
So, bearing that in mind, and allowing for the fact that it may not be a large group - should we factor in (from a value point of view) that, as it's likely we're going to be getting through a fairly large quantity of alcohol, are we better off sharing half a bottle of something extraordinary, or going with a whole bottle of something great?

Ideas please?

Also, anyone got any initial thoughts/suggestions on possible venues?
I guess it could be residential or commercial. Maybe somewhere that served food but would either: charge corkage or 'turn a blind eye' to our drinking our own.

[monkey66]

Are we only looking at cigars and alcohol? What about food, some fine charcuterie, cheese, chocolate.

[Big_T_UK]

You have Cristal! Blimey.

[peanutpete]

sounds like a good idea but if we do it in a commercial place we will not be able to smoke,also ?150.00 could be spent on 2-3 great cigars by itself so my have to look at budget again?

As to what to bring i am sitting on a few tons of cashew nuts that are picked and roasted only by the best looking(female) virgins,

and come on virgins touching your nuts must be worth ???

[El Catador]

Are we only looking at cigars and alcohol? What about food, some fine charcuterie, cheese, chocolate.

I'm all in favour.
Do you see the food as being part of someones contribution or something we purchase/provide additionally.

sounds like a good idea but if we do it in a commercial place we will not be able to smoke

Hi Pete, I guess I should have been clearer there.

By 'commercial premises', I meant somewhere like a restaurant or club that had a provision for smokers. i.e. a covered area, terrace or lounge.

Didn't Ajay hold a summer cigar event in one of the local restaurants - I can't remember its name, but I'm sure there must be quite a few. Anyone help?

If the worst came to the worst, we could always hire a small marquee, a couple of heaters and some tables and chairs and pitch it in a field!

A gazebo on the beach anyone?

also ?150.00 could be spent on 2-3 great cigars by itself

I thought of that too.

My suggestion would be:
If we had a group of say six people, and the consensus was to go for a ?50 cigar, as long a two within the group were happy for their contribution to be 3 each (?150), we'd have enough for everyone - and still 4 more contributions of cigars, wines, spirits etc, to come from the rest of the group.
All we'd have to do is scale it up or down depending on the numbers.

Make sense?

[peanutpete]

[QUOTE=El Catador;116412]I'm all in favour.
Do you see the food as being part of someones contribution or something we purchase/provide additionally.



Hi Pete, I guess I should have been clearer there.

By 'commercial premises', I meant somewhere like a restaurant or club that had a provision for smokers. i.e. a covered area, terrace or lounge.

Didn't Ajay hold a summer cigar event in one of the local restaurants - I can't remember its name, but I'm sure there must be quite a few. Anyone help?

If the worst came to the worst, we could always hire a small marquee, a couple of heaters and some tables and chairs and pitch it in a field!

A gazebo on the beach anyone?



I thought of that too.

My suggestion would be:
If we had a group of say six people, and the consensus was to go for a ?50 cigar, as long a two within the group were happy for their contribution to be 3 each (?150), we'd have enough for everyone - and still 4 more contributions of cigars, wines, spirits etc, to come from the rest of the group.
All we'd have to do is scale it up or down depending on the numbers.

Make sense?[/QUOTE]



err i think so but would one cigar be enough or i guess we could also bring our own

[El Catador]

err i think so but would one cigar be enough or i guess we could also bring our own

No, I'm of the opinion we should be aiming for at least two or three cigars included as part of the event.
(depending of course on the price of the cigars and the numbers of people attending).

Let me take another run at explaining what I meant, by expanding the example I gave.

E.G. Six people want to take part - we discuss what everyone is interested: in smoking/drinking/eating etc, and go for:

1 person bringing a ?150 worth of Champagne (which we all drink).
1 person bringing a ?150 of Cognac or whisky etc (ditto).
2 people bringing a total of 6 x ?50 Cigars (?150 each) (which we all smoke).
2 people bringing 12 x ?25 Cigars (?150 each) (ditto).

= 3 cigars each and a fair bit of high-grade-hootch to wash 'em down.

The more people, the more options.
And literally hundreds of permutations.

I guess how we 'cut-and-slice' it is in the air until we know the numbers and what people want to try. Cigar and drink wise.

I'm looking to the 'Teddy boys' for Cigar ideas - but what about anyone else? Behikes, Reserva's, Vintage, etc?
I could supply a quantity of Cohiba Double Corona EL's from 2003 if they're of interest to anyone?

[Simon-JG-hr]

I like this idea! (Date dependent of course). I think somewhere in the ?100-?150 range is about right - have no problems with it being the higher end, with reasonable warning.

I'd be happy to work on some whisky or cigars.

PS. Pete - do you use the same virgins agency as rokkit? If so, how do you find their service? I'm looking for some myself.

[peanutpete]

ok cat sounds good i guess next step would be to sort out a location and than see how many of us are seriously up for this?