Looking for guidance
Sethbanks711
Posts: 398 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hey guys,
I kinda of explained my background, and my in and out past tendency with the hobby due to young age, military, and life in general. I’m finally at a settled down point in my life, and hope to finally settle in with this hobby and see where it takes me.
I’ve always really enjoyed premium cigars, from the age of 10 onwards. But I have to admit, I’ve typically went the flavored or infused route. It all started with vanilla cigars in the Dominican as a kid.
After a hiatus, I attempted an ACID Kuba, and decided maybe that wasn’t the route for me, and that I’m chasing a more tobacco taste at this point.
My closest cigar shop is about 2 hours away. I live in a town of 300 in Western NC mountains. The options I have local are your typical flavored cigars at the “tobacco/vape” shops that have a single desktop humidor with cheap cigar that they sell for 20$ a stick. So at this point, I purchased a 16L Wineador, and have completed seasoning it. That way, I can order cigars and not be concerned with ruining them.
I’m looking for some help from you guys, as the choices are absolutely overwhelming. I don’t really know where to go, and I’m hoping if I explain a little bit about past experiences, you guys can guide me in ordering the right cigar, or right sampler to truly get started.
I know in the past, a large turn off for me is a harsh tobacco flavor, or maybe peppery? Kinda where it has a spice on the tongue, and has a long lingering aftertaste. So I guess I should be looking at mellow, or mild cigars. But I don’t know that for sure or not.
I guess I’m really just looking for the best sampler, to truly get a taste for what I do like. I’ve noticed most samplers are of a single brand, or single profile. It’s all just a bit overwhelming, and without a local lounge, I’m hoping some experience can help me out!
Thank you in advance!
Seth
Comments
You might appreciate Davidoff or Avo, for starters. Many Connecticut wrapper are on the non-peppery side....
@silvermouse thank you! I will look into them. Question, is this post allowed? I tried looking for a FNG guide and didn’t see if there was a correct place for this.
Whatever cigars you end up picking keep this rule in mind and never violate it.
start with buying 1 cigar, or a sampler with a few different cigars (I'm sure some other people will have some good recommendations for milder cigars.) If you really like a cigar, buy a few more up to a maximum of 5. If you smoke all 5 and really like all 5, then and only then is it ok to buy a full box of 20. Do not, under any circumstances, buy a box of 20+ until you have smoked a minimum of 5 and enjoyed all of them. Too many new smokers overdue their purchases and buy too many cigars at the outset, and then when their tastes change and they discover new or better cigars, their humidors are already full of cigars that aren't as good.
@CalvinAndHobo
I will definitely take that advice to heart. I’ve already caught myself looking at daily deals of full boxes.
@Sethbanks711
https://www.cigarpage.com/samplers/grade-a-greats-vol-xxviii-top-20-premium-brand-grip-combo.html
https://www.cigarpage.com/samplers/brand-flight-fiver-aj-fernandez-shade.html
I saw an article in the forum newsletter about milder cigars. PM me your addy and I'll send you a copy.
@Rdp77 thank you! I keep seeing that Perdomo 10th Anniversary champagne pop up. I’m definitely wanting to try it.
I read that article, @Sethbanks711 . Good article. All the information you need.
Trapped in the People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts.
I sent him a PM. I didn’t even know we had a newsletter! The amount of “best cigar” list, and the like are so overwhelming I never know where to go!
Most of your “best of” cigar lists you find are influenced somehow. It may be by relationships, favors, or direct advertising payments. The ones you find on here are just a compilation of our opinions of the cigars…no outside influences. That’s also the reason that you don’t see many on our lists make it to “their” lists.
And remember that the "best of" lists on this forum are made up by more seasoned smokers, so there won't be many mild cigars on it.
I've been smoking for just over a year, and the Perdomo Champagne 10th was an early favorite of mine. It's a great one to try. As others have mentioned, you will grow past mild cigars pretty quickly, especially if you smoke regularly. I like a good Nicaraguan puro these days, but still smoke mild cigars maybe twice a week..
Peter makes a good point here. Something to remember, your tastes will change as time goes on.
Here's an idea. Why are Macanudos one of the best selling cigars? And why do you rarely see them on our lists? Seems counter-intuitive, doesn't it?
They're well built, quality tobacco, and mild enough that nearly anyone can enjoy them, thus they're a favorite for baby celebrations, weddings, etc. Several times I've had people try to impress me with their Macanudo collection once they find out I'm into cigars. I smile politely, nod my head and say "oh, yes" approvingly.
So, I might recommend these to you as a starter. Try their Connecticut wrapper. Nothing wrong with them, but realize that as time goes on, you're probably going to leave them behind. The newer Macanudo Inspirado line is stronger, more to our tastes here, and you'll see them show up occasionally in the "What are you smoking...?" threads.
Another thing to remember, darker wrapper DOES NOT mean stronger cigar. It might, on a case by case basis, but it's not what makes a stronger cigar.
Good luck, don't overbuy, don't overdo, enjoy.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Macanudos core line = apple sauce.
I'm trending towards medium full to medium cigars lately after liking strong, full cigars, but nothing as mild as Macanudos. My tastes continue to change.
Also know that you can smoke the same cigar on two different days and have a completely different experience.
I’m working in downtown Charlotte this week, and found a local cigar lounge. I gave the Perdomo 10th anniversary champagne a go. It was good, but extremely mild. It seemed to become a little sweet in the 2nd third. It was decent, but it felt like it let me wanting more. Hopefully I can find another lounge in my next stop!
Awesome experience. why? Because you tried something that others have recommended and you didn't buy a box before trying. You tried it and found out it wasn't quite your thing. Keep this in mind the next time you try it you may have a different opinion, but for now you have a plot point of things you did and didn't like about it to guide your next purchase.
Now I just have to decide if that something missing was the profile, or strength I guess. I always want to work on developing my palette to try and pick up on some of the nuances.
DZR
Palate
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Actually not…he popped in on the vherf last night.
Ai deep fake DZR
But he kept the video off, so do we really know?
So y’all just let him “phone it in”? ,……… suckers!
Nice gig, he gets mentioned without having to participate.
We'd even extend that offer to you, Edward.
I’ll bite, what the hell is a DZR.
Every now and then an existing member will make a “new” account just to get the oldsters riled up.
And then you get a RDP making a camouflage "new" account because he knows we'll all think it's DZR.
I ain’t got them kinda smarts Peter