Anybody Here Like Cigars?

[skow69]

I don't know diddly about cigars. Smoked a few over the years. Some I enjoyed. Some sucked. Got to thinking that a good one might be real enjoyable with a glass of good whiskey. So I started buying these samplers on line. You get 6 or 10 or 20 assorted in a bag for what claims to be a discounted price. It's easy to find the MSRPs along with ratings and reviews. I try to pick out a bag of $6 - $10 cigars for $2 - $4 apiece. The discounts probably aren't really that good, but it's nice to think that you're getting better cigars than what they sell at the corner liquor store for something less than retail. So far I've found out there's about a million different brands, they mostly do taste better than the cheapos I've bought at random local stores (the prices at real tobaconists always scared me off), and, yes, they do go really well with a glass of good whiskey.

Anybody got advice or comments? Different cigar for different liquor? What's your favorite?

[bearriver]

Here is a HD thread on cigars: http://ww.homedistiller.org/forum/viewt ... =7&t=44811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I smoked cigars for 2 years, then moved onto cigarettes for a few more. My favorite was some Costa Rica brand I no longer can recall. After starting a family it's one of those hobbies that had to go, but I sure miss it! My step father would give me samplers packs like the ones you mentioned.

The wife is due to give birth on my birthday, the 26th of this month. You talked me into grabbing my first one in a LONG while for the event.

[meatheadinc]

I love cigars ,love to smoke...........
haven't had a cigar/cigarette since Christmas day and miss smoking.... especially a cigar with a nice whiskey
I promised myself (for motivational purposes) that I could have a cigar for my birthday and again at Christmas.
because of this I will be watching this post closely for advice on a great cigar to enjoy next month
unfortunately I cant ad much as I only really smoked wee willums cheap crap and my trusty champion ruby rollies

[skow69]

Thanks for the link, bear. I don't know how I missed that.

[WhiteDevil504]

Hey congrats bear, we just had another bambino arrive last week. Hope you're catching up on sleep while you can.

[warp1]

perfect timing for the post...I always figured a good cigar would go well with homemade....just never sat down and ordered any. Went with
Arturo Fuente Chateau Series Chateau Fuente Sun Grown Rothschild, and
Montecristo Double Corona Connecticut

very small order of each....looking forward to trying them

[skow69]

Righton! I've just been trying to make note of what I like as it shows up, in a more or less random fashion. I'm on my 3rd sampler. So far I'm most impressed with Alec bradley, Punch, and Aging Room, but I couldn't tell you what model I had of any brand. Arturo Fuente and Montecristo are getting good press here, but I haven't tried either of them. There are so many brands that it would take years to give them all a fair audition. This is as bad as when I set out to learn about absinthe. I had to set up a spreadsheet to keep track. It was a terrible ordeal.

I'm trying to pay more attention to where the tobacco is grown. (Fillers, binders, and wrappers.) I love it--every science, discipline, and hobby of any substance has its own lexicon that just sounds like jibberish at first. Once you get involved you couldn't live without the terminology.

[skow69]

That thread that bearriver referenced, http://ww.homedistiller.org/forum/viewt ... =7&t=44811, has a lot of good information in it. I should have just bumped it to keep it all together. If the mods want to tack this on to it, that would be cool.

[skow69]

Congratulations, bear! But now I feel guilty for leading you back into sin. Your wife is gonna hate me. All my friends' moms always said I was a bad influence. I guess they were right. Har!

Best wishes, man.

[WhiteDevil504]

Hey skow if you find yourself on either coast or near Chicago or Vegas there is an event called "The Big Smoke" put on by cigar aficionado and it's well worth the trip. You leave with a bag full of cigars and a belly full of great food and decent commercial liquor.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/events" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I took my step dad a few years ago for his birthday and it's a great time, all of the big cigar manufacturers are there and a lot of "top shelf" liquor manufacturers. It's kinda like a trade show with booths, but as you're walking around people are handing you cigars, suggesting pairings, handing you food or glasses of Johnny Walker blue, gentleman jack, etc. and ya never know who you'll see there.

It's worth putting on the bucket list if you like cigars and want to learn more about them and what you like.

[Boda Getta]

I've been a cigar guy since 1997. IMHO (many on various cigar forums agree) that one of the best buys on cigars is the Consuegra line. Consuegra's are true seconds of Excalibur, Punch, El Rey del Mundo, Hoyo de Monterrey and JR Ultimates, all very good cigars. Most of them are Honduran with first rate construction and blends and 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the firsts name brand smoke. I have been buying Connie's for +15 years and have never been disappointed. I favor maduro's of around 6" in 52-54 ring. My favorites are the # 9, #16, #73 and #84. I average around $2- $2.5 a cigar. JR Cigar has the best selection and prices. Give them a try, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

BG

[thecroweater]

yeah got a quantity of tobacco curing in the shed, must read up on how to roll cigars

[skow69]

WhiteDevil--The Big Smokle sounds like a gas. And you are one helluva step son. I've spent a lot of time on cigaraficianado's website sorting thru the reviews. I'll have to keep an eye on the Big Smoke blurbs and watch for a friendly venue. I'm not much of a fan of Las Vegas anymore. Just showing my age, I know. I'm still comfortable in Reno, but the strip is just too over-the-top for my old ass these days. Thanks for the tip.

Boda getta--I'm lighting a Punch from J-R right now. Never heard of Consuegra. Never heard of seconds. What is that, like the roller came in hungover and couldn't get the wrappers to stick or something? Like the cigar equivalent of plywood blows? Or are they slightly bent or lumpy or something. Now I'm really curious. The price sure sounds good. I will check them out.

Croweater--I just today discovered the world of grow-your-own or buy the leaves and roll-your-owns. I'm always inclined to do everything possible in-house. I don't see any point in buying malt when I can buy barley seed and malt it myself. If I was still out on the farm I'd grow the grains, too. I don't have much room for horticulture anymore, but I'm pretty hyped for buying top shelf leaves and learning to roll. I worked the hell out of google and you tube today. Found several distinctly different methods. The one I liked best was this guy. His 'little tubes' make sense to me. And he was the only one that even mentioned working with the veins in the leaves. Rolling up leaves that you grew from seed has got to be a great feeling. Enjoy.

Thanks guys. I'm really glad I started this thread. I was kinda liking cigars before. Now I'm enjoying the hell out of 'em and dying to get ahold of some whole leaves.

Skol,
skow

[Boda Getta]

Skow:
Connies are true seconds; these are cigars taken right off the rolling lines of the name brand cigar (Punch for example) that could show a slight imperfection in the wrapper, water mark, etc. There are many "fake" seconds cigar on the market that are clearly inferior but try to trade on the firsts name or the cigar company name that are made from floor sweeping, scraps, trainer rollers, ect ect. These are usually not a good buy. I have smoked thousands of Connies and seldom find anything wrong wrong with them. I believe most Connies are over-runs and there is nothing wrong with the cigar. The only other Seconds I recommend is the Old Fashioned line which are true seconds to Macanudo's. Another good value. The best supplier for OF's are Mike's Cigars. Check out this link
http://www.cigarpass.com/forums/topic/7 ... reference/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

invest a few bucks in a bundle and tell me what you think.

BG

[DAD300]

I smoke cigars while I commute...two a day.

Don't buy HUGE cigars while you are trying to learn what you like. Buy coronas (5" x 48 rg) or smaller.

You can find less expensive cigars that are very good. But there is no substitute for a great cigar...and they are usually more expensive.

I use cigarbid.com...I low ball bid on great cigars and get about one in every twenty things I bid on. Start with their samplers and find what you like before buying a box. Keep the cigars small...a big cigar may take 1.5 - 2 hours to smoke right.

Starting off...Victor Sinclair's Connecticut & Corrojo are well made and mostly mild cigars that can be had around $1usd a piece...

[bearriver]

Damn all of you... I gotta have my first one in years now. All thanks to this thread.

(BR, off to the hitching post on an ATV)

[skow69]

invest a few bucks in a bundle and tell me what you think.

I'll do it. Prices look great.

Cigarpass could be a fun game. Like a chain letter with cigars, right? Do you participate?

Don't buy HUGE cigars while you are trying to learn what you like. Buy coronas (5" x 48 rg) or smaller.

I'm not sure why, but I seem to favor longer, thinner and milder sticks. Fat cigars don't appeal to me and nubs just leave me cold. Churchills just look and feel right. I haven't had a presidente yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I know that's insane, since it has nothing to do with taste, but it's an undeniable, appearently inate bias. Maybe it will change with experience.

You can find less expensive cigars that are very good. But there is no substitute for a great cigar...and they are usually more expensive.

My new obsession with cigars seems to be all wrapped up with my liquor fetish. I'd rather have a few really good ones than a bunch that are mediocre. OMG, that's almost like accepting delayed gratification. It doesn't sound like me, but I guess anything is possible.

Cigarbid uses an interesting auction format. I've seen that somewhere else but I can't place where. I think I'll need a lot more familiarity with brands and prices to sneak out the good deals like you do.

I think I'm gonna need a humidore. I forsee a lot more cigars showing up around here.

[bobtail]

I have friend with family south of florida, and latley he's been getting me Bohike's & Trinadads. Best smokes i've ever had ,but nothing i could afford thru usual channels

[DAD300]

Plastic Coolers make great humidors...if you feel the need for cedar, add the bits from empty cigar boxes, a hygrometer and some beads to adjust humidity.

Bigger Vitolas (sizes) tend to be milder, I think to offset the larger amount of smoke the produce.

I also like longer thinner Lonsdale and Lanceros...but the time to smoke something that takes more than an hour is hard to come by.

Hmmm, brands...I like everything Arturo Fuente, most all Tatuaje (they have a club/forum S&S, that sends you a sampler), Cain, Olivia, Camacho, Liga Privada, San Cristobal,...you'll also find out that there are Master Blenders that work for dif factories and if you find a blender you like you will usually like their cigars in a dif manufacturer.

Mail ordering beats the local taxes...I understand that NY is the worst and has a 75% tax on tobacco.

[skow69]

I can't believe that stupid Cuban embargo is still in place. Like Batista was a real humanitarian in the first place. Maybe somebody should notify Washington the cold war is over. RANT!

I have a little Igloo that is about the right size for a humidore. I understand we don't want cigars to dry out, but what is the deal with Spanish cedar? Does it absorb something or impart something or just look cool?

Gotta get me some of them Arturo Fuentes. They pop up in everybody's list of favorites.

[rbw65]

I qut cigars a year ago, my cigar bill was outrageous, I kept about 1500 in a humidor. I made Cigar Bid and Cigar International rich...By myself. Thats where I Found the best buy on Stogies. Seconds and everything else. Fell in love with Oliva V's.
Started Smoking a pipe, much more economical and very varied in taste too. Take care

[skow69]

Pipe? Economical? Varied taste?

Oh no no no no no no no! Only one obsession at a time!

Thanks for your input.

I think.

[DAD300]

Spanish Cedar is a bug repellant and raw wood helps maintain the moisture content in the cooler.

I use a Coleman cooler and when I get a cedar box I break it up and put all the pieces in the bottom of the cooler.

They need to be held at 65-70% humidity and under 75 deg F...for mold,...almost all cigars have beetle eggs in them and if they get too warm and humid...you get bugs. Better cigars are exposed to a co2 bath to kill the bugs.

I've never had bugs, but I have had mold. White fuzz on the outside of a box. Now I wipe new boxes with my "heads" before storing.

[skow69]

BUGS!?! Ahhhhhhhhh!

Thanks for the tips.

Is there some magic to Spanish Cedar? Western Red and Incense Cedar are plentiful here. They might be too aromatic, I suppose. I need to sniff out a cigar box. Mine magically appear in the mailbox in a baggie.

[skow69]

I just firewd up a Casa de Garcia 6 x 52, must be a toro, torpedo. Tabacalera de Garcia by the band. Belicoso Conn by the barcode. It's quite nice,fits this bourbon well. I won't pretend that I can taste notes of leather or pepper or whatever.

An inch in now, it's really nothing to write home about. It's off my buy again list if I had one. Must be time for a spreadsheet.

I know it's just shape and not quality, but, if I'm being honest, I really like torpedos, and box pressed. Square cigars are cool.

[DAD300]

Save the bands of the ones you like or write comments on all of them...after a while you'll have your favorite brands.

[WhiteDevil504]

You know I use Evernote to catalogue wine, beer and cigars I buy and like. I tag them by year, country of origin, shaped etc so I can reference them quick when I am in the store. I usually take a picture of the label or band just to make it faster when I am searching for what ever. I don't work for evernote but it is a handy free app.

[skow69]

I'll check it out. Thanks.

[T-Pee]

Never had a bug in a Swisher Sweet.

tp (and a cheap date)

[skow69]

Nothin' but the best for tp. He's got the best looking Yugo I've ever seen.