VERY new to this!!

[Shelby07]

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]

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]

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.

[illilli]

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.

[bigpoppapuff]

welcome from bflo ny.....tough skin and a sense of humor......good!!!

[basil]

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]

Fabulous intro. I wish more were like you.


Welcome from Salt Lake City!!!

[Shelby07]

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

[cinda]

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

[Lopaka]

Welcome to CSmokers!

[bigpoppapuff]

mark....wade through your cigars and tell me what you have...i'll tell you what i know about 'em....what you have could be better than you think.......







....or not.....

[v8_dave]

Hey, were in this together shelby07. I am new here too but these guys helped me start a list of good cigars to try out. top25cigar.com seems like a good place to maybe search for some of the ones you have to see how others tastes agree with yours, etc. I may start the smoking journal too so I remember my favorites.

[Roham]

Welcome!

[Shelby07]

OK - I've been meaning to do this anyway, so here goes ---

First the Humidor...
Don Salvatore - Black Laquor - Finished like a Piano - Really nice, and smells GREAT when I open it.

Now the cigars, in no particular order...
I will try to match up what I am looking at with what I can find on the internet and describe as best I can.

1 - La Gloria Cubana RJ Reserva Figurados
2 - La Gloria Cubana Serie R Limitada - 7" - 58 Ring Gauge - One very dark wrapper and one light wrapper - both wrapped in Cedar wrap
1 - Partagas Black Label Maximo in metal tube
2 - Quorum (Nicaragua) 6" Toro
1 - (Can't find reference to this one) about 5" PC Elite "Hecho a Mano" Dominicanos Los Maestros - Blue and Gold bands
1 - Puros Indios Viejo 98 Limited Edition
1 - Romeo Y Julieta James Bond 007 - Perhaps a Churchill??
1 - A Fuente Viejo Reserva No. 77
3 - Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Rothschilde
2 - A Fuente gran Reserva - Short guys - maybe less than 5" - (one end looks like an uncircumcised pecker!)
9 - unidentified - one has a band that says Por Larranaga Habana and others look similar but unbanded - Looks like coronita - These things are hard to draw on - virtually no smoke comes out
1 - Fuente Opus X - Perfexion X - Cedar wrap
1 - Zino Platinum Gran Mater Lonsdale
4 - Gispert Belicoso
1 - Ashton Cabinet Pyramid
1 - Ashton Cabinet #6

These are most of the ones that I bought from my buddy - I smoked a few and there are a few more, but I'm getting tired (the old eyes ain't what they used to be)

Thanks for looking these over for me. Hope I have some good ones!

Mark

[bigpoppapuff]

nothing bad there from what i can see.....actually,a very nice selection with cigars from three regions...honduras,nicaragua,and the D.R........the humidor is very nice...and happens to be a line i rep.....

[Lopaka]

OK - I've been meaning to do this anyway, so here goes ---
1 - La Gloria Cubana RJ Reserva Figurados
2 - La Gloria Cubana Serie R Limitada - 7" - 58 Ring Gauge - One very dark wrapper and one light wrapper - both wrapped in Cedar wrap
1 - A Fuente Viejo Reserva No. 77
1 - Fuente Opus X - Perfexion X - Cedar wrap
1 - Zino Platinum Gran Mater Lonsdale

The list looks very good. These are some of my favorites. Your lucky to have the Opus X and Zino, most people beg for those smokes.

The LGC RJ is an awesome smoke and the Series R's are some of my go to smokes.


Very nice collection.

[Shelby07]

I will send out the rest of the list as soon as my eyes recover from reading all that tiny print on the cigar bands and I figure out how to send a private message to you. I don't want to flood the board with personal stuff, but I'm new to blogging too, so bear with me and if I screw up on protocol please let me know.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed me to the board. Hopefully I will get to the point where I can contribute. In the mean time, I need to finish reading Bigpoppapuff's "How can I help" thread. Picking up lots of good stuff, Brought my cigars into the shower this morning and disposed of the neighbor's bull mastiff last night. (Dog Turds.... who knew??)

Mark