Only 2,000 of these cases were made and not more than 10 are supposed to be available to any retailer. Ask around; we have seen them offered at $100.00 per box and even though it’s only for five cigars, this is a unique item that will impress any Tony Soprano fan.

If you prefer just to give a gift of popular C.A.O. cigars, the Conmemorativo sampler offers one each of seven different in a wood presentation case for just $42 and includes the “Seed to Soul” DVD that describes the C.A.O. approach to cigar making.

• Padron 8-cigar Sampler:
Next to the Fuente Fuente Opus X, the Padron brand is perhaps the most sought after in the U.S. Now made exclusively in Nicaragua, these are rich and flavorful cigars, with a caramelized sweetness in the standard line and pepper and spicy notes in the two most recent blends. For any experienced smoker, giving Padron says you know they appreciate quality.

The 8-cigar Sampler includes two of the standard Padron series, the no. 4000 (6 1/2 x 54) and the no. 6000 (5 1/2 x 52); three of the fabled 1964 Anniversary Series – Exclusivo (5 1/2 x 52), Imperial (6 x 54) and Torpedo (6 x 52) – and three of the 1926 Series, the No. 1 (6 3/4 x 54), No. 2 (5 1/2 x 52 torpedo) and No. 6 (4 3/4 x 50).

In addition to being the perfect introduction to the entire Padron brand, the sampler is offered in a choice of either natural or maduro wrappers. It’s just perfect and reasonably accessible at $105.00 each plus applicable taxes.

• Davidoff 12-Cigar Assortment:
Giving Davidoff requires almost no explanation. The brand is well known and famed for its extremely high quality in construction, draw and taste. If your special someone (such as yourself) wants to be treated to entire Davidoff line, this is the way to do it.

The 12-cigar Assortment includes cigars from six different Davidoff blends and three different shape groups. It starts with the delicately-flavored Aniversario No. 3 in an aluminum tube (6 x 50) and adds two Classics (the No. 2 and Short Perfecto); two from the Grand Cru line (No. 2 and No. 4); two from the Special Series (Special R and Special T), two from the Thousand Series (No. 2000 and No. 4000) and three from the much-loved Millennium Blend line (the Petit Corona, Piramides and Robusto).

The whole set has a retail price of $161.10, not including local sales or tobacco taxes. If you’d like to give the gift of Davidoff, but prefer to spend less, there are other options. Davidoff has a 9-cigar package which also has samples of all six blends, retailing for $124.30 each plus taxes, or there is a three-pack of tubed cigars (one each of the Classic, Special series and Thousand series) for $38.40 plus taxes.

• Opus 22:
At the very high end of the gift scale is the Fuente Fuente Opus X collection for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. For 2007, this is a special production of 500 chests, each holding 22 Opus X cigars including six from the regular production line and 16 oddball shapes such as the BBMF, the Chili Pepper and the Scorpio.

Each cigar is housed in an individual, slide-top coffin and all 22 rest in a giant chest. The program raises money for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation which supports educational and community facilities in rural areas of the Dominican Republic. This is the fourth year of the Opus 22 program and a remarkable total of more than $850,000 has been raised by the sale of special cigars for the Foundation.

Ask your local Fuente retailer about the Opus 22 if you’re interested; it’s a unique gift and supports an excellent cause, but it isn’t cheap: $750.00 per chest. But it’s a gift that will long be remembered and isn’t that what the holidays are about?

Coming Wednesday: Part two of our early gift guide, focusing on accessories and bulk cigars.
~ Rich Perelman

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