Had my first cigar today

bigaudiofanatic

Was nothing like a 20 dollar cigar but one from wawa at two bucks. The celebration was a bit personal but my friend recommended we have one. Not bad i think the more expensive ones would be way better. All and all not bad. Not something I would do every weekend but something to do once in a while.

Anyone here smoke cigars?

jimmydep

Welcome to the Big League

potee

Ya and I'm going broke.

cnh

There used to be a magazine called Cigar Aficionado, I think it's online now, that features a lot of info and interviews with, you guessed it, people who like cigars.

It's hard to beat a good cigar and a fine bottle of Cognac. I rarely smoke. But when I do...a fine bottle and a close friend are good reasons to light one up!

cnh

Ron-P

cnh wrote: »

There used to be a magazine called Cigar Aficionado, I think it's online now, that features a lot of info and interviews with, you guessed it, people who like cigars.

It's hard to beat a good cigar and a fine bottle of Cognac. I rarely smoke. But when I do...a fine bottle and a close friend are good reasons to light one up!

cnh

Cigar Aficionado is still available, I get it bi-monthly (via mail) it's not just online. Fantastic magazine. I also attend their BIG Smoke event in Vegas just about every year.

I smoke several a month, Cuban's more then not thanks to a friend who lives in Vegas. But like Cathy, a good Cognac (for dipping) is a wonderful accompaniment.

Face

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108373

Demiurge

Cigars are great, but the yuppie fad of the 90s really screwed things up for prices. People paying gobs of money for absolute garbage and driving the costs up on the quality cigars for the true aficionados. The sure fire way to spot a cigar noob is when they talk about Cuban cigars like they're the holy grail of cigars -- they're not. Then you have crap like Acid from Drew Estate, which is like smoking a cigar that smells like it was rammed up a ****'s hoo hoo and then slipped in a cellophane sleeve. I worked at a cigar shop to help out a family friend for many years and my favorites are Padron Anniversario.

ESavinon

Had Cubans, Overrated, Hate Nicaraguan/Honduran. Love Dominicans. Brazil is good but too strong for me. Indonesia, Better than Honduran but still below par for me.

orrb_05

What's the allure and is the toke inhaled - not inhaled? Never smoked one.

bigaudiofanatic

You do not inhale them just puff them into your mouth as if your sucking like a fish. Is the easiest way to put it. The aroma is probably the best part.

orrb_05

I'd heard you don't inhale - just wasn't sure. My G-Pa used to smoke cigars and the smell was great!!

Rivrrat

I've been smoking gars for years, and everyone develops their own tastes. I tend to like Hondurans and Dominicans, but within those countries of origion there are still serious dog rockets being made.

If you think you might like to smoke an occasional cigar, your best bet is to find a couple you like, and then go to a shop and ask the people there for reccomendations based on your tastes.

Ron-P

Demiurge wrote: »

Cigars are great, but the yuppie fad of the 90s really screwed things up for prices. People paying gobs of money for absolute garbage and driving the costs up on the quality cigars for the true aficionados. The sure fire way to spot a cigar noob is when they talk about Cuban cigars like they're the holy grail of cigars -- they're not. Then you have crap like Acid from Drew Estate, which is like smoking a cigar that smells like it was rammed up a ****'s hoo hoo and then slipped in a cellophane sleeve. I worked at a cigar shop to help out a family friend for many years and my favorites are Padron Anniversario.

Not so much the yuppie fad as it was the huge tax hike they got hit with.

Cubans, IMO, are better then "most" Dominicans but yes, they are not significantly better. After all, Dominicans are grown from Cuban seeds, just grown in a different climate/soil, which can make a difference, but a minor one.

mrbiron

Black and Milds with the Wood tip (gotta stay eco-friendly)......that's cigar smoking on a budget

MMMmmm...Hmmmmm

Have only had 2 cubans. One was alright, the other i couldn't work for an hour after, that and i was drinking.

HB27

ESavinon wrote: »

Had Cubans, Overrated, Hate Nicaraguan/Honduran. Love Dominicans. Brazil is good but too strong for me. Indonesia, Better than Honduran but still below par for me.

My favorite is the Habana Partega but the Dominicans are very close and many a fine cigar is rolled up there.
Cigar fave's are a personal taste like anything else.

dorokusai

This cigar thread reads like every audio thread....mountain biking or even best waffle thread I've ever come across.

My only advice, you don't have to spend a lot of money nor have a Cuban to have a good cigar....period. Just like wine.

Fongolio

Demiurge wrote: »

my favorites are Padron Anniversario.

I love any Padron. Cuban's are far to hit and miss. I smoked a big Cohiba recently that was given to me as a gift and honestly I didn't like it. I've smoked other Cohiba's that were great but overall Cuban's are good about 50% of the time. I really like Nicaraguan's and Dominican's. I've smoked for many years but only a few this year. Very expensive luxury if you like the good stuff.

dorokusai

Cuban's used to be ultra cool and very good before the seeds made their way to other countries and they've by far, coupled with embargo issues, made Cuban national cigars....a novelty. Much like $0.25 machine at Walmart....who cares. Most of the folks posting in this thread, indcluding me, don't even know about the 60-70's aside from the fact we were born back then.

This embargo and Cuban BS has got to end...it's just silly and old world. Once they lift it, I'm off to visit and cigars are on the bottom of my list of give a craps....Cuba is beautiful....for the most part.

jflail2

Fongolio hit the nail on the head. Padron 2000 or 3000 (robusto or toro sizes respectively I believe) are as good as they come. Nice and full bodied, consistent flavor and usually dirt cheap compared to the cigars that they better.

I managed a tobacco shop for 10 years, and worked part time at one here for another 2 until I quit smoking completely. Needless to say I've had just about everything out there.

My favorites in some semblance of order:

Partagas: Serie D #4 robusto: Cuba- My absolute favorite cigar
Bolivar: Corona :Cuba- Very stout for a little smoke. my favorite small powerhouse.
Padron 2000: Nicaragua: Perfect size, consistent flavor, always a good draw. Overall my "best bang for the buck" cigar.


Others:

CAO makes a wide variety of flavors; I like most of what they do.

Arturo Fuentes are good, but also a bit overpriced/overrated. Their chateau sungrown series is a good bang for the buck for a medium bodied smoke.

Macanudos are, in my opinion, INCREDIBLY bland/ woody. If you want mild, try a dominican Romeo yJulieta Vintage. The #3 (robusto) is a good size.

Rocky Patels are growing in popularity still, and rightfully so. Good smoke.

La Flor Dominicana makes some nice variety as well.

I could ramble all night, but those brands should get you going in the right direction should you choose to pursue further.

I did used to inhale a pinch, but I also smoked cigs at that time so it didn't bother me. Just like audio, 1/2 the joy of cigars is the journey. Talk little, listen lots, and you'll meet tons of interesting people at tobacco shops. Least I have anyway. Happy smoking

mole'

never had a cuban before, so i cant comment on them. i myself like moontrance (bourbon vanilla flavor), acids (blue connecticut) from Krush classic, Makers Mark (bourbon flavor)

not sure how these compare to the ones you guys like.

Joe08867

Demiurge wrote: »

Cigars are great, but the yuppie fad of the 90s really screwed things up for prices. People paying gobs of money for absolute garbage and driving the costs up on the quality cigars for the true aficionados. The sure fire way to spot a cigar noob is when they talk about Cuban cigars like they're the holy grail of cigars -- they're not. Then you have crap like Acid from Drew Estate, which is like smoking a cigar that smells like it was rammed up a ****'s hoo hoo and then slipped in a cellophane sleeve. I worked at a cigar shop to help out a family friend for many years and my favorites are Padron Anniversario.

I agree with you 100%. It's when Paris and All her friends started smoking them at clubs. The effin prices jumped 200% on just crappo cigars.

I still say there's nothin like a nice glass of Cognac, Whiskey or Scotch and a nice Cigar. Especially if it has been rolled on the thighs of virgins!!!

EDUBAG

Being from the dominican republic i can say a couple of brands that maybe you guys do not know (at least they have not been mentioned yet).

Davidoff
la aurora jewell collection
opus x (from the fuentes but not the same product as arturo fuentes).


Enjoy

jflail2

Davidoff is nice, but a bit pricey for what you get. I never thought they were that much better than RyJ Vintage.

La Aurora's were nice for the price (and iirc the oldest Dominican brand.)

Opus X was a big deal back in the day b/c it was the first Dominican released with a Dominican wrapper. That and it used to only be carried in something like 325 stores, all East of the Mississippi. Nowadays there are plenty of other brands with Dominican wrappers, and you can get Opus X nationwide now.

Good lord at the stampede we used to see when we'd get Opus in at the store I used to manage. We had a rolodex of high net worth folks, and we could literally sell our entire shipment to about 10 guys if we had wanted to. We'd usually sell about 1/2 the shipment to those rich guys we'd call first, and then put the rest out for John Q Public's consumption. That was at the height of the cigar boom, so EVERYTHING was crazy back then.

And credit to Fuente, the Opus X boxes were some of the prettiest cigar boxes I've seen to date (they also came in boxes of 32 instead of 25, which was also kinda odd.)

shawn474

Good place to get your feet wet in regards to cigars.

http://www.thompsoncigar.com/

Shawn

bigaudiofanatic

Joe08867 wrote: »

I agree with you 100%. It's when Paris and All her friends started smoking them at clubs. The effin prices jumped 200% on just crappo cigars.

I still say there's nothin like a nice glass of Cognac, Whiskey or Scotch and a nice Cigar. Especially if it has been rolled on the thighs of virgins!!!

Will have to try that but probably agree.

ken brydson

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Will have to try that but probably agree.

I loved Boston Legal. Never missed an episode...

F1nut

Hoyo De Monterrey-Dark Sumatra

bigaudiofanatic

I have the first three on dvd I need to ge the rest I cried at the last episode. Great show. That is one thing my friend and I share is BL when he comes over.

HB27

jflail2 wrote: »

Fongolio hit the nail on the head. Padron 2000 or 3000 (robusto or toro sizes respectively I believe) are as good as they come. Nice and full bodied, consistent flavor and usually dirt cheap compared to the cigars that they better.

I managed a tobacco shop for 10 years, and worked part time at one here for another 2 until I quit smoking completely. Needless to say I've had just about everything out there.

My favorites in some semblance of order:

Partagas: Serie D #4 robusto: Cuba- My absolute favorite cigar
Bolivar: Corona :Cuba- Very stout for a little smoke. my favorite small powerhouse.
Padron 2000: Nicaragua: Perfect size, consistent flavor, always a good draw. Overall my "best bang for the buck" cigar.

Others:

CAO makes a wide variety of flavors; I like most of what they do.

Arturo Fuentes are good, but also a bit overpriced/overrated. Their chateau sungrown series is a good bang for the buck for a medium bodied smoke.

Macanudos are, in my opinion, INCREDIBLY bland/ woody. If you want mild, try a dominican Romeo yJulieta Vintage. The #3 (robusto) is a good size.

Rocky Patels are growing in popularity still, and rightfully so. Good smoke.

La Flor Dominicana makes some nice variety as well.

I could ramble all night, but those brands should get you going in the right direction should you choose to pursue further.

I did used to inhale a pinch, but I also smoked cigs at that time so it didn't bother me. Just like audio, 1/2 the joy of cigars is the journey. Talk little, listen lots, and you'll meet tons of interesting people at tobacco shops. Least I have anyway. Happy smoking

I'd never tried the CAO so I ran to the local cigar shop and picked up one CAO Cameroon at $4.00. Nice cigar. Flavor, aroma, and well wrapped. I'm a chewer so it's important. Nice recommendations on the CAO. Nice cigar for the $$$
Thanks
Harry

madmax

I grab one maybe once a year for a few bucks.

cstmar01

Eh smoked a few at times, but not something I would spend big money on.

I'm a drinker more than a smoker and would rather sit and spend $$ on a nice bottle of something that would help get some ladies close by then something smoking that would keep them away...