it was okay, by the way, my favorite is still the vintage 92

I've heard good things about the Edge, maybe next time.

I really like the Edge's myself. Though I like most of the RP stuff.

for the record, and I don't want to sound too much like a ...sissy, but I really recommend the RP vintage 92 with coffee. I've found hazelnut works the best, it's quite amazing. They go together incredibly well.

After reading this awesome thread, I've decided I'm gunna get into this cigar stuff.

I've browsed a couple of tobaconists around my city (Brisbane, Australia, fwiw. I havn't really been able to google anything interesting about cigar suppliers around me, so anyone with good local info, would be appreciated) and I think I'm gunna start out buying singles, probably something like montecristo #3. Seems like a pretty safe sort of standard starting point. Yes? Being that I don't have a humidor, I figure I can just buy them as I want to smoke them.

So I'll probably try a few different singles from the big names, if I get into it, I'll get myself a humidor (probably something like this: http://www.cheaphumidors.com/Merchan...oduct_Count=26 Sound chice?) and start some sort of collection.

Sound like a good beginners plan?

I can't really ever see myself going past being a mild enthusiast, so I'll probably be happy with the smallish humidor.

One specific question I have is: The tobaconists I've sort of browsed around just seem to have their cigars sitting in random glass cabinets in the shop. I can't see that they have any sort of humidity control. I assume this is a bad sign yes?

I have googled a cigar supplier that looks more serious (walk in humidor etc), but it's a little more out of the way. Should I suck it up and go the extra distance? Can I ask these random tobaconists if their cabinets are humidity controlled or something? or will they just look at me like I'm an idiot?

Also, should I start taking this any more seriously, I guess I'll be ordering from overseas. How will travel from the other side of the globe effect the quality of the cigars?

OK, complete noob report... I'm probably doing it wrong.

On the way home from work, I stopped off at a mens gift shop type place, bought a cheap cutter and a Montecristo #5. Cost me AUD$20. I knew I was getting owned on the price, but it was convienent.

Lit it up, smoked for a few minutes. Wasn't really impressed... smoke seemed a bit dry and rough. Took it for a walk down to the river so I could sit and chill.

Took the occasional puff on the walk but it went out when I got there, maybe 1/3 of the way through. I snipped it off and re-lit it and it seemed much better. The draw was much more consistant and the smoke seemed to be full and smooth. Quite enjoyed it after that to the point where I wished I could have gone another 10 minutes on the end.

I'm not so sure on the quality I get from a random gift shop as opposed to a propper cigar dealer, wondering if this could be why it seemed like a completly different cigar from one half to the other. Might have to check out a propper dealer for my next purchase.

I dunno if it's different in Australia, but in the US random shops that sell cigars usually don't keep them stored properly. (Of course, some do, but I've found that they are in the minority.

Browse around clubstogie.com. Its a very bizarre forum with a lot of older people posting on it (which can be annoying imo), but there is a ton of useful information there if you search for it.

Mail order is usually the best value for cigars, especially if you guys have high tobacco taxes like the US & Canada. There are a lot of people here that order from Hong Kong and get them in good shape, so if you ordered from this side of the world you should still get them ok.

I'm the same way with my cigars. I've been smoking them with a friend at oyster bay harbor, lately. Just go out on the pier, around 9-10pm, bring a couple of chairs, sit and enjoy the view, the cigar, and the coffee. It's very peaceful and relaxing, the perfect way to smoke a cigar. Ah, I <3 long island

My super-awesome girlfriend bought me a humidor for my birfday a couple months ago, so I am just in the beginning stages of learning all this. But what I have found is that the ratings and descriptions of cigars from online sellers are way more accurate than recommendations from B&M cigar stores, and the quality at delivery is better as well.

I like to relax and read a book while smoking a cigar. For me, it's a relaxation thing. Most of my humidor is stacked with stuff I got for 1-3 dollars a stick. You can do pretty well online for prices like that.

get at least a 50 count humidor. The numbers in the description of the humidor ar usually for corona sized cigars. Get humidity beads and let your cigars sit in the humidor for a couple of days before you smoke them.
I would try different cigar wrappers (maduros, corojo, criollo, conneticut...).

If you're looking for a very inexpensive mild smoke check out the Belinda Spanish Twist from JR.

This cigar has been in my last four orders and we (gf, best friend and I) love them. It's an easy smoke with a mild flavor. Surprisingly for so inexpensive a cigar (about $1.25 per!) we've never had a problem with an uneven burn or bad draw.

~ Rick

Forgive me if this is already answered but it's a long thread. JR has 5 packs of many of their top sellers at the same price per cigar you would pay for a full box. It's a real good way to try some new stuff.

Anyway, it's hard to imagine the selling of singles mail order without them being mis-handled whatever.

~ Rick

Hey there -

Here's some shots of my humi. My favs are Cabaiguan and Aurora 100 Anos. Any others want to share some pics?

Upper:



Lower:

Nice Selection. I have smoked a majority of those, and they are all good. I love the Gurkha Doble Maduro, and the Cusano 18s. I have an order coming in tomorrow, I will take a shot after that, a bit more ghetto than your selection though I think.

I'm not a smoker so not up on the law.

I'm in Central America and will be flying back into USA soon, would like to bring a box of Cubans back for family and friends. Is this possible/illegal?
If it is illegal is it really a big deal?

If I do buy some, suggestions on type please. Also what I should expect to pay for them, so I don't get ripped off.

Just thought Id bump this. Im no aficionado but I do like sampling 5-6 kinds of sticks on occasion. This week Im trying a Nub and a few other small, mild cigars in hopes of finding that perfect early morning smoke. I think sitting on the porch drinking coffee and smoking something like a Montecristo White after a big breakfast is quite relaxing, and I especially like it during cold or rainy days.

Has anyone else tried the Nub's? Any opinions?

can someone give me some cutting tips?

I've been butchering the cutting ever since I started smoking cigars and I'm finally tired of it.

I have both a single guillotine and a double - which is better?

I have a hole punch type one too, how do I use it correctly?

I prefer the Punch in most cases.

For general tips though:

1. Wet the tip where you are going to cut/punch to prevent splitting.

2. For the Cutters. I find the best hing to do is place the cutter flat on the table, and put the cigar standing up in the hole. Then snip. This generally cuts the right amount.

Buy from a local branch of La Casa del Habano (Cuba's government run chain of cigar shops) so you don't get ripped off or get fakes.

Take the box to a Kinkos or equivilent and FedEx them back home.

Be carefull with cheap punches, they can destroy a head.

My tobacconist tells me that these are actually made by Olivia.

I've tried the Connecticut and Habano. Personally, I appreciate the cigars more for the concept than anything else. I don't normally have more than an hour to smoke and these guys are perfect for that amount of time.

I tended to hit a tar spot maybe half way through or so, but just burn through it and you still have an excelent smoke down to your finger tips in most cases (maybe up to an inch or so).

Construction is excellent (2"+ ash) - hand rolled etc. I've smoked a box+ of these and they all burned evenly and maybe only 1-2 went out at awkward spots but relit no problem.

Flavor is OK imo. Nothing amazing but not terrible. I prefer creamier tastes but the Habano is my preference when it comes to Nubs.

Also +1 on the coffee plus cigars. Yum yum!

Single guillotine's will tend to butcher your cigars.

1.) get a good punch

2.) I prefer dbl guillotine personally. There is obviously a certain ring size where a guillotine is going to be super tricky to use on non-torpedo shaped (??? name?).

3.) If you use a guillotine, I've read/been told not to cut much beyond the cap or even beyond the cap at all. Most of this will depend on overall construction of the cigar anyway afaik i.e. mediocre construction would dictate not cutting beyond the cap).


QUESTION: has anyone used the 50 ct. humidor from Full Tilt Poker? I have a 25 ct. humi that I got from CI but it doesn't seem to be holding air too well. I'm fairly certain it's not a problem with the source of humidification (I have a Crystal Gel Didsc supplemented with a Drymistat Crystal Tube). I don't use a hygrometer so I can't really give you numbers, only the experience that my cigars definitely dry out after a week away from the tobacco shop.

Sorry if this has been addressed already, but I'm looking for a cheap, light, smallish cigar that is good for beginners. I'm sure an expensive cigar would be lost on me. I like sweet flavors. I bought these blackberry flavored "havanna honeys" at my local tobacco shop and I don't really like them. I'm looking for a sub $10 cigar that is enjoyable and not overpowering. Also something I should be able to find locally- I don't want to order online yet because I'm not positive I even like cigars.

thanks cdog, tony and jr brick. i'll let you guys know how it goes next time.

If you mean by "sweet" something like a Swisher Sweet, I recently tried an amaretto-flavored Helix that was surprisingly good. CAO has a flavored line, too, that I can't vouch for at all.

If you mean "tobacco sweet," my recommendation would be a Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Espresso. Delicious cigar, small size, very affordable. I also think every beginning smoker should try the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Maduro Rothschild, so pick up one of those while you're at it. If you don't like it, send me a PM and I'll mail you the three bucks it cost.

Thanks for the reccomendations, I'm going to be stopping by a large tobacco shop on my way back from vacation and I'll pick these up.