New Smoker in Town

**Presideo** · 01-30-2008, 04:41 PM

Hey from Columbia, SC....I've been into premium cigars for...oh, lets say one month (only turned 18 in August.) I started with the drug store cheapies, but soon found a good store in town with a humidor. Still know very little about quality, taste, etc, but hopefully I can learn a little from you guys...

So far I've tried:
RyJ's (Good)
H. Upmann (Spicy and Good)
Montecristo (Below average for tha price)
CAO mX2 (Bit Tasteless)
Helix (Good for tha price)
Punch (Fair)
CAO Maduro (Best so far)
CAO Brazilia (Good)

Any suggestions for some rather unknown brands would be greatly appriciated!

**chefchris** · 01-30-2008, 04:47 PM

Welcome from MS. One of the great things about cigars smoking is the journey. If you stick with it you will smoke hundreds of cigars. When I first started everything tasted like tobacco to me. There was good tobacco and bad tobacco. Your taste will become more refined and your experience will be even better.

Don't give up on the sticks you tried and didn't like. Give it a couple of months and try em again, you might be surprised.

Also, I think everyone here will back up the Sancho Panza Double Maduro. I also like the Extra Fuerte that I don't hear much about. Good, cheap sticks.

**ashauler** · 01-30-2008, 04:52 PM

Welcome to the board from Kansas. I'll second the SP's and throw out there the Famous maduritos and Nic 3000's. I'm also a big fan of Oliva, pretty much from top to bottom of their line.

**Mizicke5273** · 01-30-2008, 05:02 PM

Welcome!

Try some fumidores from Holts. Quite the awesome cigar for the price, I think.

**derivation** · 01-30-2008, 05:44 PM

Welcome to the board. I give another recommendation to the newby sampler.

**Sporadic Metonomy** · 01-30-2008, 05:47 PM

Welcome from TN!

I enjoyed trying new smokes when I first started. Although I didn't do it, the newb sampler is the best deal going.

I have a box of SP dbl maduros in the humi now. Set up a coolidor and have fun.

Sean

**bigwhiteash** · 01-30-2008, 04:49 PM

Cool... Welcome from another BOTL from South Kakalaki

I Highly recommend checking out the Newbie Sampler Thread HERE

Its a great way to get a great variety of smokes without paying walk-in store prices.

Dennis

Yes, the Sancho Panza smokes are awesome, very affordable too!

**tampacigargirl** · 01-30-2008, 10:52 PM

Hey from Columbia, SC....I've been into premium cigars for...oh, lets say one month (only turned 18 in August.) I started with the drug store cheapies, but soon found a good store in town with a humidor. Still know very little about quality, taste, etc, but hopefully I can learn a little from you guys...

Originally Posted by Presideo

So far I've tried:
RyJ's (Good) good thing you didn't try Macanudo's but a good smoke.
H. Upmann (Spicy and Good) Higher on the flavor side of things.
Montecristo (Below average for tha price) Can't really comment but wouldn't by them.
CAO mX2 (Bit Tasteless) Not really intended for someone just starting out.
Helix (Good for tha price) Blah. Good for the novice.
Punch (Fair) Good Staple
CAO Maduro (Best so far) Strong for some one starting out, but a great smoke.
CAO Brazilia (Good) Good, but also strong.

Any suggestions for some rather unknown brands would be greatly appriciated!

Try 601 Connecticut. Rocky Patel Edge Corojo, If you like the Cameroon rapper you might try the CX2. Two brands I would try would be Funte and Cuesta-Rey.

**Presideo** · 01-31-2008, 12:05 AM

Thanks for the great recommendations guys...I'll def. try the newbie sampler once I get my money in order (just blew a tire so I gotta take care of that first...)

Right now I'm thinking of trying Sancho Panza, CX2, and maybe something in the AVO line...just finished a CAO Soprano and loved it!

Also Sammis, know any good cigar shops around downtown Columbia...I've only found The Gourmet Shop in Five Points, which has a pretty good selection, but I'm always looking for some new shops...

**sammis** · 01-31-2008, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Presideo

Also Sammis, know any good cigar shops around downtown Columbia...I've only found The Gourmet Shop in Five Points, which has a pretty good selection, but I'm always looking for some new shops...

I live out towards Irmo so the only ones I've been to are as follows:

Modern Age Tobacco & Gifts
Colonial Village Shopping Center
1410 Colonial Life Blvd #200

This is on the second exit on I26 headed out of Columbia toward Spartanburg, right after the Columbia Zoo exit. John is the guy who runs the shop most of the time. There are a couple of chairs there to sit and have a smoke if you want.

The other one I go to is:
The Tobacco Merchant
1220 Bower Pkwy # E4,

This is just off of Harbison Blvd, kinda hard to find but a very nice shop with a nice sitting area with TV to relax and enjoy a cigar.

IM me if you want to meet up and I can show you where they are.

sammis

**cls515** · 01-31-2008, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Presideo

Thanks for the great recommendations guys...I'll def. try the newbie sampler once I get my money in order (just blew a tire so I gotta take care of that first...)

Right now I'm thinking of trying Sancho Panza, CX2, and maybe something in the AVO line...just finished a CAO Soprano and loved it!

Also Sammis, know any good cigar shops around downtown Columbia...I've only found The Gourmet Shop in Five Points, which has a pretty good selection, but I'm always looking for some new shops...

Welcome to the boards. My first recommendation is always the Arturo Fuente petit corona. In fact I've had a box sitting in my coolidor for close to two years now. Shoot me your address and I'll get one out to you.

**Presideo** · 01-31-2008, 03:05 PM

Thanks Sammis...I have some friends who play rock shows that way once in awhile so I'll def. IM ya one day to see if we can meet...

Thanks cls515 too...I'll have to hit you up on the offer!

**drew_goring** · 02-01-2008, 02:23 AM

Welcome from Alberta, Canada!

**CoventryCat86** · 02-08-2009, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by tampacigargirl

Try 601 Connecticut. Rocky Patel Edge Corojo, If you like the Cameroon rapper you might try the CX2. Two brands I would try would be Funte and Cuesta-Rey.

Oh brother, look who's back....

**heftysmokes** · 02-08-2009, 03:19 PM

CC have you been forgetting to take your medications? That post is a year old!

**chefchris** · 02-08-2009, 03:46 PM

i rawk

**islcigar** · 02-01-2008, 05:21 PM

Welcome from another new member. If you ever get down to Hilton Head Island stop in the store. Island Cigars, Village at Wexford. I would be happy to introduce you to many different brands.

**Presideo** · 02-01-2008, 07:08 PM

Thanks...I usually stop by Hilton Head in the summer so I'll have to let ya know when I'm down there....

Right now I've only been digging into the CAO lines for tha most part...just had a CAO Extreme, which was pretty bad....

Up next is a CAO Vision and a Gurkha G5 Avenger - heard good things from both! Want to try a CAO America, but my shop keeps going out of stock....the Sancho Panza ChefChris mentioned was also out of stock...

Keep the suggestions coming though...this is a great community!

**Smoky Contemplation** · 02-02-2008, 12:38 AM

Welcome from CA. And Sancho Panza's are a great bang for the buck.

**Presideo** · 02-02-2008, 01:02 AM

Thanks Mr. SoCal....I haven't heard any bad comments about the Sancho Panza's yet so I'm def. anticipating getting ahold of one...

Also, just tried my CAO Vision and thought it was great. Had a mild creamy taste at first, then had a leathery tingle....the box they had in the humidor was kickass too!

Still having trouble picking up flavors...I mostly either get a mild sensation (RyJ) or spicy (H. Upmann)...I'm sure my taste buds will develope a little more!

I'll be saving my Gurkha for Super Bowl Sunday....