need advice on expanding my cigar experience

[GoingPostal]

Hey started smoking cigars about a year ago during my weekly poker night. I have only smoked macanudo hyde park or the A. Fuente Baron de Rothschild(what my buddy has in his humidor). I like them both but i'm starting to feel like a leech. so i was thinking of stopping by local cigar shop and picking up four smokes, two to smoke that night (one for me and my buddy) and two to age. (I picked up a humidor to store at my friend's pad) Do this for six months then go back and start on the aged cigars. Note my Cigar budget is between $30-$40 a week. so my questions are...

What would you recomend I pick up?
What are some websites where i could pick up some good sample packs?
What are some good "Value Smokes" that you guys have come across? where can i get them?

 

[cigarguy71]

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/catDisp.asp?cat=19

 

[gibbleguts]

New havana cigars. I don't think they carry a bad cigar. I would also check the sponsors. I have bought off famous for years.
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[Jfire]

Newhavanacigars.com get a few samplers every couple weeks. Your welcome in advance but dont blame me when your broke!
2 recs in 2 mins dan cant be that bad heh!

 

[shuckins]

i recommend sending shuckins a pm with your addy

 

[Terrasco]

Try as many different cigars as you can get your hands on. Many, many good cigars out there. Read as many threads as you can. Visit a good b&m and buy singles. Buy samplers on the internet. You will also notice that your taste changes. Cigars you like now, you may not enjoy so much in six months. Talk to different people about their tastes.

 

[jmatkins]

Try as many different cigars as you can get your hands on. Many, many good cigars out there. Read as many threads as you can. Visit a good b&m and buy singles. Buy samplers on the internet. You will also notice that your taste changes. Cigars you like now, you may not enjoy so much in six months. Talk to different people about their tastes.

I second that, I say as well look online and also go into a local shop and tell them what you have smoked and ask for a few cigars from mild to storng and try each one. What I smoke today is nothing like I started with years ago.

Enjoy!

 

[gibbleguts]

Good point. Many times these days people forget how valuable a good b&m can be. Some times you will have better boxes of the same blend they can get a better impression of what you enjoy to help with reccomendations.
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[Panicbound]

i recommend sending shuckins a pm with your addy

very nice man!

 

[Cigary43]

Try as many different cigars as you can get your hands on. Many, many good cigars out there. Read as many threads as you can. Visit a good b&m and buy singles. Buy samplers on the internet. You will also notice that your taste changes. Cigars you like now, you may not enjoy so much in six months. Talk to different people about their tastes.

Excellent advice,,,I think you hit all the right suggestions.

 

[JRL]

Hit up the newbie trade forum. That way you can coordinate with a "more" experienced brother to do a cash or stick trade. Good way to sample some good stuff.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Try as many different cigars as you can get your hands on. Many, many good cigars out there. Read as many threads as you can. Visit a good b&m and buy singles. Buy samplers on the internet. You will also notice that your taste changes. Cigars you like now, you may not enjoy so much in six months. Talk to different people about their tastes.

That's it, I don't know what other advice can be given that Terrasco hasn't given in his post! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[mav_sd]

Something that helped me out alot a few years ago when I was just smoking a few a month or would go for awhile between smokes was to keep a journal of my bands and thoughts.

I'd just tape the band afterwards onto a page and write anything that I thought was important about the cigar down on the page.

For me, it helped me to remember what was garbage (to me) and what I really liked at the time. Any good shop can steer you towards some suggested sticks if you can tell them a few that you have tried and liked.

A friend of mine keeps a similar card file, and I bet a bunch of the guys do/did something similar when they were getting started.

Nowadays, I know more about my "go to" smokes and can navigate the shelf based on my mood.

Enjoy the adventure!

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

As it relates to a journal (maybe a "tasting notes" journal) Brooksy has a great one, in my opinion! :thumbsup:

 

[Halon]

I actually wouldn't start at New Havana Cigars. Dan is awesome and carries great sticks, but most of those will be a bit of a nicotine shock if you are used to Macanudos and Fuentes. He also really specializes in boutique brands, and more specifically Cuban-esque, Nicaraguan boutique brands. A great place to go if those cigars are what you want, but a shitty place to go if you're trying to get a general overview of different tobaccos and find what you like.
Go into your local store, start out with some nice mild-mediums. Chateau Fuentes (the cedar-wrapped ones), Cusanos, Royal Jamaicas, Perdomo Champagnes, Oliva Connecticut Wrapper Reserves, even the standard Padron line. Also, tell them what you smoke and ask them what they recommend. I would start out by only going to your B&M, because if you do the online route you will acquire tons of "deal" sticks that you will still have 6 years later (trust me!!!). As long as it is a good shop, they will have tons of cigars for you to try and can give you good recommendations.

 

[dpricenator]

Something that helped me out alot a few years ago when I was just smoking a few a month or would go for awhile between smokes was to keep a journal of my bands and thoughts.

I'd just tape the band afterwards onto a page and write anything that I thought was important about the cigar down on the page.

For me, it helped me to remember what was garbage (to me) and what I really liked at the time. Any good shop can steer you towards some suggested sticks if you can tell them a few that you have tried and liked.

A friend of mine keeps a similar card file, and I bet a bunch of the guys do/did something similar when they were getting started.

Nowadays, I know more about my "go to" smokes and can navigate the shelf based on my mood.

Enjoy the adventure!

Here is the template I used when I first started.

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/html/cig101_5cac.asp

I kept them in a 3 ring binder and after 100 or so amokes i kind of knew what I liked in a cigar and what i didn't, so I stopped using it. But having a place to keep track of my thoughts helped a lot. The samplers on,line are a grerat place to start, as is the newbie sampler thread.

 

[GoingPostal]

Thanks for all the great advice. Already have one entry in my journal tried a A. fuente Chateau maduro. really liked the peppery taste. and this weekend gonna try a partagas, not sure on what size. thanks again all of you

 

[LesNessMaN]

Anyone try any of the "cigar of the month" clubs?

 

[hdroadglide]

nope, but i've heard v.islander was a member of the panty of the month club!!

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Anyone try any of the "cigar of the month" clubs?

I haven't but I will when they let "me" pick the cigars!