Questions towards the community
Chainer3000
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3
in Cigar 101
Hi all! I'm a relativly new cigar smoker, and I just had a few questions for everyone... I'd like to start by saying I am 19, and have been smoking for a little over a year and a half. I started out smoking Swisher Sweets every so often as a joke with my friends, and I will concide that media (movies, games, etc) were an influencing factor. When my friends and I started smoking, we did it for the novalty rather than enjoyment. We moved from the Sweets to Philies and White Owls.
And then I tried an Acid cigar with my friends... We loved them, and the 'dizzy' feeling they gave us. The armoa was also plesent for a change!
Now, as a bit more devolped smoker, I can't believe I ever touched that garbage. I smoke a premium cigar about once a week, on longer vactions or streaks of beautiful weather, 2 or three. I think I am starting to develope a taste for them, and perhaps have started to taste more subtle flavors. I've purchased a humidor about 8 months ago and have stored a pretty fair range of cigars, and I'm leaning toward more powerful cigars such as Gurkhas, although I do love the Ashton series...
With all of that said I've got a few questions, since I've heard so much about how welcoming the Cigar community can be...
First off, (1) when and what did you all start smoking? (2) When did you start to develope more of a palet for the more sutble hints of nuts and leathery tastes? Do, or did, any of you smoke cigerettes (I can't stand them, personally)?
Also, there is a local smoke shop and quiet a few headshops around that sell cigars. They have pretty nice envoirnments to smoke in (I live in NH, its pretty damn cold in winter, so smoking outside can be unpleasent sometimes).
(3) I was wondering, how do you more experienced smokers feel about younger smokers such as myself and my group of friends? We feel unwelcome sometimes, because of our age and lack of experience among long-time smokers and affectionados, sort of out of place.
I think many of you would be surprised by the number of new and younger smokers out there, partically around New England, it seems.
Thanks for your time, I'm sure I'll have more questions, but I'd like to hold off and wait for some responses.
-Bobby
And then I tried an Acid cigar with my friends... We loved them, and the 'dizzy' feeling they gave us. The armoa was also plesent for a change!
Now, as a bit more devolped smoker, I can't believe I ever touched that garbage. I smoke a premium cigar about once a week, on longer vactions or streaks of beautiful weather, 2 or three. I think I am starting to develope a taste for them, and perhaps have started to taste more subtle flavors. I've purchased a humidor about 8 months ago and have stored a pretty fair range of cigars, and I'm leaning toward more powerful cigars such as Gurkhas, although I do love the Ashton series...
With all of that said I've got a few questions, since I've heard so much about how welcoming the Cigar community can be...
First off, (1) when and what did you all start smoking? (2) When did you start to develope more of a palet for the more sutble hints of nuts and leathery tastes? Do, or did, any of you smoke cigerettes (I can't stand them, personally)?
Also, there is a local smoke shop and quiet a few headshops around that sell cigars. They have pretty nice envoirnments to smoke in (I live in NH, its pretty damn cold in winter, so smoking outside can be unpleasent sometimes).
(3) I was wondering, how do you more experienced smokers feel about younger smokers such as myself and my group of friends? We feel unwelcome sometimes, because of our age and lack of experience among long-time smokers and affectionados, sort of out of place.
I think many of you would be surprised by the number of new and younger smokers out there, partically around New England, it seems.
Thanks for your time, I'm sure I'll have more questions, but I'd like to hold off and wait for some responses.
-Bobby
Comments
1) im 27 ive been smoking cigars for about 2 - 3 years. I used to bring cigars backpacking with my friends... kinda went from there. i never knew what i was getting into but im glad i did.
2) almost immedialty. but i am the exception to the rule. Food is my life. i love taste and i have an (i think) overly developed palate. First it was food, then it was beer, then wine, then cigars. I used to smoke cigerettes, but not anymore. I think it was heath that said it at one point-- cigerettes are an "abomination of tobacco"
3) ill smoke with anyone. Its a reason to smoke a cigar. I like to smoke the same cigar as another person at the same time so i can compare notes in "real time"
i have somewhere on my computer a post from another forum about Developing your palate. If i have time later ill post it. its not too in depth, but it has some good ideas. Maybe ill expand on it with what ive learned since i posted that over a year ago.
Hang out awhile - you will find you have learned more about cigars & the world there of than many people that have smoked for years.
There are a few different types of smokers out there -
Here (online) you'll find people very interested in everything to do with cigars, but even more so the quality of people & the friendships that have come from here are amazing.
As for who I will smoke with - anyone I can sit a talk with for an hour & not get bored.
nice !
Glad to be here, and thanks for the fast answers and the helpful link!
-Bobby
Bobby
This is my first post on Cigar.com since I just found out about it a few months ago. I noticed that one of your questions was unanswered, so heres my answer. Im 26 and started smoking cigars about 3 or 4 years ago. My first cigar was a CAO Gold that my now father in law had given me and I smoked while drinking a Corona. It was incredible, and been hooked ever since. CAO is still my favorite brand but I have moved onto the CX2. Ive smoked alot of different cigars over the last few years, some good some bad, but my favorite is a CX2 with a ice cold Corona. Hope that helps, try it sometime.
Ty
Thanks for the answer, I'm certainly looking for a few new 'creamy' cigars to try, as I've been smoking mostly full bodied cigars recently.
as for you being 19 years old, that makes 2 of us! I have been part of the Cigar.com forums for about 6 minutes and counting. I am still getting the hang of how the system works around here, evidently there is a new format.
I have been a cigar smoker for one year give or take a few months. My father started smoking cigars ( again) a few years back and I would always take a few puffs and eventually have my own with him. He started out strictly Macanudo, so I didnt have much of a choice there. He then started Baccarat and got me hooked on those, then I got my boss hooked. But I think I'm ready for something slightly stronger and less sweet. I started buying Swishers on my own when I was 18, later smoking hecho a mano cigars rather than "hecho la machine-a". I found out fast that you cant go back to anything sold at the gas stations after having premium cigars. Some new found favs. include La Gloria Cubana, Teamo, Cuban Sandwich ( these are Nicaraguan), and La Paloma VRC.
Other than a few odd smokes here and there, I have not had a diverse variety yet. I plan to branch out this summer and try many new brands; I cant enjoy >anything< out in the Minnesota cold.
Just got done reading Donny's post in this thread, and thats already more than what I have been doing. I try to make mental note but I have a feeling that will only work for so long. I have made two orders with Cigar.com so far, my latest one included some of the house blends, the blue label was very relaxing, have yet to try the red and cuban label.....not to go off topic.
I dont know how much time I will have to view the forum but I have a feeling I will be spending late hours on here reading.
Thats all for now,
--Eric
~Darin aka handypantz
-Nic
These are some great posts in response to your questions. I've enjoyed reading them so much I'm compelled to reply as well.
My first cigar was a Royal Jamaican about 30 years ago (I'm 47 now). I enjoyed it but wasn't very educated in the finer points of what makes cigar smoking so great. I really didn't develop a true appreciation until about 10 years ago and started to read and learn about what goes in to blending tobaccos to create different flavors and strengths. I drifted toward brands like Montecristo, Macanudo, Fuente, etc. All pretty much coming from Dominican Republic. Good cigars for sure but my tastes have changed dramatically over the past 2 or 3 years. I was on vacation in Jamaica and had my first experience with a Cuban cigar a couple years ago. It was a San Cristobal. It just blew me away. I'd never tasted that peppery flavor before in any of the cigars I smoked. So now days that's what I look for most of the time. My taste has developed an appreciation for medium to full bodied cigars with lots of spice. It's no surprise just about anything Don Peppin Garcia blends is a favorite of mine. I'm excited to try some from the new kid, AJ Fernandez, which I just ordered and am eagerly awaiting delivery. I also enjoy these spicey devils with a good single malt scotch or big red wine. Pure heaven!
As far as your age I could care less. The fact you are this young and developing a true appreciation for cigar smoking says to me you're ahead of most your age. Certainly your well ahead of where I was at when I was 19. Then again I didn't have the Internet and a tremendous resource of knowledge at my disposal.
I think the only comment I have about the age factor is that typically people view younger people (like 25 and younger) as less experienced and perhaps therefore incapable of enjoying some of the finer things. But I don't agree with that since I'm 23 and I feel as though I can appreciate the experience one gets when spending some time with a good smoke, granted I may lack the life experience of some older folks, but that all comes with time and I see no need to wait until I'm older to have slightly more refined tastes when I've got a fairly good idea of what I like now. So yeah, age doesn't matter to me as long as a person appreciates the cigar and the experience that come with it.