Feast or Famine?

[srduggins]

Being a noob to cigar smoking (still in my first year back to smoking) it seems like there are a ton of excellent, new smokes on the market like the Tat blacks, The Frank, Oliva V Maduro, El Triunfador, Cruzado, Pinar del Rio, Cubao, Esencia, etc. Is this normal, or are we in a Golden Age for cigars, or am I just succumbing to all the hype? I don't know how much more of this my wallet can take.

[Angry Bill]

Its all about choices now. Our taste profiles have changed and manufacturers are trying to keep us all happy. In addition, some manufacturers are creating new lines to protect brand names or some have ventured to new companies.

[dpricenator]

I'm a noob as well, but i think there have always been new releases, and new lines of cigars...some last and some don't. There are ebbs and flows with any industry. Just pace yourself. I try to buy samplers or sale items, or stuff from the guys here. Once you find what you like, look for that box until you find a sale price you like.

[Donk]

my friend, If you are a true beginner cigar smoker, trust me all this talk about the latest and greatest cigars, as well as trying to buy or aquire the rare and hard to find stick, such as Opus X or God of Fire shouldn't really matter.

Honestly Start out by buying the good quality less expensive cigar like in the 4-6 dollar range, develop your palate over a time period. Learn the differences in various cigars, such as Maduros, Cameroons, Conneticut, sungrown and such. After smoking oh say 300 cigars then you have a good base of what you like and what is junk in your taste.

[srduggins]

Originally Posted by Donk

my friend, If you are a true beginner cigar smoker, trust me all this talk about the latest and greatest cigars, as well as trying to buy or aquire the rare and hard to find stick, such as Opus X or God of Fire shouldn't really matter.

Honestly Start out by buying the good quality less expensive cigar like in the 4-6 dollar range, develop your palate over a time period. Learn the differences in various cigars, such as Maduros, Cameroons, Conneticut, sungrown and such. After smoking oh say 300 cigars then you have a good base of what you like and what is junk in your taste.

Thanks, I'm afraid it may already be too late for me as I have been repeatedly shoved down the slope. I did start by ordering some cheap samplers, but I have rapidly accumulated a bunch of sticks I enjoy and now those early sampler sticks are just things I want to get rid of (that's where my friends who are following me down the slope come in). I remember enjoying RyJ's in the beginning, but last night I tried one with a gold band and black lettering that looked delicious. However, the flavor just wasn't there and I ended up tossing it at the 1/2 way point. My first box purchase was the Chateau Fuente Sun Grown after having one that just blew me away. None of those were as good as the first so far. (Lesson learned). Second box was the Oliva MB IIIs at 30% off. I'm much happier with that purchase. Other than that I've been splitting the Joe Cigar deal with Danny and/or buying 5 packs and singles. I've discovered I don't really like Camaroon or Habano wrappers, but they do seem to improve with age, and really like Corojo and recently enjoying Criollo wrappers too. Maduros are good from time to time.

Thanks for the therapy session.

[Tegu]

I would say we are in the golden age, it is like the cigar boom, but the cigars do not suck!

[Ocat]

Outstanding selection for just about anyones tastes. Great time for all BOTL.

[Craig Mac]

Originally Posted by dpricenator

I'm a noob as well, but i think there have always been new releases, and new lines of cigars...some last and some don't. There are ebbs and flows with any industry. Just pace yourself. I try to buy samplers or sale items, or stuff from the guys here. Once you find what you like, look for that box until you find a sale price you like.

Originally Posted by Donk

my friend, If you are a true beginner cigar smoker, trust me all this talk about the latest and greatest cigars, as well as trying to buy or aquire the rare and hard to find stick, such as Opus X or God of Fire shouldn't really matter.

Honestly Start out by buying the good quality less expensive cigar like in the 4-6 dollar range, develop your palate over a time period. Learn the differences in various cigars, such as Maduros, Cameroons, Conneticut, sungrown and such. After smoking oh say 300 cigars then you have a good base of what you like and what is junk in your taste.

Yeah, what these guys said. It's easy to get caught up in the hype(I'm sure like me, many here have), but finding what you like is so much more important than buying what's "hot". I use to buy a lot of singles until I found some stuff I liked before I bought any boxes.

[uncelnino]

I would say that it is the day of the "boutique" for the most part and a fantastic time to be a cigar enthusiast. By the way, haven't had the Frank yet, but the rest of the sticks you named live up to the hype IMO. Enjoy all the new experiences and i agree with the others that the more you try and develop your taste for cigars, the better you will know what you really enjoy in a good stick.

[Angry Bill]

Originally Posted by uncelnino

By the way, haven't had the Frank yet, but the rest of the sticks you named live up to the hype IMO.

Oh you will love the Frank!!!

[uncelnino]

Originally Posted by Angry Bill

Oh you will love the Frank!!!

Have you burned one? Tell me about it....I want details.

[jmatkins]

Originally Posted by uncelnino

I would say that it is the day of the "boutique" for the most part and a fantastic time to be a cigar enthusiast. By the way, haven't had the Frank yet, but the rest of the sticks you named live up to the hype IMO. Enjoy all the new experiences and i agree with the others that the more you try and develop your taste for cigars, the better you will know what you really enjoy in a good stick.

I agree with Dave on this, but the others are correct as well.

When I started smoking cigars there were a lot of Boutique Cigar companys, but I do not that many have lasted. I got started during the big cigar boom and there were tons of cigars everywhere, however they were making them way too quick and the quality was not good on a lot of lines. I think companies are using a lot of diffrent blends and getting better full bodied smokes as well as a lot of good medium and mild smokes for the whole group of us to enjoy.

So keep buying what you think you like but do not be suprised if you are selling some of your collection when you don;t like them any more. Just keep trying every cigar you can and go from there.

.02

Have fun!

[Proud Bear]

We are in a golden age, brought on by former years of turmoil. I would suggest reading about the history of cigars and why the current boom exists.

Granted, there has been a constant increase in cigar smokers (especially among the younger population), but everything I have read suggests that the current successes stem from lessons learned in the recent past.

Bear

[CWS]

I have been smoking cigars for longer than I care to admit. SOme of the new cigars are astonishing in their strength and complexity. A good time to be into the hobby.