I'm new to cigar smoking, so please tell me...

[djinjekted]

hold on, slow down, slow down... lets get the right cigar for you... yes the brown lable is great, but its a med-full flavored cigar.. i'd suggest picking up the DK sampler first and trying the different levels green is mild, red is med, brown is strong.... if you're just switching from flavoreds, you may well not enjoy the brown label at all. It took a buddy of mine quite a while before he enjoyed the brown; but the red, he loved from the first puff.

Oh cool. Thanks for the info!

[pub spears]

Welcome from SC. I have friends who smoke gas station cigars and have no problem at all with it. The problem is when someone goes on a cigar forum and starts talking about how great those cigars are. Well they are great.. to them. I have to admit, I have an occasional COA Vanilla. Mostly when I'm in a situation where torching a "real" cigar would draw alot of grief on myself. I keep a tin around and take one along when I think I might need something that isn't too bad to smoke and actually smells sorta nice to non cigar smokers. Oh yea, and alot of us laugh at Macanudo smokers too.

[HersheyWalker]

Welcome from the UK.

Try samplers, maybe even the newbee thread. It can take time to find exactly what you like, but it is worth the effort.

When I was younger I smoked quite a a lot of King Edwards that were infused with brandy, grew out of it though.

All the samplers I bought have taught me is what a great stick the Don's are. Beelee dat!

[BunkyX]

If you smoke a cigar and it makes you sick, it is probably too strong for you, for now. Try some of the milder smokes. Cuesta-rey is pretty mild and so are Astrals. While some of these guys have suggested Padrons they may be a bit too strong for you also. Baccarats and Helix are pretty mild,Ashton Cabinets, Casa Torano, Gisperts and CAO Golds are a bit stronger.Stay away from most of the smokes that contain corojo like most Don Pepin until you get used to smoking cigars.Gene

[djinjekted]

If you smoke a cigar and it makes you sick, it is probably too strong for you, for now. Try some of the milder smokes. Cuesta-rey is pretty mild and so are Astrals. While some of these guys have suggested Padrons they may be a bit too strong for you also. Baccarats and Helix are pretty mild,Ashton Cabinets, Casa Torano, Gisperts and CAO Golds are a bit stronger.Stay away from most of the smokes that contain corojo like most Don Pepin until you get used to smoking cigars.Gene

Oh, that's really good info. Thank you so much.
I recently smoked a Drew Estate Chateau Real, and really enjoyed it.

[FunkyCold5]

Welcome from VA!

Try smoking mild-med bodied cigars first. It seems like you are not ready for a full-bodied cigar. We don't want you to associate a good cigar with getting sick. Don Pepins are great cigars, but they definitely kick your butt if you aren't careful.

Money is definitely an issue when it comes to this hobby. I feel it's worth saving the money and getting a box of decent smokes than spending $2.50 for cheap cigars every week. That's just me though.

It seems like you are on the right path, and I hope you find the right cigars for you and share about your trials and errors with us here. The best part about getting into the cigar hobby is, TRYING all the different cigars out there. Just like the wine and liquor hobby, if you call those hobbies, too ;-).

Andrew

[djinjekted]

It seems like you are on the right path, and I hope you find the right cigars for you and share about your trials and errors with us here. The best part about getting into the cigar hobby is, TRYING all the different cigars out there. Just like the wine and liquor hobby, if you call those hobbies, too ;-).

Andrew

Haha thanks... my wife calls my "wine and liquor hobby" a "problem". :)

[gaines1016]

as another new guy i will give you a couple recommendations that i have liked so far.

1. CAO Gold Robusto (well built, mild, lots of smoke, and a nice clean finish)
2. Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 (again well built and lots of smoke with a little more body then the CAO but not at all overpowering, even on an empty stomach)

and both are less then 5 bucks a stick at my local B&M

[cigar no baka]

I personally don't hate any cigar smokers because of what they smoke. But my I do hate flavored cigars. They usually taste very artificial and cloying. And I always feel that they must be putting shit tobacco in them, as the overwhelming flavors would disguise the most urine-infested tobacco.

But as others have said, smoke what you like. As long as you're not smoking White Owls or Backwoods and singing their praises, I won't sling any poop at you.