What Cigar to start off with ?

[PIPS]

As a hookah/shisha smoker which I smoke every now and again, the last few months, I’ve been curious to lighting up a cigar and seeing if I’d enjoy it or not it.

As I have absolutely have no idea where to start, I wanted to ask you guys to see if a cigar that is semi sweet and that has a creamy taste even exists ?? I’ve read that there are “spicy” cigars but as of now, it just seems like turn off and something that I probably won’t end up enjoying (mabey its the indian in me lol).

Any other recommendations are also welcome...

[johnmrson]

My suggestion would be a Diplomatico #5. Very smooth and a nice smoke.

[Uncle Erik]

I don't know of any good cigars that have a sweet taste. There are flavored ones, but most of them aren't good. I have a hookah, too, and most cigars aren't like the tobacco I use in it.

Though cigars are different, I think you should be able to enjoy one. I ususally give Macanudos to noobs. Perhaps not the best, but a solid cigar most enjoy. Same with Partagas, for that matter.

I'd recommend visiting a local tobacconist. Good ones will have a wide variety of cigars and will spend some time talking with you about them. If you've never visted a tobaconnist, you should. They're almost always friendly and sociable, and will put some time into developing a relationship with you. An experienced one will lead you to a good cigar or two or three.

[plexibass]

Start with a MACANUDO and go from there.

[citizensoldierny]

Acid aromatic cigars will get anyone looking for a nice sweet smoke hooked. Macanudo, Fonseca, and others make cigars that are easy for beginners to get addicted to , I mean started on. I started on Fonseca's myself so I'm biased.

[inkcoffee]

+1 on Fonseca, 5-50 specifically

[olblueyez]

If you want sweet in a nice cigar then go for "Ashton Cabinet". You will not be dissapointed.

Ashton Cabinet

If a Macanudo is a Buick then the AC is a Benz. I did enjoy many Macanudos when I was a kid though.

[PIPS]

Nice....
Now where can I buy singles ? Seems like pretty much everywhere I look, they sell them in boxes.

[hfraser]

in the smoothest cigars i would say go Fonseca (cuban) they are awesome on the other end of not so smooth but one of my favorites the H Upmann Monarch is a really good smoke with a 16 year lagavulin ... the Fonseca i prefer with a cognac.

But for a starter i would say Romeo y Julieta #2 it's a midrange cigar that has a great body to it and will not cost you an arm and a leg and will offer the same pleasure (great with a nice cognac or armagnac)

Just make sure you get a decent cutter and check online how to cut em properly.
When buying always make sure they are not to humid or not to dry !

BTW this is probably more addictive than DE shaving once you start !

[hfraser]

Nice....
Now where can I buy singles ? Seems like pretty much everywhere I look, they sell them in boxes.

http://www.cigargroup.com/regional/ca/sfbay/

just don't buy a box!
unless you got a humidor and the time to keep it perfect single buys are the best, buy the day you want to smoke them and they will be just perfect!!!

[BigBuddha76]

PM me your address...I'll send you some sticks you'll like

[RockyNomad]

Nice....
Now where can I buy singles ? Seems like pretty much everywhere I look, they sell them in boxes.

Tobacco stores will sell singles as well as boxes.

[PIPS]

PM me your address...I'll send you some sticks you'll like

Wow, are you serious ?
Pm'ed !!

[cueball]

After a fifteen year hiatis I got the urge for a cigar today. Stopped by a tobacco shop and asked for a mild smoke. The tobaconnist reccommended a Oliva Connecticut Reserve so I picked up a robusto and am enjoying it with a growler of Dog Fish Head 60 minite IPA.Just what I need another so called bad habit.

[itsjustjim]

Macanudo are mild and a good starting cigar.

[hfraser]

After a fifteen year hiatis I got the urge for a cigar today. Stopped by a tobacco shop and asked for a mild smoke. The tobaconnist reccommended a Oliva Connecticut Reserve so I picked up a robusto and am enjoying it with a growler of Dog Fish Head 60 minite IPA.Just what I need another so called bad habit.

Not sure taking time to enjoy life in a calm relaxing moment can be called a bad habit :devil:

[Savor the Stick]

http://www.cigargroup.com/regional/ca/sfbay/

just don't buy a box!
unless you got a humidor and the time to keep it perfect single buys are the best, buy the day you want to smoke them and they will be just perfect!!!

I agree with most of what you said....but all of the cigar stores I have visited keep their humidors in the upper70% to low 80%'s humidity( people constantly going in and out)....much too wet to have an enjoyable smoke--too wet of a cigar will give you some terrible burn issues.
So buy that smoke planning to smoke it the next day, take out of wrapper, and put in a cardboard box or sock drawer...enjoy it 24 hrs later.

Kudos to the fellow offering to send you a few cigars...he beat me to it.:biggrin1:

Enjoy!! :thumbup:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

[bandit82ta]

What gentleman we have here. Thus the reason why I spend time in web location... probably more then I should haha.

[jwcarlson]

Start with a MACANUDO and go from there.

+1!!

That's what I started with and they're fantastic as far as I can tell.
Don't worry about getting some monster cigar either, get something fairly small, mild, and smooth (Mancanudo fits the bill, at least the ones I've smoked).

Stay away from anything flavored or scented at first. Someone suggested an Acid blondie to to and after smoking it and greatly enjoying it I threw up for half an hour in the shower. I believe I was allergic to whatever they perfume it with. It tasted great though, kinda sweet. Now if I smoke a cigar and it gives me any sort of sweet taste on my lips I can't continue.

[olblueyez]

in the smoothest cigars i would say go Fonseca (cuban) they are awesome on the other end of not so smooth but one of my favorites the H Upmann Monarch is a really good smoke with a 16 year lagavulin ... the Fonseca i prefer with a cognac.

But for a starter i would say Romeo y Julieta #2 it's a midrange cigar that has a great body to it and will not cost you an arm and a leg and will offer the same pleasure (great with a nice cognac or armagnac)

Just make sure you get a decent cutter and check online how to cut em properly.
When buying always make sure they are not to humid or not to dry !

BTW this is probably more addictive than DE shaving once you start !

Do you consider your recommendations to be "sweet"?

[Slash McCoy]

There is a huge difference between a good cigar and a good Cuban cigar. Of course Habanos can be hard to get, and expensive, for most Americans, but I will start by mentioning that my favorites are the Romeo y Julieta Churchill and the Punch Double Corona. While they aren't cheap, they won't break the bank either and they are nice smokes. The Romeo y Julieta is a nice mild smoke with a pleasing bouquet and the Punch is a bit livelier without being as overpowerfully strung as the Partagas. Among the Cuban premium cigars, the beginner could do much worse than to try the Romeo Churchill.

My favorite Honduran for a long time was the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur #1. When I first tried that cigar, which was about 20 years ago, they typically had a thick buttery, almost sweet characteristic that I found very pleasing. Now they don't really stand out from the pack so much but they are still relatively inexpensive for a quality cigar. The Dominican Romeo y Julieta Robusto is nice though IMHO a teensy bit overpriced. The Robusto shape is a good one for a beginner, because while you have a large ring guage (cigar-geek-speak for diameter) which helps to provide a nice cool and flavorful smoke, you don't have something that it will take you the better part of 2 hours to smoke. A robusto is a good after dinner smoke.

If you insist on a smaller cigar, Fuente makes two that I am partial to. The 8-5-8 is nice but I really like those itty bitty Hemmingway Short Stories which are a small somewhat strong cigar in a unique shape. The Short Story is a very different cigar that makes a nice change from the ordinary and is good for when you don't want to take the time to smoke a bigger cigar.

Take a look in a current copy of "Cigar Afficionado" magazine and scan the reviews. DO NOT pay attention to the actual ratings. They are irrelevant if you ask me, and misleading. But the descriptions are useful and interesting. If you are just starting with cigars you would do well to read the description and as you smoke the cigar, try to detect the flavor notes that the reviewer describes.

If you buy just a few cigars they will usually give them to you in a ziplock bag, and they will keep just fine that way for a week or so, but if you buy a box then you will want some sort of humidor. A large tupperware type container works good enough and if you have a broken waterstone, a chunk of that soaked in water makes a fairly good humidifier, though any humidifier that you buy will be better. Some people use a chunk of apple but I would advise against that. You don't want mold starting in your humidor. "Real" humidors are generally way overpriced for what you are getting but if the bug really bites then you will want one eventually.

I use a zippo for lighting. Most smokers will tell you that this is a horrible way to light a cigar, and it is, if used improperly. I hate those butane torches. They put out a beautiful flame when new, but when that little platinum wire element gets broken or dirty, they get pretty cranky. A large wooden match is actually the best, IMHO. It will take two matches. One to toast the end, the other for the actual lighting.

Nothing wrong with a flat cutter, but I use a vee cutter. Just preference. Try both, or try either one... not a biggie. I would stay away from the scissors type cutter. They are difficult to use and only the highest quality ones give consistent results even in experienced hands. I don't care much for the plug type cutter but I have to admit they are pretty convenient to carry around "just in case". I do try to keep a flat cutter in my truck so I can cut a partially smoked cigar back from the end and keep it for later. Oh, and never stub out a cigar. You will most likely ruin it. Give it 5 minutes and it will go out on its own.

[Commander Quan]

If you want to try a sweet cigar look for Naturals by Drew Estate. These cigars are not flavored like the Acids that Jonathan Drew is most known for, but do have a sweet tip that can be nice. I'd also recommend the Perdomo Lot 23 natural, this is a great creamy cigar that will give you lots of flavor without being overpowering.

I don't think it has been mentioned yet but make sure you don't inhale cigars the same way you do with a hookah. Just draw the smoke into your mouth, roll it around your tongue, then blow it out, and enjoy the world.

[Ruck]

Acid Deep Dish, Acid Kuba Kuba, Helix Remix. Not necessarily "good" by the aficionado's standard, but they burn when you hold a lighter to the end, they put smoke in your mouth, and they're sweet tasting (and they smell good).

[jwcarlson]

Acid Deep Dish, Acid Kuba Kuba, Helix Remix. Not necessarily "good" by the aficionado's standard, but they burn when you hold a lighter to the end, they put smoke in your mouth, and they're sweet tasting (and they smell good).

Acid cigars are the ones that made me violently ill and that sweet taste ehhhhh.
It was great when I was smoking it but I couldn't smoke another one.
For the record the Acid Kuba Kuba I bought was given to my uncle when the Blondie made me sick. He smoked it at one evening and he was sweating bullets and had to put it out about half way through it. He smokes cigars fairly regularly so I don't know if I'd suggest that one to a newbie.


I smoked a Helix last night, wasn't anything scented or perfumed but it was a very smooth, mild smoke. Came in a big blue thin metal tube and I've had it for over 2 years, maybe 3 years.

I've got a 1999 Rocky Patel that looks like a very mild smoke as well. That my be the next one I light up out of the box. It's been sitting in my humidor for 2-3 years as well.

[itsjustjim]

If you want a sweet cigar, try a nice Baccarat.

[PIPS]

Thanks guys !!!
So im over neptunecigar and am placing my order in a week or two, when I get back from the UK.

I've added.....
- Craftsman's Bench Neptune Ashtray
- Wolf V-Cut 52 Gauge Cutter
- Ashton Classic Corona
- Helix Remix Amaretto Petite Corona
- Oliva Serie G Maduro Churchill
- Oliva Serie G Robusto
- Perdomo Lot 23 Churchill
- Punch Natural Double Corona
- Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Robusto

Anything else I should check out ?

[MaxRazor]

I personally feel the Cuban's are over rated. Before the revolution I'm sure they were the best, but since the Dominican's have arrived Cuban's have serious competition.

I'm a huge fan of Arturo Fuente. Try a Montesino or Diamond Crown. You won't regret the price nor the experience.

[DSW]

I would usually go into the shop and ask for a new recommendation, since I'm not the most frequent of cigar smokers. I like a light to medium body with a spicy wrapper, and I'll usually go with what the more experienced hands in the store direct me to, when I smoke a cigar. If I smoke a pipe, on the other hand, I'm a bit more educated.

At one point I was on the road and didn't have my cutter, and I learned that the tip of my pocketknife, carefully applied, will do a fine job at opening an airway at the end of a proper cigar. Plus, it kinda felt manly. :laugh:

[bossdog79]

+1 on the Baccarat. just got a box of em to lay in the the Humidor.

[mouscacha]

Another note on cubans. Apparently, cuban cigars are now using Nicaraguan filler. They just don't have the ability to make enough tobacco anymore. And it seems that they no longer have the best rollers, either. The percentage of cuban rolled cigars not drawing correctly are much greater than the premium non-cigar brands. Actually, never had an arturo fuente that couldn't draw.

[bones59]

Another note on cubans. Apparently, cuban cigars are now using Nicaraguan filler. They just don't have the ability to make enough tobacco anymore. And it seems that they no longer have the best rollers, either. The percentage of cuban rolled cigars not drawing correctly are much greater than the premium non-cigar brands. Actually, never had an arturo fuente that couldn't draw.

I'll add that some Cubanos that I've had were great, some, not so great. That is if you can fine one made in Cuba. Cuban cigars are often fakes, even the one you buy in Cuba.
+1 on Dominican Republic making fine cigars using tabacco grown with Cuban seeds.
Lots of good info here, and on the web. I would say, find a size you like, and a color of wrap. Light to dark, lighter for a milder smoke, darker for a stronger taste, in general. Long fillers, and no paper. Don't let price be your only guide. Good luck

[mouscacha]

I'll add that some Cubanos that I've had were great, some, not so great. That is if you can fine one made in Cuba. Cuban cigars are often fakes, even the one you buy in Cuba.
+1 on Dominican Republic making fine cigars using tabacco grown with Cuban seeds.
Lots of good info here, and on the web. I would say, find a size you like, and a color of wrap. Light to dark, lighter for a milder smoke, darker for a stronger taste, in general. Long fillers, and no paper. Don't let price be your only guide. Good luck

Agreed :)

Just had one of the new Zino Cane that was pretty darn good! Needs age though =P

[Mazeman]

IMO, Acid cigars are simply terrible. It's the equivalent of calling Yaegerbombs "drinking". Aimed at 20yos.

I also dislike Macanudos, despite the fact that they're often recommended as a "first cigar". I started smoking with Macanudos, and almost didn't continue, until I tried other kinds.

I'd recommend a Rocky Patel "The Edge Lite".

[Soulcraft]

A personnal favorite of mine is the Alec Bradley Family blend. It is fairly cheap in the US, around 5-6$ (compared to 13$ here in Canada) and is a mild to medium smoke with nice flavour.

Oliva El Cobre is my go to cheap smoke. For around 3-4$ US you get a good bang for your buck.

[mouscacha]

IMO, Acid cigars are simply terrible. It's the equivalent of calling Yaegerbombs "drinking". Aimed at 20yos.

I also dislike Macanudos, despite the fact that they're often recommended as a "first cigar". I started smoking with Macanudos, and almost didn't continue, until I tried other kinds.

I'd recommend a Rocky Patel "The Edge Lite".

Definitely agree! The one box of acids stunk up the entire humidor!!!

[ShavedZombie]

I was recommended the Oliva Series G, and it proved to be a wonderful introductory smoke... Might want to pick one up from your local tobacconist

[Open Channel D]

Another vote for Hemingway Short Stories. Good 30 minute cigar. Use a match, not a lighter, and enjoy.
Davidoff makes a number of solid choices, especially the 5000. Hard to get but worth it.

[theperfectstorm]

Whatever you chose...go small at first. Do not go in cold and buy some sort of cricket-bat-sized Dominican valentine or half way through you will end up puking on a subway platform to the mixed horror and amusement of passers-by.

[mouscacha]

Whatever you chose...go small at first. Do not go in cold and buy some sort of cricket-bat-sized Dominican valentine or half way through you will end up puking on a subway platform to the mixed horror and amusement of passers-by.

Are you speaking from experience? :crying:

[Savor the Stick]

Thanks guys !!!
So im over neptunecigar and am placing my order in a week or two, when I get back from the UK.

I've added.....
- Craftsman's Bench Neptune Ashtray
- Wolf V-Cut 52 Gauge Cutter
- Ashton Classic Corona
- Helix Remix Amaretto Petite Corona
- Oliva Serie G Maduro Churchill
- Oliva Serie G Robusto
- Perdomo Lot 23 Churchill
- Punch Natural Double Corona
- Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Robusto

Anything else I should check out ?

www.cigarasylum.com (http://www.cigarasylum.com) is a friendly place to learn more about cigars.

The Flor de Oliva's are great budget smoke in natural or maduro. Also check out the Sancho Panza's--both the double Maduro and the Fuete.

Looks like you have a nice selection there...I like the cutters from www.cubancrafters.com (http://www.cubancrafters.com) Lifetime Guarantee I got mine for $14.99 works great...they seem to be out for the moment.

Congrats!:thumbup:
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