a smoking n00b

[Baron Porthos]

Go on the internet to JR Alternatives.
http://www.jrcigars.com/index.cfm?page=home
Try the Ultimate with your brothers split the cost.

[shub]

thanks everyone! i am a little busy this week, i am just starting the fall semester at school. but i'll update you guys on what i tried when i get a chance. i really appreciate all the quick responses, and the warm welcome!

[shub]

okay, i bought 2 large stogies this evening.


sorry, i wasn't planning on going to the shop this evening, but i was driving by and had time... unfortunately i didn't have my list of suggestions from you guys with me, so i went off memory!

i bought a romeo y julieta churchill. WOW, very good. i've never had a cigar like that. i paid $5.50 for it. i am writing this right now, and i must say i've never felt so "stoned" after smoking a cigar. at least its a clean buzz, no headache or stomach ache, i am just very dizzy!! i wasn't expecting it, i smoked it while driving, and found i had to go home, i couldn't handle driving, i was a little impaired .

i also bought an artuero fuente... i think robusto size. haven't smoked it yet though, the romeo lasted about an hour, and that's all i needed for this evening.

after reading the forum here, and comparing what i saw in the shop, i didn't see a lot of what was listed, except the punch cigars. so i think i'll try those next. i almost bought some, but i just couldn't remember if you guys recommended them.

anyways, to top of my little post here, do you mind if i ask a brief series of n00b questions?

how far down do you cut a cigar? i am not sure how far to go, i may be screwing them up.
-also, i've been using this handy $1.50 plastic cigar cutter.. it does the job, but i am thinking of buying a nicer one off ebay, i really don't care how much it costs, i just want a good one that will last, so it can be the cigar cutter for all my cigars. those plastic ones i find i need to replace occasionally. another think i was wondering is what is the best cutter? guillotine, punch, or scissors?

next couple of questions, are kinda etiquette questions, so i can smoke like a pro.

now i know everyone has a preference, but how far down should the typical cigar be smoked? til your fingertips are blistering, or to the band? or what?

how should i smoke it? i usually just suck in a mouthful of smoke, and slowly let it pour out of my mouth.. some friends suggested i blow it out my nose too, but it kinda burns.. should i keep trying that, and get used to it?

i'll leave it at that for now.. i have a tendency to write books, sorry guys!

[shub]

ok, this is another silly kind of question. but are you supposed to leave the band on when you smoke? i mean, i know it doesn't change the smoke at all.. but i tend to leave it on, so my fingers don't get tobacco smelling, then near the end, if i plan on smoking it down that far, i'll remove the band. maybe there is no protocol for this.. just wondering how you guys handle that.

[SuperChuck]

Pretty much everything you've asked is just a matter of preference...

For a while, I was keeping my cuts short, just shaving off the cap. But, since I was using a cheap cutter, I was leaving a bad edge, so i started cutting a bit more off. Now that I have one of them fancy Xikar cutters, I'm back to a just shaving off the cap.

Cuts are all personal preference. Next time you're buying cigars, ask for a few different cuts. That will help you decide what you prefer. If you're trying to save a couple bucks, I don't see any reason not to get your local shop to do the cutting for you. (I can't imagine a couple clips would bother anyone)

I typically smoke cigars until they taste funny or I run out of time. I tend to smoke cigars a little hot, so they tend to lose flavor early and get a little minty (that or my taste buds overload?).

Having the band on or off tends not to affect the taste of the cigar, so it really doesn't matter if you leave it on or take it off. I guess there's one camp that says "Don't be a showoff, remove the band from that $25 cigar". And there's probably another camp that says "Take the band off so they won't know you're smoking a $1.25 Roly". I'm from the camp that says "No one I know can tell the difference between a $25 Opus X and a $1.25 Roly".

I leave the band on for a while. Usually as the cigar burns down, the glue on the band loosens, so I'll usually remove the band at that point...

Smoke 'em however you like 'em.... If exhaling through your nose hurts, don't do it. I usually exhale at a pretty "medium" pace... Not forcing the smoke out, but giving it a little push... But that's just what I like...

[prophetic_joe]

Since shub opened the floor for silly noob questions I think I'll ask one.

Anyone able to blow smoke rings? I watched fellowship of the ring yesterday before I had a cigar myself and decided to try it. dorky thing to do i know but c'mon who hasn't tried it at least once or thought about it. problem is it is damn hard now i want to do it just so I don't fail.

[prophetic_joe]

oh and what are FOG's and BOTL's?

[Corona Gigante]

Since shub opened the floor for silly noob questions I think I'll ask one.

Anyone able to blow smoke rings? I watched fellowship of the ring yesterday before I had a cigar myself and decided to try it. dorky thing to do i know but c'mon who hasn't tried it at least once or thought about it. problem is it is damn hard now i want to do it just so I don't fail.

Just 'cause Gandalf makes it look cool doesn't mean you're going to be able to get away with it.

oh and what are FOG's and BOTL's?

FOG = Friendly Older Gentleman

BOTL = Brother Of The Leaf, a mensch, stand-up guy, etc.