general cigar newb questions...
I was recently introduced to cigars by a family member. I have only had a few now. I went into a couple of cigar shops to try a couple out. There are soooo many....I hate to throw money away. So my questions are as follows..
1. Is there a fairly cheap cigar for a newb like me I should be able to pick up at most any local shop? Something to help develop my taste and also something that is not going to break the bank. Something I could buy a box of maybe, and if I have friends over would be something good to basically hand out for free. The person who introduced me to this gave me a cigar with a label that said I believe "Bocky **** " ?? I think I am not sure if that is the brand or not? Anyone heard of this?? It seemed pretty good to me. It burned nice and even and seemed pretty mild. Had a nice taste. I think he said they were like $4 each.
2. I do not have a humidor obviously at this point. I am going to look into getting a small one soon. Should I only buy 1-2 at a time for now until I do get one?? If I get more, any way to keep them fresh? I am guessing tupperware or something??
3. Is it not a good idea to smoke a cigar right from the shop without it being in a humidor for a while at your house??
4. Any tips or advice or whatever you are willing to offer up would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!!
capsfanx
1. Is there a fairly cheap cigar for a newb like me I should be able to pick up at most any local shop? Something to help develop my taste and also something that is not going to break the bank. Something I could buy a box of maybe, and if I have friends over would be something good to basically hand out for free. The person who introduced me to this gave me a cigar with a label that said I believe "Bocky **** " ?? I think I am not sure if that is the brand or not? Anyone heard of this?? It seemed pretty good to me. It burned nice and even and seemed pretty mild. Had a nice taste. I think he said they were like $4 each.
2. I do not have a humidor obviously at this point. I am going to look into getting a small one soon. Should I only buy 1-2 at a time for now until I do get one?? If I get more, any way to keep them fresh? I am guessing tupperware or something??
3. Is it not a good idea to smoke a cigar right from the shop without it being in a humidor for a while at your house??
4. Any tips or advice or whatever you are willing to offer up would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!!
capsfanx
0
Comments
Tupperware will work just fine until you get a humidor setup.
Usually a cigar straight from the shop will smoke just fine, they are usually kept at optimal levels.
Advice? Take you time and enjoy. And welcome to the forums.
1)The amount of cigars out there is staggering, and telling you a few to try would be just as overwhelming, because everyone's taste is different. I would go to the shop and instead of looking for paticular brand, ask for cigars wrapped in Connecticut wrappers. These tend to be milder and more pleasing to beginers. Some examples are CAO Gold, Rocky Patel Edge Lite, Flor de Oliva, and Bacarat. All these are pretty common and should be had for fairly cheap. But talk to the shop owners, no only can you learn a lot, it never hurts to get in good with them for those limited releases that are saved in the back for special friends
2)Humidor's will keep the smokes at the best level, but for short term storage tupperware works fine.
3)I wouldn't leave a cigar out for more then a day or two, especially in this dry winter air. The cigars will dry out quick.
4)Try lots, keep notes, and buy the biggest humidor you can afford now, you will need it down the road!
I always tell my friends a grat way to start off is with a ccom sampler. They are cheap(price wise), good quality, and it really runs the spectrum of cigars out there from corojo wrappers to connecticut, maduro and habano. Welcome to the Forums!
Patel, Torano, Fuentes, CAO, Pepin, Avo, Gurkha, Oliva, Cusano, Padron, and the House Brand here, to name just a few, all offer great quality for varying prices. Most cigars you will try will be good since the consumer ( you, me ) will not let inferior labels stay around very long.
Ziplock bags and tupperware with water pillows work okay for short term storage, but take the plunge on a Humidor and you will give yourself the ability to expand your inventory, as you will quickly develop your personal taste preferences. Avoid boxes at the start since there is so much out there to "sample" first..
Have fun, and enjoy the new hobby. In time you will find the perfect go to cigar.
kas
The Cusano 18 Double C is always suggested as an intro version, but...i kind of wonder whether itd be a better idea to suggest a 5 vegas gold or something as a better mild intro cigar. The problem with the cusano 18 in my mind is that...yeah...its definately mild and has a good flavor...but sometimes with one of those that flavor comes at a price as it feels more like you're smoking air than cigar. At least other milds like the 5 vegas gold have a little more feeling of depth to them. Even the Rocky Patel Connecticuts felt like they had more filler.
Just my opinion though.
I promise I will pay it forward once I "outgrow it". Let me know how much to send you.
I sat outside last night and had a smoke by myself. Weather was nice for one, and it was very peaceful. I am catching a little flack from the wife about starting to do this...but I think she will be ok with it after a bit so long as I do not do it around her and the kids. But it was very relaxing. I need to get a good lighter though. I am going to stop somewhere today and pick one up. I had a regular lighter that I found, fell apart while trying to light it,lol, so I got out the matches the cigar shop gave me when I picked up a couple of Fonseca cigars that the guy in the shop recommended.
not so much a bad cigar as not my thing. ... also i seem to remember some burn issues.
you know swisher sweets don't need a humi...
1.I will agree with the Cusanos as a good starter cigar. I would also say to try some A.Fuente's.
2.Sounds like you were taken care of in the category, that was a helluva offer.
3.You're fine to smoke straight from a shop. A lot of guys prefer their cigars to rest for a little but don't concern yourself with that too much now.
4.Read as much as you can. Take your time enjoy and remember this hobby is very personal and ritualistic, don't worry too much about what others like or don't like yet. Later on when your palate is developed you'll be able to pick up what someone did or didn't like in a cigar and determine whether you will like that cigar or not from that sometimes but just bc one person hated a cigar doesn't mean that its a bad cigar.
If your wife is concerned about the smell or helath issues here are a few tips. Designate a jacket as your "smoking jacket" leave it in the garage before you come in. Second buy listerine and gargle after you smoke. Wash your hands as well. Also in the health area, exhale through your nose as little as possible and feel free to spit.
I went yesterday and picked up a Xicar Executive ligther since I did not have a lighter. I also picked up 2ea NUB Connecticut cigars to try. I noticed here on the main page of the site the window that comes up with the top 10 list, the NUB was listed as #1 so I figured I would try it out. What do you guys think of them?? The B&M I went to does not have the Cusano or 5 Vegas Gold for some reason that everyone on here has been recommending to people. I am going to check out another place downtown maybe today for those.
capsfanx
"Long ashes my friends."
you will not find 5 vegas in many (if any) B&Ms. its almost exclusively an online cigar company.
From what I had heard about Cuban cigars in the past I thought the same thing. I did not question him though as he was very proud that he had "Cuban" cigars. Whether they were or not, it was very good in my opinion and I would love to get more like it or similar,lol. Was very smooth.
I went to a place here in Jacksonville I thought would have anything I could possibly want today. They have a ton of stuff, but as you said no 5 Vegas, nor did they have any of the Cusano 18. Once I get a humidor I will order some of those to check out.
I will check that out. Thanks for the tip!!
I found a site to check it out...unfortunately I don't remember exactly which the label I had looked like most. I will see if I can get another one from him or at least look at it. I did not save the band. I want to say it did not have the raised lettering which the real one has, but who knows. I did not know there were fakes,lol.