Cigars?

[GeorgiaRoller]

I'm not a "smoker" per se. I've always been very health conscious, like to be active, exercise fairly regularly. I remember trying a cigarette when I was about 19yrs old and thought they were NASTY! Haven't had one since. lol

However...I've always been intrigued with possibly trying a pipe or a cigar. Once I learned that you just puff/blow cigars & pipes and you don't inhale the smoke into your lungs like you would on cigs I became even more curious. Also for me the main reason I wanted to try one was for the relaxing part of it. You know sitting in your backyard in the evening with a cold beverage and puffing on a cigar for 45min - 1hr and just chilling out, destressing and what not. Or just having one in a social setting.

So I've recently tried it and kind of like it. Its just something I can see myself doing on a weekend and not something I'd ever do daily. I got my humidor seasoned & ready to go and have started researching different brands, sizes, wrappers, shapes...etc. Since I'm not a seasoned smoker I'm starting out with some more mild to medium body cigars. I have 4 different ones coming to try out right now that are:

- Romeo & Julieta Vintage #1

- Macanudo Hyde Park

- Casa Torano Robusto

- Plasencia Reserva Robusto

What intrigues me about cigars is that it reminds of me of fine wines & I LIKE WINE! I honestly didn't realize the amount of tobacco varieties, and how you can age them like a fine wine to enjoy later. There is a completely different mindset & etiquette with cigars and quite frankly is completely different than cigarettes (which again I despise those personally) Like a fine wine you have different notes of flavor that come through and it changes as you continue smoking & there is even an art to properly lighting a cigar.

I think I might of found another new hobby!

Any good cigars for a noob like me that I should consider trying?

 

[El Toro Joe]

Great Hobby!!!

The Robusto (5" by 50 ring) sized cigars are a good size to start with...about a 30-45 min smoke.

I like the Romeo & Julieta and the Torano brands, the Plasencia's ain't bad, not much into the Macanudo brand.

Consider these...

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-ONA&cat=3

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-AFA&cat=3

if ya wanna spend a little more, try these

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-AHA&cat=3

when yer ready for something with more of a kick, just ask

My current favorite are these...

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-LPE&cat=3

 

[allrider]

I (get to) smoke a couple cigars a month, usually at a bike gathering while we meander around oogling bikes and enjoying a cold beverage. It's one of the last places I can get away with it, besides home these days.

It's so bad around here that they just passed an ordinance to ban smoking in public parks in these parts. At least down your way you can still smoke a cigar in some bars and "clubs."

Be forewarned: If you thought farkles were expensive and you were spending too much time and money on them, cigars are worse. In most cases you can resell a farkle, not gonna happen with a cigar. :cigar:

The Wife tolerates them but, barely. Mostly because it takes days to get the stink out of your clothes, never mind your mouth.

There's lots of interesting info out there on the subject. Check out this article on the stogie fresh website.

I prefer maduro and oscuro cigars. They are typically lower in nicotine and milder, but still have lots of flavor.

Another expensive hobby...

 

[Bounce]

tip 1: don't inhale.

tip 2: you can learn a lot at https://www.cigargroup.com/

tip 2a: health issues researched and reported by health care pros (hint: cigars aren't cigarettes) - https://www.cigargroup.com/faq/health/

Personal Preferences:

Robustos are still my go to. Churchills I like but often don't have the time to enjoy. I also prefer maduro or Cameroon wrappers. I especially like figuero or torpedo selections.

Some of my favorites are Punch Punch, Bolivar Belicoso Fino, various Padron, Arturo Fuente (especially the Hemingway line). The list could go on, but that's enough to keep you busy for a month or so.

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

Consider these...

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-ONA&cat=3

https://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-AFA&cat=3

I'll give these two a try. Thanks!

Be forewarned: If you thought farkles were expensive and you were spending too much time and money on them, cigars are worse. In most cases you can resell a farkle, not gonna happen with a cigar. :cigar:

Yeah everything costs money. So what. It's just paper!

Mostly because it takes days to get the stink out of your clothes, never mind your mouth.

I just have one outside and when I'm done, I go inside, put on a fresh shirt, brush my teeth & use mouthwash and it's just about gone. If there's a will there's a way! Nobody wants (or should want to) smell like an ashtray.

5 cigars a day...yeah you'll be screwed. One cigar on the weekend...not really that big of a deal IMO.

---------------------------

Are all Maduro wrapped cigars rich & thick & heavy? Or can you get a Maduro that is sweet and smooth? If so, what would be a good Maduro like the latter to try?

 

[El Toro Joe]

tip 1: don't inhale.

Really?

Ok...maybe not for a noob

If yer not gonna inhale at least some of the flavor...yer just wastin' yer time & money.

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

tip 1: don't inhale.

Really?

Ok...maybe not for a noob

If yer not gonna inhale at least some of the flavor...yer just wastin' yer time & money.

I have no intention of inhaling it into my lungs. Your not supposed to do that and it can make you sick. You get the flavor by swirling it around your taste buds in your mouth and around your nose...at least thats the way I've been told and how I do it. If your a longtime cigarette smoker I can see where it would be a hard habit to break by not inhaling. Fortunately for me I don't have to worry about overcoming that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C8_KTEo31M

 

[WitlessEvil]

One of my favorites for an inexpensive smoke is Sancho Panza Cervantes. A truly good smoke that I used to buy for less than two dollars. It's probably slightly more since the new taxes kicked in. Anything from their double maduro line is far better than most of the middle of the line stuff from the more well known names.

The Torano Exodus Gold is another of my favorites. It's about three times the cost of the Sancho Panza. My friend prefers the silver, but I don't recall that I ever smoked one.

Of course if money is no object, Ashton VSG is really good. I usually get the Tres Mystique in this line.

The Ashton Aruturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story was really good, too.

 

[Bounce]

tip 1: don't inhale.

Really?

Ok...maybe not for a noob

If yer not gonna inhale at least some of the flavor...yer just wastin' yer time & money.

not at all. it's not cigarettes. read the health link. it's about the flavor not the nic fix.

Here's the wall of fame that's part of building my shop.

I handed out cigars around a campfire once. People who didn't smoke insisted on having one. The next morning, I found these $7 cigars tossed just out of sight of the campfire with barely any of it smoked. Those people were clueless and I learned a serious lesson: always being bottom shelf cigars to an event to hand out to the riff raff that can't take no for an answer. I also watched one guy hurl who had insisted that he smoked cigars regularly. Turns out he had been smoking those cigar-like things made from flavored (pipe?) tobacco and had been inhaling them. By getting his hands on a real, hand-rolled cigar, he was over his head and still inhaled. This in spite of the cigar being a very mild Churchill.

 

[BigOgre]

You may want to find two or three friends who might share this interest also. By teaming up you can split a box or three amongst yourselves, stocking your humidor with a variety and saving on costs. Also prevents you from being stuck with a whole box you may not be crazy about.

Another idea is to try small combo specials. Many places offer 5-paks or samplers of one brand or some other type of grouping. Again this allows you to try a variety without laying out too much.

And similar to wine, while I enjoy sampling, there usually is the trusty favorite. Mine has been TTT Trinidads.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I like the kind Bill Clinton smokes.

 

[whataboutbob]

I like the cheap ass swisher sweets....If I'm feeling really ladeeda I'll get them with a wood tip

 

[TechJunkie]

One of my favorites is Cusano P1. Dark cigar yet not overpowering. I would call the flavor mild yet full without a harsh aftertaste IMHO. Usually priced reasonably as well.

 

[Bounce]

I like the cheap ass swisher sweets....If I'm feeling really ladeeda I'll get them with a wood tip

Yeah but you also ride a 2004 FJR so clearly have established you have no taste.

 

[TwoWhldTerror]

Great topic Nathan! I too just started "recreational" cigar smoking. Have only had a few so far, but I definitely enjoy it when I have done it.

Need to get me a small humidor first.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I like the kind Bill Clinton smokes.

:lol: Yeah I'm into those too Mike

I do enjoy a Montecristo when I can sneak 'em across from da great white nort..

 

[Bounce]

A quick google of "200 cigar humidor" (those numbers are always very optimistic) and then limiting the shopping to uder $500, netted this one

https://shopwiseguys.com/berkshire-200-cigar-humidor.html

which looks reasonable. You don't want plastics or glass as they don't absorb/release moisture to adapt moderate the relative humidity. Conditioning the humidor before use is critical (to prevent the dry humidor from pulling all the moisture out of your fine cigars) as is a good humidifier and gauge. You can make your own humidifier "puck" (credo) using wet (oasis) foam from a florist for very cheap. Avoid the dry foam as it won't absorb water. Then create a 50/50 mix of DISTILLED water and Propylene Glycol (from the pharmacist. At under $10 a pint, the PG will last you a long time. Total investment (excluding some kind of box to hold it) will be under $20 and give you months/years of "recharging fluid" that often sell for upwards to $50 for a few ounces at the cigar shop. For a container, I find one of those clam shell travel soap cases works. Cut the lid off and set the oasis foam into the lower half of the case on the top tray of the humidor, then wet the oasis to saturation with your 50/50 mix.

The analog gauge and included credo that come with most humidors are sadly under-able to do a good job of keeping your RH at 70%.

More info at:

https://www.cigargroup.com/faq/ (general faq)

https://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#4.2 (humidors)

https://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#5.0 (humidification)

https://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#5.2 (why use PG?)

https://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#6.0 (hygrometers and how to calibrate them)

 

[wheatonFJR]

I like the kind Bill Clinton smokes.

eeeewwww.

You know those are "premoistened" doncha?

 

[whataboutbob]

I like the cheap ass swisher sweets....If I'm feeling really ladeeda I'll get them with a wood tip

Yeah but you also ride a 2004 FJR so clearly have established you have no taste.

They are the perfect smoke with my favorite fine wine (boonesfarm strawberry hill)....yeah,thats right ,you remember