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Newbie looking for recommendations

I have smoked cigs, cigars and pipes sparingly over my life but in the last two months have fallen big time into cigars.   I have smoked maybe 25-30 in the last two months.  Drew Estate, Rocky Patel and Gurkha so far my highest personal scores though I bought 10 different types from this site that I have not yet received or smoked.  Medium strength (plus or minus) my current preferred level.

Any recommendations?  I like creamy stuff (for now).  I know my tastes will evolve and change...

Thanks!
Steve

Comments

  • WylaffWylaff Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Welcome Steve! What kind of price range are you looking for?
    "Cooking isn't about struggling; It's about pleasure. It's like sǝx, with a wider variety of sauces."

    At any given time the urge to sing "In The Jungle" is just a whim away... A whim away... A whim away...
  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 2016
    Hi @Nodakgus

    This is a personal thing for sure! Everyone has their own tastes.

    I recommend:

    Arturo Fuente Hemingway series, also the Don Carlos series

    Tatuaje Havana VI series (you mentioned creamy)

    Nub Cameroon

    Ave Maria (line is the same name)
     
    Man o War Immortal

    I am a Cohiba and Montecristo fan also :)

    If you wanna dive deeper: 

    La Palina

    My Father

    La Aroma

    Viaje

    Liga Privada

    Davidoff

    Padron

    Hope this helps steer you to some tasty stuff!

    I suggested some varied flavors, as well as varied strengths to better expose you to a broad spectrum. 

    If I may offer one more bit of advice? Get 1 or 2 stix to start, 5'er at most. Try them, keep a cigar journal for a while, and flesh out your favorites list. 

    Welcome to the forum!

    -Jay

    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
  • WylaffWylaff Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Samplers are nice, but I've found half of what I write in the journal is followed by a note to try again in a few weeks. If you know someone else who is new to cigars, see if they will split the cost of some 5ers with you, so you each have another to try later.
    "Cooking isn't about struggling; It's about pleasure. It's like sǝx, with a wider variety of sauces."

    At any given time the urge to sing "In The Jungle" is just a whim away... A whim away... A whim away...
  • NodakgusNodakgus Posts: 21
    Wylaff said:
    Welcome Steve! What kind of price range are you looking for?

    I will pay easily $10+ for a good cigar...

  • NodakgusNodakgus Posts: 21
    jarubla said:
    Hi @Nodakgus

    This is a personal thing for sure! Everyone has their own tastes.

    I recommend:

    Arturo Fuente Hemingway series, also the Don Carlos series

    Tatuaje Havana VI series (you mentioned creamy)

    Nub Cameroon

    Ave Maria (line is the same name)
     
    Man o War Immortal

    I am a Cohiba and Montecristo fan also :)

    If you wanna dive deeper: 

    La Palina

    My Father

    La Aroma

    Viaje

    Liga Privada

    Davidoff

    Padron

    Hope this helps steer you to some tasty stuff!

    I suggested some varied flavors, as well as varied strengths to better expose you to a broad spectrum. 

    If I may offer one more bit of advice? Get 1 or 2 stix to start, 5'er at most. Try them, keep a cigar journal for a while, and flesh out your favorites list. 

    Welcome to the forum!

    -Jay
      
    I have started a spreadsheet for ranking and taste notes since my memory is...well...not what is used to be  LOL!
  • NodakgusNodakgus Posts: 21
    edited January 2016
    I should also mention that I have been introduced to Single Malt Scotch in this time frame to pair with my cigar.  So far it seems the more you are willing to pay the more you will probably like it!  I had a 14 year Oban last night for NYE.  It was terrific!  At home I presently have a 12 year Glenlivet and that seems basically ok.

    I come from the world of dry,heavy red wines.  Very dry Italians or Cab Sauv my favorites.  Cab Franc also a plus...also Malbec
  • Usaf06Usaf06 Posts: 11,200 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You will really like the Balvenie 14 year
    "I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form."
    -- Winston Churchill

    "LET'S GO FRANCIS"     Peter

  • peter4jcpeter4jc Posts: 16,187 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If you know you'll have Scotch with that cigar every time, then you can evaluate the cigar consistently.  To get the true flavor of the stick, you might want to stick to water.
    "I could've had a Mi Querida!"   Nick Bardis
  • CigarFanaticCigarFanatic Posts: 225 ✭✭✭
    A lot of people have given advice of brands. But let me stress about keeping an open mind. I used to be a gurkha fan (nothing wrong with that) but after talking with other people here, they really have exposed me to some great "world class" cigars. If it wasn't for the people on here, I would of probably never have tried them, especially La Viaje and Tatuaje.

    Personally, I realized my go-to sticks are usually a line made by AJ Fernandez.(Diesel, MOW, Ave Maria, Spectre)
    How do make this text turn upside down?
  • kswildcatkswildcat Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 2016
    Tatuaje tattoo.  In my newbie opinion smokes like a $15 cigar but you can get em all day long and twice on Sunday $5 a stick. My personal opinion no humi complete without 1.

    Check out the what you smoking threads. I have yet to put a stick in my mouth I haven't liked by using them as a suggestion thread. These guys on here know yummy sticks.

    If you think a cigar may be a bit potent for you be sure to eat a good meal before enjoying it.
  • NodakgusNodakgus Posts: 21
    I had an Arturo Fuente Flor Fina this afternoon and totally enjoyed it.  The price was right too.  Yesterday I had a Gurkha Royal Challenge that seemed extremely dry and bitter.  Did not enjoy it at all.  I think I may have purchased a cigar that was bad to begin with (i.e. not well preserved).  I have other Gurkhas in my humidor and am hoping they are worthy...
  • NodakgusNodakgus Posts: 21
    Nodakgus said:


    Welcome to the forum!

    -Jay
      
    I have started a spreadsheet for ranking and taste notes since my memory is...well...not what is used to be  LOL!
    I started a spreadsheet too for the same reason!  I will maintain it at least until I am more at ease in this world of labels! 
  • Usaf06Usaf06 Posts: 11,200 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nodakgus said:
    I had an Arturo Fuente Flor Fina this afternoon and totally enjoyed it.  The price was right too.  Yesterday I had a Gurkha Royal Challenge that seemed extremely dry and bitter.  Did not enjoy it at all.  I think I may have purchased a cigar that was bad to begin with (i.e. not well preserved).  I have other Gurkhas in my humidor and am hoping they are worthy...
    Good luck
    "I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form."
    -- Winston Churchill

    "LET'S GO FRANCIS"     Peter

  • WylaffWylaff Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I like the flavor of most Gurkhas I have tried, but they smell terrible and burn just as badly. I tend to take them to casinos so those around me can enjoy as well  :D
    "Cooking isn't about struggling; It's about pleasure. It's like sǝx, with a wider variety of sauces."

    At any given time the urge to sing "In The Jungle" is just a whim away... A whim away... A whim away...
  • genareddoggenareddog Posts: 4,167 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A lot of people have given advice of brands. But let me stress about keeping an open mind. I used to be a gurkha fan (nothing wrong with that) but after talking with other people here, they really have exposed me to some great "world class" cigars. If it wasn't for the people on here, I would of probably never have tried them, especially La Viaje and Tatuaje.

    Personally, I realized my go-to sticks are usually a line made by AJ Fernandez.(Diesel, MOW, Ave Maria, Spectre)
    Totally agree, these guys are very helpful. Don Carlos is another great fuente 
  • WoodguardenWoodguarden Posts: 130 ✭✭✭
    I always found E.P. Carrillo and Padron 1000 series to have a natural creaminess..
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