VERY new to this!!

**Shelby07** · 04-14-2006, 06:15 PM

Hello all.

I've been lurking here just for the past few weeks and have been looking at a bunch of other on-line forums. This forum seems to be one of the best; and you all have great senses of humor! I especially enjoyed the exchange with HABANO-BOY. Really a hoot!!!

Anyway, I am an older guy, so I'd appreciate some undeserved respect! I will try to earn it going forward. Just gave up the nasty cigarette habit (trying to, anyway) and have started smoking cigars a few times a week. I bought a bunch of cigars and a humidor from a friend who claimed that he had some really great cigars in there, and I am finding that some are really enjoyable while others get thrown out right away. He mentioned that some were cuban, but after reading the forum, I am really doubting it. I guess it doesn't really matter, I just want to learn how to pick the good ones and stay away from the bad.

I am looking forward to learning much more (goodness knows there is a lot of product to sample) and hopefully some day actually know what you all are talking about. I think this forum is a great resource for someone like me. In the mean time, can anyone suggest a good way develop a taste? How about tips on selecting good smokes as opposed to bad ones, or is it just a crap-shoot?? All I know now is that I enjoy a cigar or I don't. I apologize if this has been covered somewhere else, and if so would appreciate a nudge toward the correct discussion group.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

**mauied1101** · 04-14-2006, 06:38 PM

Welcome to CS and glad to see you have a sense of humor.

Best way to get acquainted is to do the Newbie Sampler thread at http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t2924-ne...er-thread.html - though it might be temporarily off. There have been several threads on good smokes, do a search and you should find good smokes in under $10 - http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t4059-ne...sive-asst.html - as well as other favorites - http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t3902-wh...ou-choose.html .

Cheers.

**Mr Peat** · 04-14-2006, 07:26 PM

Well, welcome to CS from NW Missouri.

As for learning that is a fun road. Best way to me is from trial and error. Since not everyone has the same taste in cigars. As an example I hated every Arturo Fuente cigar except the Hemi line and the Opus X. I didnt even like Diamond Crowns. But many many years later, I really enjoy the AF line of cigars and not just the Hemi's. As suggest, the Newbie Trade would be a good start to get many different cigars for really a cheap price. Then you can narrow down the lines and work your way through said brands like the Ashton line, LFD, AF, Don Lino, Padron, etc etc etc.

**basil** · 04-14-2006, 07:35 PM

Welcome to the board Mark. Good suggestions above. I'll reiterate that your own preference is the best guide. You might try here to see some ratings, but if you use it as a strict guideline, you'll miss out on some great smokes.

**slcraiders** · 04-14-2006, 07:46 PM

Fabulous intro. I wish more were like you.

Welcome from Salt Lake City!!!

**cinda** · 04-14-2006, 08:22 PM

Welcome to the board Mark! Your not old Mark your just getting started

Have fun!

**Shelby07** · 04-14-2006, 08:21 PM

Well, to be honest, I really don't know just what I've tried so far. Today I had Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino (I think it was a #11) but as I said before, I bought my current stash from a friend who supposedly had a bunch of "good"

cigars and was giving them up. After reading a lot, looking at fake labels and trying to figure out what to look for (triple caps, full leaf wrappers, etc.) I think some of the stuff he has is good quality but certainly not Cuban. It appears that other stuff he bought was junk. Hard draw, hot, hard to burn, etc. I know he didn't realize, since I am finding out how easy it is to be fooled. So, I figure I'll smoke them and see if I can figure out what it is I have. It's a lousy way to start, but I'll muddle through. To be real honest, I don't mind saying that I've been pretty stupid about the whole thing. I figured I'd get a bunch of good cigars and just sit down and enjoy them (much like the emperor enjoyed his new clothes, I guess.) I think I'm starting to get a little smarter and the smarter I get, the stupider I am!

The cigar I had today seemed very mild, almost no taste until I got down about 1/3 of the way, then it started coming on with what I can only describe as a "woody" taste. It burned well and evenly all the way down and had a really nice aroma. By the time I got to the end I was really enjoying it. I also had a knock off of a Bolivar (don't know which one) but I enjoyed that, too. Last week I had a very dark wrapped cigar, fat and long, (forget the brand and didn't write it down - I won't make that mistake again) and it was very overpowering. I will try to update you on what I think I have smoked, and hopefully will not wear out my welcome.

Last month I was in Ireland and I did buy some cigars from what appeared to be a very good cigar shop. It was down the end of Grafton St in Dublin. I bought an assortment of what I hope are true Cubans, but haven't dug into them yet. From reading some of the tips I've seen about forgeries, these might actually be the real thing, but I'm going to finish the ones that i got from my friend before I dig into them. By then I should have a pretty good idea of desirable texture, taste, burn, etc.

One note here... I am not trying to be a snob, but I am trying to get an idea of what is good quality and what isn't. Years ago when I started drinking wine I made it a point to go out and get the ones that were top rated by people who knew more than I did. At that time I would have thought that Welch's grape juice was a fine wine. But what I found was as time went on I could taste a wine, and if I liked it, it was usually rated well. I also found that wines didn't have to be expensive (or French

!!!) to be good, and I am sure it is similar with cigars. My hope is that I will be able to build a proper taste with smoke that those more knowledgable than I rate highly, then move on to my own selections. It sounds as if that is exactly the idea behind the exchange with the FOG's It is a great idea (I wish I had known about it sooner,) and as soon as I get through what I have now I will definately take someone up on the offer. For now, I am really enjoying investigating the ones I have.

Along these lines, does anyone care to talk a little about how they developed their tastes and perhaps relive some mistakes that you made when you first started? I'd be interested in learning from them.

Mark

**illilli** · 04-14-2006, 07:30 PM

Nice introduction Mark; welcome to the Forum!

What have you tried so far that you liked? If we know that, then we could recommend something in similar strength and/or flavor.

Of course, my friend M1101 is correct about the newbie sampler; I learned a LOT from tasting those delights. No matter what, get in on it if you can.