Hi, I'm Dan, I'm 32 years old, and up until May 10, I had never used a tobacco product. Not one cigarette, not one dip, not one chew. My parents were also both non smokers.
Right now, I'm deployed in Afghanistan. I've always wanted to try a good cigar, and figured I would do so if I ever got the chance. Now that I've been here a while, it came to mind that a cigar would be a nice thing to try to relax aound here. So a couple days into May I decided to go out and get a cigar. Now, I admit, I'm not too stressed. I'm in the Air Force, and I've never been outside the wire. But we do get rockets shot at us every so often, and people have died from these attacks. And I'm talking people just randomly walking around who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, why not try a cigar?
Well, as luck would have it, the shoppette we have here was fresh out of cigars! Oh, they had the "Black & Milds" and "Swisher Sweets". But even as a noob, I knew enough to know those weren't real cigars. I wanted something good.
Up to this point, my cigar knowledge for the most part came from hearing Rush Limbaugh talk cigars from time to time. I knew that cigar smoke was aeromatic, and was more about flavor than nicotine. But I figures smoking one would be like a cigarette.
So, here I was, wanting a cigar, but none to be purchased. So, I started researching online over the ensuing days. It started with looking for videos on YouTube on how to smoke a cigar. I came across some nice videos from Cigar Aficionado. Although the two who made the videos really need to work on not sounding obviously contrived, I did get some good information, mainly on how and where to cut a cigar. I also learned about tobacco beetles, how cigars are made, how to choose a cigar, all that fun stuff.
My research continued by looking into both the JC Newman and Arturo Fuente brands. I looked into these two because the shoppette humidor had these two banners on the shelves. (Actually, it was Arturo Fuente and Cuesta Rey). I looked through the catalog learning about the different shapes, sizes, and models.
However, I still wasn't sure how to enjoy a cigar. I knew that I was supposed to draw in smoke, but without inhaling. However, I couldn't quite get my mind around how that is accomplished. So I looked again for videos on how to enjoy a cigar.
Then, I found the "Padron" saint of Cigar reviews, Bryan Glynn of CigarObsession. I watched his video on how to smoke a cigar, and my eyes were opened! He put it all, cutting, toasting, and smoking, into one outstanding how-to. But the true revelation occurred when he said drawing a cigar is like sucking through a straw. Now that, as a non-smoker, was something I could identify with! Sure, I've drank lots of stuff through straws, and when you suck with a straw, you don't inhale the liquid. Now I knew "how" to do it!
I started watching as many of his reviews as I could with my slow 21kB/s highly overpriced internet connection (I could almost buy a box of cigars with what I pay per month for internet) Needless to say, my interest only grew. In fact, his review of the BOTL cigar led me to this site.
So during one of my daily shoppette visits, I wrote down all the names on the price labels for the cigars they would have. Turns out they were all JC Newman brands - Cuesta Rey Centenario Riviera, Pyramid #9, Robusto #7, Cabinet Collection #95, Brickhouse Robusto, La Unica 400, and an oddball - Rigolleto Donald. Sadly, despite the Arturo Fuente banner, no labels indicating an Arturo Fuente cigar.
Armed with this, I left to check out the reviews for these, but didn't find much. At Cigar Aficionado, the Cuesta Reys would range from the low 80s to low 90s, and most of the reviews ware on very old releases. So I turned to Mr. Glynn's youtube reviews, and found that he had tried the Brickhouse Robusto. So I watched that review, and he stated that it would be a great cigar for a new smoker. Hey, I'm a new smoker, I thought, so that's the one I'll try!
The next day when I checked after my shift... they had cigars! All those wonderful sticks in varying shades of brown filled with stuff that the tobacco cessation people tell me will cause my mouth and throat to break out in hideous golfball sized cysts if I ever got too close to one that was lit. I had to try one.
Now, let me pause for a moment to state that at this point, I had waited over a week for the cigars to come in. So nobody can say I did this on a whim with no thought at all.
So, I purchased two Brickhouse Robustos - one for me, and one for a friend who smokes cigarettes, and a Cuesta Rey Centenario Pyramid #7. I had intended to smoke the brickhouse the next day with my friend, but low and behold, when I got back to my room after eating dinner, the internet was off. Now, when the internet is off around here, it usually means one thing: one of us died. (They do this so the family is notified officially, as opposed to somebody's Facebook update) So, I figured neither me or my buddy had anything to do, so I headed on over to the shop for a smoke. (Nothing going on that night, so we weren't neglecting anything)
Once I got my cigar out of the cellophane, I gave it a good sniff. Barnyardy, and a smell of manure. But also an undertone of chocolate. The wrapper looked nice and smooth with tight seams. After we butchered the caps of our cigars with razor blades (no cigar cutters available at the shoppette), we headed out to light up.
It was a comfortable evening in Afghanistan, partly cloudy, not too hot or cold, and the bugs weren't bugging us. Light breeze, partly cloudy, with the quater moon in the sky.
I dedicated the cigar to whomever died, and a little prayer for the family. Then, we started toasting as shown in the videos, and found out it's harder than it looks. And the fact we were using $1.00 BIC lighters probably didn't help. We eventually got a good light on both our cigars, as confirmed by blowing on the cherry to assure an even light.
I wasn't sure what to expect. Probably a horrible taste (since I had heard cigars are an acquired taste) or an overpowering tobacco taste of some sort. I wasn't sure if I would start gagging like people do on TV and movies when they first try a cigarette, or if my eyes would water and burn.
The moment of truth.
I took a light draw, and let the smoke out of my mouth. Hmmm, not bad! I took another puff. The smoke was nice and cool just like Mr. Glynn said it would be. A definite taste in my mouth, but as with the other new cigar smokers I had read from online, nothing I could really put my finger on. But there was nothing negative about the experience.
My friend said that he was suprised at the experience. It was nothing like a cigarette, and was more pleasant. But again, no real discerneable flavors.
So we sat there puffing away, when we heard an announcement over the giant voice (public address system) that confirmed our fears. Hero Ceremony at the passenger terminal. Indeed, somebody had died.
So we continued to puff away. We talked about the war, family, religion, and various other random topics.
I got to a point in my cigar where I didn't notice the wrapper burning, and it seemed to be cooling off. Apparently I wasn't puffing often enough as we talked. So I had to relight and get it going again, and it kept going for a little while, getting maybe 3/4" of ash, but eventually started tunneling again. Another relight, and I decided I probably wasn't puffing properly. Being a brand new cigar smoker, I was taking light slow puffs. It was at this point that I started taking more long drawn out puffs. This seemed to help, but since I hadn't cut off the tip to re-light properly, I kept having issues. Also, the wrapper leaf started to come off from my hack job of cutting. Eventually the cigar smoke got too hot as I got down to the last two inches, so I called it quits. But we probably had a good hour and a half of smoke time. And I had a suprisingly good buzz, which I wasn't expecting.
And so, that was my very first cigar, and indeed my first tobacco product ever.
Right now, I'm deployed in Afghanistan. I've always wanted to try a good cigar, and figured I would do so if I ever got the chance. Now that I've been here a while, it came to mind that a cigar would be a nice thing to try to relax aound here. So a couple days into May I decided to go out and get a cigar. Now, I admit, I'm not too stressed. I'm in the Air Force, and I've never been outside the wire. But we do get rockets shot at us every so often, and people have died from these attacks. And I'm talking people just randomly walking around who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, why not try a cigar?
Well, as luck would have it, the shoppette we have here was fresh out of cigars! Oh, they had the "Black & Milds" and "Swisher Sweets". But even as a noob, I knew enough to know those weren't real cigars. I wanted something good.
Up to this point, my cigar knowledge for the most part came from hearing Rush Limbaugh talk cigars from time to time. I knew that cigar smoke was aeromatic, and was more about flavor than nicotine. But I figures smoking one would be like a cigarette.
So, here I was, wanting a cigar, but none to be purchased. So, I started researching online over the ensuing days. It started with looking for videos on YouTube on how to smoke a cigar. I came across some nice videos from Cigar Aficionado. Although the two who made the videos really need to work on not sounding obviously contrived, I did get some good information, mainly on how and where to cut a cigar. I also learned about tobacco beetles, how cigars are made, how to choose a cigar, all that fun stuff.
My research continued by looking into both the JC Newman and Arturo Fuente brands. I looked into these two because the shoppette humidor had these two banners on the shelves. (Actually, it was Arturo Fuente and Cuesta Rey). I looked through the catalog learning about the different shapes, sizes, and models.
However, I still wasn't sure how to enjoy a cigar. I knew that I was supposed to draw in smoke, but without inhaling. However, I couldn't quite get my mind around how that is accomplished. So I looked again for videos on how to enjoy a cigar.
Then, I found the "Padron" saint of Cigar reviews, Bryan Glynn of CigarObsession. I watched his video on how to smoke a cigar, and my eyes were opened! He put it all, cutting, toasting, and smoking, into one outstanding how-to. But the true revelation occurred when he said drawing a cigar is like sucking through a straw. Now that, as a non-smoker, was something I could identify with! Sure, I've drank lots of stuff through straws, and when you suck with a straw, you don't inhale the liquid. Now I knew "how" to do it!
I started watching as many of his reviews as I could with my slow 21kB/s highly overpriced internet connection (I could almost buy a box of cigars with what I pay per month for internet) Needless to say, my interest only grew. In fact, his review of the BOTL cigar led me to this site.
So during one of my daily shoppette visits, I wrote down all the names on the price labels for the cigars they would have. Turns out they were all JC Newman brands - Cuesta Rey Centenario Riviera, Pyramid #9, Robusto #7, Cabinet Collection #95, Brickhouse Robusto, La Unica 400, and an oddball - Rigolleto Donald. Sadly, despite the Arturo Fuente banner, no labels indicating an Arturo Fuente cigar.
Armed with this, I left to check out the reviews for these, but didn't find much. At Cigar Aficionado, the Cuesta Reys would range from the low 80s to low 90s, and most of the reviews ware on very old releases. So I turned to Mr. Glynn's youtube reviews, and found that he had tried the Brickhouse Robusto. So I watched that review, and he stated that it would be a great cigar for a new smoker. Hey, I'm a new smoker, I thought, so that's the one I'll try!
The next day when I checked after my shift... they had cigars! All those wonderful sticks in varying shades of brown filled with stuff that the tobacco cessation people tell me will cause my mouth and throat to break out in hideous golfball sized cysts if I ever got too close to one that was lit. I had to try one.
Now, let me pause for a moment to state that at this point, I had waited over a week for the cigars to come in. So nobody can say I did this on a whim with no thought at all.
So, I purchased two Brickhouse Robustos - one for me, and one for a friend who smokes cigarettes, and a Cuesta Rey Centenario Pyramid #7. I had intended to smoke the brickhouse the next day with my friend, but low and behold, when I got back to my room after eating dinner, the internet was off. Now, when the internet is off around here, it usually means one thing: one of us died. (They do this so the family is notified officially, as opposed to somebody's Facebook update) So, I figured neither me or my buddy had anything to do, so I headed on over to the shop for a smoke. (Nothing going on that night, so we weren't neglecting anything)
Once I got my cigar out of the cellophane, I gave it a good sniff. Barnyardy, and a smell of manure. But also an undertone of chocolate. The wrapper looked nice and smooth with tight seams. After we butchered the caps of our cigars with razor blades (no cigar cutters available at the shoppette), we headed out to light up.
It was a comfortable evening in Afghanistan, partly cloudy, not too hot or cold, and the bugs weren't bugging us. Light breeze, partly cloudy, with the quater moon in the sky.
I dedicated the cigar to whomever died, and a little prayer for the family. Then, we started toasting as shown in the videos, and found out it's harder than it looks. And the fact we were using $1.00 BIC lighters probably didn't help. We eventually got a good light on both our cigars, as confirmed by blowing on the cherry to assure an even light.
I wasn't sure what to expect. Probably a horrible taste (since I had heard cigars are an acquired taste) or an overpowering tobacco taste of some sort. I wasn't sure if I would start gagging like people do on TV and movies when they first try a cigarette, or if my eyes would water and burn.
The moment of truth.
I took a light draw, and let the smoke out of my mouth. Hmmm, not bad! I took another puff. The smoke was nice and cool just like Mr. Glynn said it would be. A definite taste in my mouth, but as with the other new cigar smokers I had read from online, nothing I could really put my finger on. But there was nothing negative about the experience.
My friend said that he was suprised at the experience. It was nothing like a cigarette, and was more pleasant. But again, no real discerneable flavors.
So we sat there puffing away, when we heard an announcement over the giant voice (public address system) that confirmed our fears. Hero Ceremony at the passenger terminal. Indeed, somebody had died.
So we continued to puff away. We talked about the war, family, religion, and various other random topics.
I got to a point in my cigar where I didn't notice the wrapper burning, and it seemed to be cooling off. Apparently I wasn't puffing often enough as we talked. So I had to relight and get it going again, and it kept going for a little while, getting maybe 3/4" of ash, but eventually started tunneling again. Another relight, and I decided I probably wasn't puffing properly. Being a brand new cigar smoker, I was taking light slow puffs. It was at this point that I started taking more long drawn out puffs. This seemed to help, but since I hadn't cut off the tip to re-light properly, I kept having issues. Also, the wrapper leaf started to come off from my hack job of cutting. Eventually the cigar smoke got too hot as I got down to the last two inches, so I called it quits. But we probably had a good hour and a half of smoke time. And I had a suprisingly good buzz, which I wasn't expecting.
And so, that was my very first cigar, and indeed my first tobacco product ever.
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