General cigar questions

[c.ortiz108]

You can also do the noob sampler trade and get recommended sticks from experienced Bums. http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/pif-ma...=Sampler+trade

[Brimy]

There are sooooooo many cigars out there!!! And I'm talking, normal production sticks.
As said in the previous answers, sample, sample & sample some more!

You are going to find some that you like & others you don't. And as your palate matures, you will find that what you loved before you might not later.

When I first got serious I would read reviews (both "professionals" & other S/BOTL) and then try the cigar. Even just looking at the "what did you smoke today" thread and you will find others who have a similar palate. When you do, you will have a direction for your sampling. At least that worked for me.

Then when you get to storing sticks and you learn about resting & aging, things might change again!

Most important is to just try stuff!

[jhedrick83]

There are sooooooo many cigars out there!!! And I'm talking, normal production sticks.
As said in the previous answers, sample, sample & sample some more!

You are going to find some that you like & others you don't. And as your palate matures, you will find that what you loved before you might not later.

When I first got serious I would read reviews (both "professionals" & other S/BOTL) and then try the cigar. Even just looking at the "what did you smoke today" thread and you will find others who have a similar palate. When you do, you will have a direction for your sampling. At least that worked for me.

Then when you get to storing sticks and you learn about resting & aging, things might change again!

Most important is to just try stuff!

Great advice. I would also add in that when you smoke cigars, as best you can pair it with water or a drink with little flavor, and take notes on the cigar as you smoke it. Flavors you are getting, evenness of burn line, draw, etc. Write a mini review just for yourself. It will really help you start to see what you like and dislike and you can compare that to the descriptions of the Wrapper/Binder/Filler so you can start to see what leaves bring what flavors. It can also help you find other cigars that you might like.

The discovery is half the fun!

[HabanoMan]

I would also add in that when you smoke cigars, as best you can pair it with water or a drink with little flavor, and take notes on the cigar as you smoke it.

Just to expand a little bit on this: Until you learn the nuances of the different flavors try just a touch of lemon or lime in your water. This will really help cleanse the palate which in turn will help you pinpoint any nuanced changes in flavors throughout the stick. While a great cigar and Scotch/Bourbon pairing is awesome it is really not the best for beginners since the alcohol can tend to overpower the subtleness of the tobacco.

The discovery is half the fun!

Hell, I would say it is more than half, at least in the beginning.

[jhedrick83]

Just to expand a little bit on this: Until you learn the nuances of the different flavors try just a touch of lemon or lime in your water. This will really help cleanse the palate which in turn will help you pinpoint any nuanced changes in flavors throughout the stick. While a great cigar and Scotch/Bourbon pairing is awesome it is really not the best for beginners since the alcohol can tend to overpower the subtleness of the tobacco.

Good point. I have never tried it but, I have heard club soda (if you like it) works great as well.

[Brimy]

Great advice. I would also add in that when you smoke cigars, as best you can pair it with water or a drink with little flavor, and take notes on the cigar as you smoke it. Flavors you are getting, evenness of burn line, draw, etc. Write a mini review just for yourself. It will really help you start to see what you like and dislike and you can compare that to the descriptions of the Wrapper/Binder/Filler so you can start to see what leaves bring what flavors. It can also help you find other cigars that you might like.

The discovery is half the fun!

So true!!

And IMO the environment (indoors vs outdoors) makes some difference.
On this note, smoking indoors alone vs smoking with folks who are smoking something different makes a difference too.
For me, there are a LOT of little nuances that affects the journey.

[Bruck]

+1 on samplers.

But if you get one that contains a Gurkha, send it to someone you don't like

& yes, avoid the bargain basement samplers.

[bluenoser]

All I had was a zippo for the first few months, once I got a torch lighter I can honestly say I saw no difference in taste. You might get a hint with the first puff or 2 but once it's lit I haven't noticed any difference. The one nice thing about a torch is I only smoke outside so I don't need to worry about the wind as much.

[Socoemt]

Thank you all for the great advice and suggestions! I would love to join the newbie trade, but we'll have to wait until I get my next paycheck.

So far I have just been using a bic lighter and it hasn't been bad, I just want sure if I was missing something obvious about lighting up.

Btw, what is it with some of you and ghurkas? Lol!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[stonecutter2]

Thank you all for the great advice and suggestions! I would love to join the newbie trade, but we'll have to wait until I get my next paycheck.

So far I have just been using a bic lighter and it hasn't been bad, I just want sure if I was missing something obvious about lighting up.

Btw, what is it with some of you and ghurkas? Lol!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I've had some Gurkhas that were okay, but I prefer to buy from companies that don't mislead their customers by creating trumped up suggested retail prices like $100 per cigar, but buy now because they're only $4 each.

Gurkha was founded to be sold in a duty free shop as an "Ultra premium" cigar. Something different among a sea of cigar manufacturers by going all out with boxes or labels, or hyped up stories. They spend a lot more worrying about the packaging and promoting/hype of a cigar than some of their blends and the quality of their tobacco.

To each their own - if someone loves the taste of a Gurkha, awesome. I've come to think that they're the PT Barnum of cigars, myself. Unless some Beauty bundles are on sale...I had one of those burn for almost 3 hours, i kid you not. Tasted good enough while out on the family land.