I tried my first one in probably 15 years about two months ago. It was a “It’s a Boy” cigar BUT…it was a Arturo Fuente (handrolled Domincan) and it was tasty. Then about a week ago, I stopped by my buddy’s house (the same one who had the kid and handed out the cigars). He and his father had just finished watching the Yankees game and were getting ready to go out back and have a cigar…they asked if I wanted one…WELL YEAH…
So…it was another Fuente, but this was really topshelf one…that did it. I stopped by the cigar shop earlier this week, and picked up a few (or six). I am planning on getting a humidor pretty soon and stocking up. So my question is…
Do any of you smoke cigars?? And if you do…what kind do you like?
I am a (moderate) pipe smoker, but sometimes I enjoy a cigar. I do not like much the expensive Cuban (and tropical) cigar, I prefer the old good Toscano. I understand it’s not for everyone, it’s strong and a bit harsh at first.
Anyway pipe is better !
Misopogon
I haven’t tried a Toscano yet. Right now, the Dominicans are treating me very well. I used to smoke a pipe back in High School. I liked it quite a bit, but it seemed to be a bit more work than I was willing to do. I was always having to clean, pack, relight, etc. It could be that I was just doing it wrong. The thing I like about cigars is they are easy to smoke, and last quite some time.
Try a good Dominican sometime and tell me what you think. So far Arturo Fuente and Cuestra Rey have been my favorites.
arguably the best non-cuban cigar that you can get in the states are Ashton Virginia Sun Grown’s (VSGs). Try those.
That being said, it’s hard to recommend brands of cigars to people. It’s like asking someone that doesn’t know you or your preferences/needs “What kind of car should I buy.”
I would find a local cigar-shop and just go in there and ask for a hand–they’re usually a friendly bunch. In a well run shop, there will be at least one guy in there who can ask you a few questions and give you a few things to try. Basically, figure out how much you’re willing to spend per cigar, whether you like milder or bolder flavors, etc etc.
These are all medium to full-flavored cigars with different “accents” or qualities that are really hard to describe. Part of the fun of getting into it is figuring out what you like…Usually what I’ll do is visit my favorite cigar shop around here every few months and pick out 4-8 new cigars that i’ve never tried. Out of those there will be maybe 1-3 that i must have again so i’ll buy a box of one of those and then stock up on a few single of the other 2 brands next time i go.
and be good to yourself…have a nice tumbler of johnnie walker gold or perhaps some woodford reserve bourbon to go with your stogie…
I have never had anything to do with tobacco - after all it’s not legal for anybody my age to have anything to do with tobacco where I live. However, some people I know who don’t care about breaking the law (or their lungs) tell me there is an excellent place in San Francisco to smoke hookahs, which they enjoy very much. I don’t know how they managed to pass for 18-year-olds, but I didn’t ask. Makes me half-tempted to try it, though preferably when I can do it legally and when I’m not financially dependent on my parents.
My first cigar was also an Arturo Fuente back when they first made Hemingways. If one of your favorite books is The Sun also Rises, how can one resist? Anyway, within a few years I found that my favorites tended to be anything La Gloria Cubana, Arturo Fuente, and when time to smoke is short, Punch Rothschilds. I don’t smoke them as often as I used to…primarily because they are so darn expensive…even the generics at the local tobacconist.
I’ve not tried the hookah scene. I know my brother, from time to time, goes to some local coffee house where you can pick from a menu of turkish tobaccos and sit around a table and smoke. There was even a hilarious, small bit on the hookah-smoking-craze-in-America on Jon Stewart on Tuesday.
But, all said, in Kansas City we have a very nice museum with an outdoor sculpture garden…mostly pieces by Henry Moore and a really cool Calder…with lots of paths and neat benches. There is absolutely nothing as nice as going there in the dead of winter, early in morning (so as not to be distracted by the sounds of traffic), and ambling through it alone with an LGC Churchill (maduro, of course!).
See…that’s what got me started. I had a Fuente Brevas Royal. It was pretty good…the next one I had was a Hemingway “Short Story”…I fell in love!!
I went to the cigar shop today. I grabbed a couple of Fuente curly head deluxes (maduro), a couple of 8-5-8 (natural..those are one of my favorites) and a couple of exquisitos (maduro)…all by Fuente. I also grabbed a few cheap $2-3 cigars to try out some of the other off brands. I really prefer short cigars. I think I am going to get a box of the natural Fuente exquisitos…they are 4.5x.42…I can finish them in about half an hour or less, and they are pleasant to a nub. They come in a box of 50 for right about $80…which is definitely a nice price. Have any of you ever tried any of the “knockoff” cigars like these here?? I have a buddy who ordered some of the Fuente 8-5-8 knockoffs…but I haven’t tried them yet.
I really like the 8-5-8s as well…I don’t think you can go wrong with an Arturo Fuente. However, I’ve never liked the curly heads, though I know those that do.
I’ve bought for jrcigars before though I’ve not bought any seconds from them. When I don’t have the money for a brand-name cigar (which is most of the time considering their expense), I buy generics from the local tobacconist. The one I go to is independently owned and he has a nice line of generics rolled for the store which are at least as good as exceptionally-consistent seconds. I would, however, imagine that JR Cigars and Knoxville Cigars (another good online store) both have very decent generics, though I’d sooner try them than seconds.
For real fun, I used to belong to the Cigar-of-the-Month Club…I think it was called the International Cigar Club or something…anyway, they’d send you three to five different cigars in a tube once a month. They also had tiered membership…so, something like $30 would get you top of the line each month, $20 middle of the line, or, like me, the $10 “whatever-is-lying-on-the-floor-of-the-humidor-at-the-end-of-the-business-week” line. It was a great way to try different brands at different prices.
School starts on the 31st, so tomorrow evening I will be smoking my final cigar for quite some time. I have decided that I am going to pretty much quit outright too. With the rare exception of an occaisional cigar (like 3 or 4 times a year maybe), I am not going to smoke anymore.
The good news is, that Marj (my wife) and one of my best friends is going to quit with me. I have gotten up to about 2 per day on average, with a heavy day being around 4!!
I’ve spent far too much money on it and alas, I am an addict at heart. I have (truly) been addicted to everything I have ever liked, and now cigars is just one more thing to put on the list. I guess the only good thing is that I wasn’t hawking my TV and VCR to go get a cigar cuz I ran out before payday
Anyhow…I’ll take all of your best wishes and prayers…I think I might have a couple of rough days in front of me.
My last cigar will be a most wonderful one though. It will be a Arturo Fuente Shade Grown Chateau Fuente a truly wonderful stick, that has become one of my favorites.
Well, Kopio, I’m sorry that quitting time is forced upon you. I feel your pain! At least you still have your TV and VCR! Plus, with the money saved, you can add a DVD player!
The nice thing about 3 or 4 a year is, 1) they won’t bankrupt you, 2) you can save for the good stuff, and 3) you probably won’t wind up with a single health-side affect. With the additional funds, you can look for the scarce Fuente Opus X or, depending on your proximity to Canada, take a day’s vacation to enjoy both a Cuban cigar accompanied by Cuban aged rum.
You do have my best wishes and prayers. I will make an offering of an 8-5-8 in your name to Iuppiter Optimus Maximus Tobacciensis.
!
Anyway, within a few years I found that my favorites tended to be anything La Gloria Cubana, Arturo Fuente, and when time to smoke is short, Punch Rothschilds. I don’t smoke them as often as I used to…primarily because they are so darn expensive…even the generics at the local tobacconist.
At least you still have your TV and VCR! Plus, with the money saved, you can add a DVD player!