Novice smoker with some questions

[SuperChuck]

4: Smoke better cigars and don't inhale.

Yeah, what he said.

Bring the smoke into your mouth, taste it, and exhale.

I also suggest finding a cigar shop in your area and ask them for suggestions matching your requirements (taste, budget, etc.)

[mithril]

welcome to the board! i have to also advise you to stay away from gas station smokes. the are mostly made with dried out tabacco and will taste like crap compared to a premium smoke. so just go cold turkey with those things.

[BigMacFU]

Welcome to the boards and welcome to the hobby. The soarness is definitely caused by what you're smoking. There are lots of chemicals and unnatural additives to "gas station" smokes such as white owls. What you need to do is go buy "premium" cigars and make sure you don't inhale them. With premium cigars, they do not come with plastic tips and will typically run you from 2 dollars upward per cigar. When you start smoking these, you will have to cut or punch the "capped" or closed off end. Some brands you might want to start with:

Gran Habano
Punch "Champion"
Montecristo Platinum
Carlos Torano Exodus 1956
Ashton


Again, welcome to the boards.

[Jonsey5484]

Welcome to the board and throw away those gas station cigars. If they can even be considered cigars.

[Kenyth]

Yes, even the best gas station cigars are a far cry from long filler premiums. Don't inhale cigar smoke, there's no need to and a sore throat will ruin your experience. Smoke only when you have adequate time to relax. Alcoholic beverages are a fine accompaniment to good cigars, but certain non-alcoholic drinks work as well. Ice cold Cola, Root Beer, or a Ginger Ale like Vernor's works well.

[SuperChuck]

Alcoholic beverages are a fine accompaniment to good cigars, but certain non-alcoholic drinks work as well. Ice cold Cola, Root Beer, or a Ginger Ale like Vernor's works well.

I was just thinking that...

I usually drink water when I'm smoking. I drink mostly water, anyway, and it's neutral, so it's not going to interfere with the taste of my cigar...

[Mazeman]

In my personal opinion, the alcoholic beverages that DON'T go well with a cigar are white wine, lighter red wines, martinis and gin & tonics.
You need something that'll stand up to the strong flavor of a cigar.