Some tips for you:

  1. Avoid cigar stores that also sell glass pipes and tie dyed clothing.
  2. Avoid buying your cigars at a drug store or a gas station.
  3. Only deal with cigar stores that only sell cigars and cigar smoking accessories ("true" tobacconist).
  4. Avoid any cigar that looks remotely like it was made through a mechanical process.
  5. Avoid cigars that are contained in a pretty colored plastic tube.
  6. A true tobacconist will ask insightful questions about likes/dislikes and will only recommend cigars that fit that profile.
  7. Ask the tobacconist to steer you away from cigars that are "full flavored" or "full bodied".
  8. Avoid any cigar that say, "ligero" or especially "triple ligero" - you're likely to end up on the floor.


Bottom line - there's plenty of cigars out there you will enjoy without having to hug the porcelain throne.