Was begining to get agravated!
NOGILLS2
Posts: 156 ✭✭✭
I am new here and after reading many post I was beginning to get aggravated cause it seemed no one had bad experiences with cigars or at least willing to admit it. So I started at the end of the post and began to find others experiences with bad cigars. I am relieved I was beginning to think it was just me.
I went to B&M and asked for mild cigars to begin the selection process. Last year at a business show I watched a cigar being rolled and was given a few samples, I requested mild. I had a great experience and thought I had a source for some sticks I liked, only to go to the website and found no joy purchasing more. Recently I decided to check the B&M and chose four different sticks. My first was Oliva Connecticut reserve in 6x50, oh what a joy to smoke. It went downhill from there. Next was Romeo Y Julieta Reserve Real Toro, I enjoyed the smoke very well, but afterward I began perspiring for nearly an hour, not sure what that was about. I don't want to experience that again. Next was Alec Bradley American and after about 5 draws I let it burn out. I could not finish it, the taste was really bad. No flavor, very harsh. I hope to not discourage anyone, just sharing my thoughts and experience.
I returned to the B&M and purchased more Oliva's Connecticut, I haven't had a chance to burn another one yet. I am apprehensive somewhat, but hope to have a good experience. My brother recommended Rocky Patel Connecticut 1999, so I found one today to try it out.
I realize everyone's taste is different and our experiences are also different. I am looking for a really good smoke and hope to find at least one to enjoy from time to time. I don't expect to smoke more than one or two a week. I really enjoy the quiet and being still for an hour or so to enjoy a good smoke. I mostly smoke alone for now, but am meeting more that enjoy cigars and opening up smoking with a few friends. Thanks for allowing me to voice my experience, so far.
Comments
You don't mention, @NOGILLS2 , your previous experience with tobacco. Any? Cigarette smokers sometimes have problems because they're used to inhaling. Don't.
Also, be sure you've eaten. As @Bob_Luken will attest, carbs are what's most needed. When you start getting that sweaty feeling, you've reached your limit. If the feeling worsens, eat or drink some high carb comestible and the feeling should subside.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
I like mild and the Oliva Connecticut Reserve are one of my favorites, especially the lonsdale size. Some others you might try:
CAO Gold
San Cristobal Elegancia (a little stronger than Oliva in flavor, stick with the Corona)
My Father Connecticut (stick with Corona; has a kick)
Room 101 Connecticut
Avo Classic
Room 101 Daruma-save this for after you have some experience, but I've found it to be a very friendly cigar.
I know a lot of people like the 5 Vegas offerings like the Gold, but I haven't enjoyed them much. They're a value blend. I actually preferred the Cigar.com House Blend American Label. Others swear by the Purple label, which I found to be alright, too.
You won't hear much love for Rocky around here. He has some good blends but he's overmarketed and has a lot of not so good blends, too. QC at Rocky isn't as bad as Gurkha, but there are some issues.
I like Oliva and Quesada (including Regius) a lot. I will smoke anything, though.
Welcome to the hobby and luxury of smoking fine cigars. please don't let the couple bad experiences shift you in the wrong directions. The experience that you had does sound like a little nicotine, but i will also add that it sounds like you are smoking the cigar a bit quickly. These are things i did when i first started out, so i know exactly what you are going through. A couple of things helped me through.
1. Have a can of Coke or Pepsi, or something with some sugar in it to help with the nicotine. Never smoke on an empty stomach (until you know how you react to a particular cigar). This will help keep the sweats done, and also nausea, and god forbid vomiting.
2. Smoke a bit slower. It helps if you put the cigar down in between puffs. Also, a good rule of them I like to use, if the lit end still has a glow to it, let it sit longer. Take 1-2 puffs and then rest the cigar again. Talk with some buddies you are introducing to the hobby.
3. Purge a cigar. if a cigar has gone out, or sometimes when they are fresh they need to be purge. Take the cigar and hold it up to a lighter just like you would be lighting it. Blow through the cigar gently. if it turns into a flame thrower there are some impurities that need to be burned off.
4. ENJOY YOURSELF.
Also, please sign up for the newsletter, there are many helpful tips in it. Send me a PM with your address and i will get you on the list.
It can be hard to find mild smokes, only because the dedicated long time cigar smoker who you ask for advice will want to hand you a red hot chunk of acrid road tar. Why? Cause that tastes real mild to them... and any amount of fumes never affect them.
You might actually be better off asking advice from another newb, or better yet, from a comparative newb, in my opinion. There's prolly few cigar store clerks who aren't capable of nubbing out three or four expensive triple ligeros in a shift.
I have some fairly mild examples just languishing in my humidor. Never get round to smoking them. Send me a private message with your address and I'll rustle some up for you.
Just stopped in the B&M again, and they don't carry CAO, so I'll have to grab some of them online when I need to place an order.
I appreciate the responses so far - they're giving me a list of new things to try also!
He's not your Brother
* I have a new address as of 3/24/18 *
I'm new to cigars as well, but haven't had anything like that happen.
Sure does sound like too Michael nicotine though.
What you can't forgive......you will become.
Welcome aboard. I can attest to all the great advice from above. As has been said, take your time between puffs to enjoy slowly a good smoke. My tastes would not be as comparable to yours, but I would suggest to look at a lot of the Connecticut Wrapper offerings on the market.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Thanks everyone for the responses, I really enjoy the Oliva and will stick with them for awhile. I look forward to experiencing other sticks though.
Thanks again!
-- Winston Churchill
"LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter