A topic better suited for a cigar forum

[Cornutu]

Friend of mine got some cubans stateside. Was the 1st cigar I had ever smoked. To make a long story short i found it to be very good. However I know next to nothing about cigars. I started to read cigaraficionado but most of their website requires paid membership. My question is if anyone has come across sort of a beginners guide to cigars.
Thanks

[HAGGE]

http://www.google.com/search?hs=2Hf&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=ie&rls=en&q=beginners+guide+to+cigars&btnG=Search

[SPEEDKILLAR]

You could ask Badmihai and myself actually, although he has more experience I think.

Anyway, start with light cigars off course, a favourite of mine is the 'Monte Cristo tubos' and I also recommend 'Davidhoff Special T', but stay off the hajenes or you will :puke:

Here is a great site http://www.habanos.com/

[RC45]

So you are looking for a Interns guide to Cigars then... ;) :P

[TeflonTron]

Go for Stogies. Cuban cigars are over-rated. Panamanian cigars are just as good.

[antonioledesma]

too many smokers in here :mrgreen:

what's your opinion with Montecristo?

btw... RC with 8888 posts... :shock: looks weird :P
http://img264.exs.cx/img264/3360/fd2ju.jpg

[RC45]

^^^ it sure does...

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1464/88884sb.jpg

[BADMIHAI]

You could ask Badmihai and myself actually, although he has more experience I think.


Here is a great site http://www.habanos.com/

Don't give me too much credit. That is a good site indeed. I just go for the Cubans. Cigars, IMHO, are a very personal thing. Just go ahead and try more. What I like you might not like and the other way around. Find one you really like and don't forget to take your time when smoking a cigar. It should be a relaxing experiance; smoking one in a hurry is wasting it. It is also very important how you cut it and what you light it with. I prefer to use a small pair of scissors and make a small cut (it should not be deep at all). Also, from my experience, it is best to light it with a match, after it has burned for a bit (otherwise you might get some phosphorus scent in there, which is not pleasant). Welcome aboard and happy smoking!


EDIT: It is also worth reading Peter Mayle's book Expensive Habits because it will not only explain how you should savour a cigar, but will offer an informative/entertaining read.


EDIT: To some people this may sound like I'm being childish, but you should never inhale the smoke in your lungs. :|

[antonioledesma]

haven't smoked a lot like most of the guys here. But... try different types, sizes, brands, origins, etc.
As Mihai says, enjoy the smoke. Try to have at least 30 minutes to grab a smoke.
Don't light it with a zippo, it tastes like gas. Try to light a cigarrette with a zippo and you'll taste the gas. If you can afford a torch butane lighter go for it, if not use some wooden matches.
you'll need some months, if not years, to grab the pleasures of smoking cigars, knowing the basics, do's and don'ts

[ldin]

ive smoked a couple of cigars, but as a cigarette smoker. i tend to inhale atleast once while having a cigar. very very very bad and is not very good for the lungs as your lungs will tell you in a nice way by prolly making you cough. and when you really get into cigars you can pickup a cigar humidifier!!! i work in a italian restaurant and alot of older italian men(gold chains hangin out, slick back hair, kapish?) have them..i have tried a cuban cigar i had that with some remy martin which was a very nice mix. a cohiba and a couple of others i cant think of...over all i can say is have some cognac with a cigar. it taste alot better.

[Cornutu]

HOLY CRAP THANKS!
Guys this really helped I was meaning to post but i got Expensive Habits from the library and read it cover to cover today.
You are right about the Cohibas, that is what I had my friend tells me. I also picked up some macanudos robustos as cigaraficionado.com commented on how good they are. However I found the smoke to be so mild that it was almost like not having any smoke in my mouth. (Had no flavor as compared to the cohiba)
I was about to pick up a bottle of remy when it occured to me I had no idea which type to get as I have never had any cognac beyond courvousier. There are like 8 types of remy, from VS to vsop etc.
Time to see if I can find more variations of Cohibas and if there are any Monte Cristo tubos or Davidhoff Special T's around.
I also saw cognac dipped cigars but somehow I'm thinking that remy and a just a good quality cigar would be better.

I read on another forum that when you order cigars off the net it is a good idea to have a humidor as they can sometimes be dry due to shipping times. I thought about this and concluded that stores have them shipped as well which makes them just as likely to be dried out. (I may be leaving a piece out of the puzzle.)
Thanks again guys
very clear to me that
(JW ppl> google search)

[SPEEDKILLAR]

^^^^ lol, enjoy man 8)

[BADMIHAI]

(JW ppl> google search)

I tend to agree, especially when it comes to finding reviews. I trust the people here more than some *other :wink: Internet buffoons Google turns up.

[ldin]

HOLY CRAP THANKS!
I was about to pick up a bottle of remy when it occured to me I had no idea which type to get as I have never had any cognac beyond courvousier. There are like 8 types of remy, from VS to vsop etc.
Time to see if I can find more variations of Cohibas and if there are any Monte Cristo tubos or Davidhoff Special T's around.
I also saw cognac dipped cigars but somehow I'm thinking that remy and a just a good quality cigar would be better.

I read on another forum that when you order cigars off the net it is a good idea to have a humidor as they can sometimes be dry due to shipping times. I thought about this and concluded that stores have them shipped as well which makes them just as likely to be dried out. (I may be leaving a piece out of the puzzle.)
Thanks again guys
very clear to me that
(JW ppl> google search)

as far as cognac goes, start off with remyVSOP(Very Special Old Pale)i dont like cognac much but remy for some reason seems to get to me, oh and port wine! love that stuff a very good after dinner drink...anyway if you really get into cognac with checking its Color,Clarity andViscosity. and how to drink it properly yada yada then you can pickup a bottle of Remy martin louis as that willy prolly burn the biggest hole in your pocket. thats goes over 1k in the us i believe for a bottle. but i think for the time being just stick with cigars and a little bit of cognac to have while njoyin a fine smoke!(dont be scared to take a glass of water with you if you need it)

[gtx28]

IMHO the best way to light a cigar is to light a match then use the match to light some cedar, most high end shops should have some cedar, and many sealed cigars will have them. I enjoy http://www.torano.com, they were rated a 96 by aficionado and a topnotch smoke imo. I also like some of the stuff from thompsons and Fuente y Fuente. Most of my habit though is the local stuff. There is a shop down the way that hand rolls and that by far is the best. They are so fresh so crisp and smooth. The only way I can compair it is like either buying bread at the local grocer or getting it fresh from the deli. You really can taste the difference between even the highest quality smoke and a freshly rolled one. I favor the churchill length conneticut shade variety my guy rolls em for my friday and I pickem up on saturday mornings. Fresh is de best. I think ill have one this evening hehe O if any of you guys are serious about trying some pm me and all see about over nighting you some from a wednesday rolling.