What makes you buy a certain cigar?

I would like to pose a question to my fellow cigar bums... What makes you buy a particular cigar?

Marketing for different brands are essentially the same but what is it about a certain cigar that makes you want to give it a try. Personally I look for cigars that appear to have a well age, non altered appearance. Even a bit rustic looking. I've always loved the appearance of the leaf on the padron 1926 series. I tend to gravitate towards those. Nothing grinds my gears more than a cigar that doesn't look like it was made with real tobacco. :chainsaw:

What do you all like...or dislike? What makes you grab a particular cigar?

That is a good question. First off, I have to say, what I may "gravitate" toward is not always what I "like", and vice versa so I've learned not to fall in love especially with labels anymore. And while I can appreciate any cigar that is a fine representation of what it is supposed to be, such as a nicely dark and crunchy media noche...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0c494f23be.jpg or an expertly crafted torpedo or perfecto... https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cef5bc09ed.jpg I would have to say, the cigar that most pleases both my visual and tactile senses combined is the Oliva Connecticut Reserve Toro Tubo 6.0 x 50 because its classic look, shape and size and smooth and silky feel always transports me to a place nicer than where I am. Even before I light up!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...aa0ed5d977.jpg


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I am a sucker for a box press. If I see a line up of cigars I go for the box press every time

At this point I only buy what I know I like. All the marketing hype doesn't impress me at all. In fact, more often than not it pisses me off. If some new cigar comes out and in a few years it still seems to have a good, solid following (and it's available in a RG I like, aka corona, lancero, etc) I might decide to try a 5 pack if it's in my price range ($7 or less per cigar).

Generally I look at the description. Whether it's the marketing description or another smokers description. I love a cigar that is said to be flavorful (one trick pony but nice, 2+ flavor shifts). Then I love a stick that is visually appealing, looks well constructed. Lastly, I take into consideration what others here have to say about it.

Good question. There are many factors and sometimes it is just an impulse buy. Mainly I would say 3 things

1. Blends. I try to pay attention to what blends are used in wrapper, binder and filler. Lately if something has a Pennsylvania or Connecticut broadleaf in it I will pay attention, for example. So I try to remember what the blend is in a cigar that I liked and if I see another cigar that claims to have something similar I will likely give it a try.

2.Brand. Some brands just do not have anything I like so I dont buy and some brands are more to my liking and I will venture into something new from them. Alec Bradley has the Black Market which i like so when the Black Market Vandal came out, I tried it and now like it more than the regular Black market even though I am breaking rule 1 about blends cause I have no idea what the Vandal blend is. Other brands I have tried are just too strong for my taste so I avoid them.

3. Reviews. I listen to the comments and reviews here to see what people say about smokes. Lots of good info here and some people actually seem to like the same smokes I do and I check out some other cigar sites that have good lists of reviews. Dont pay too much attention to the reviews associated with the makers themselves but those of real people who smoke them.

There you are, a long winded answer to your question and sometimes I just buy 1 at the local B&M cause the guy there says its good. Lack of will power is also a good reason

Ok, here goes...

Maker reputation combined with MY experience of said maker. e.g. I havent found a Saka cigar I didn't like.

My fellow Bums' recommendations- I'd take a shot on you guys & gals before a magazine article any day.

Sexy/Bad-Ass label- yep, sometimes the shiny can pull me in.

General appearance? Dark, Oily, Maduro with hints of cocoa and espresso. And I say that even though I love almost all types.

I'd have to say a combination of these last 2 posts.
Blends - I look at the components and stay more towards what I know I like
Brands - first reputation of the brand / factory and then my experience with that brand
Recommendations / reviews - first of my fellow Cigar Aficionados and then the commercial reviews
Pricing / availability - gotta be affordable to smoke more than once and I prefer something that's going to be around (most of the time)
Hype / marketing - last on my list. I don't chase much but once in a while (usually the TAA releases) everyone likes to splurge

I generally stick with what I know and love. Arturo Fuente of any kind and Cubans of any kind (some better than others but even the cheap ones can be used as yard gars and generally cheaper and tastier than the NCC). Once in a blue moon I run across something that I like and am not familiar with but usually it is only because of a fellow Bum's generosity.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Emperor Zurg

At this point I only buy what I know I like. All the marketing hype doesn't impress me at all. In fact, more often than not it pisses me off. If some new cigar comes out and in a few years it still seems to have a good, solid following (and it's available in a RG I like, aka corona, lancero, etc) I might decide to try a 5 pack if it's in my price range ($7 or less per cigar).

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Definitive answer right here. I let my tastes dictate what I like and if marketing was the answer for what I like I'd be buying Gurkha Her Majestys Reserve and we know that'll never happen unless I start pooping my pants and giving away my 401K at the local Dollar Store.

Great topic and like many of the other Bums have already noted:
-Cigar Profile
-Label
-Reviews
-Recommendations

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's always interesting to see how we all choose a cigar. Personally whenever I go to a B&M I only buy cigars that I haven't smoked as I keep all my favorites on hand at home. Typically I spend quite a bit of time in the humidor, picking up and inspecting sticks. I have become pretty sensitive to the additives that some manufacturers use in their cigars (that's a whole other topic). So when i'm in a humidor i look for cigars that aren't super oily looking, are consistently colored but not identical as to avoid dyes and typically try to stay away from marketing gimmicks (double & super ligeros and such). It greatly reduces the amount of cigars that I can smoke and enjoy, but I rarely pick up one that I don't like.

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Originally Posted by kuntry08

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's always interesting to see how we all choose a cigar. Personally whenever I go to a B&M I only buy cigars that I haven't smoked as I keep all my favorites on hand at home. Typically I spend quite a bit of time in the humidor, picking up and inspecting sticks. I have become pretty sensitive to the additives that some manufacturers use in their cigars (that's a whole other topic). So when i'm in a humidor i look for cigars that aren't super oily looking, are consistently colored but not identical as to avoid dyes and typically try to stay away from marketing gimmicks (double & super ligeros and such). It greatly reduces the amount of cigars that I can smoke and enjoy, but I rarely pick up one that I don't like.

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Wow. That's a lot of additional stuff to have to consider!

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Originally Posted by kuntry08

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's always interesting to see how we all choose a cigar. Personally whenever I go to a B&M I only buy cigars that I haven't smoked as I keep all my favorites on hand at home. Typically I spend quite a bit of time in the humidor, picking up and inspecting sticks. I have become pretty sensitive to the additives that some manufacturers use in their cigars (that's a whole other topic). So when i'm in a humidor i look for cigars that aren't super oily looking, are consistently colored but not identical as to avoid dyes and typically try to stay away from marketing gimmicks (double & super ligeros and such). It greatly reduces the amount of cigars that I can smoke and enjoy, but I rarely pick up one that I don't like.

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Well, you brought it up, so - what are the additives you mentioned? How do you detect them? What affects do they have?

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Originally Posted by SoCal gunner

Well, you brought it up, so - what are the additives you mentioned? How do you detect them? What affects do they have?

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Oh gosh...Well, some manufacturers add extra nicotine to their cigars under the guise of double super ridiculous ligero. Others dye their cigars to make them look more appealing. If you ever see one of those dye buckets and sponges it will turn your stomach. Others (including one VERY popular private label brand) use baby oil....yes literal baby oil to rub down the exterior of their cigars. When you see them, they are super oily and shiny, and smoke pours off of them in huge volumes. A lot of manufacturers use the baby oil trick but one in particular takes it to another level. There are other things that some manufacturers use.... I stress some, not all.

The easiest way to tell is the color of the smoke...both coming off the cigar and from the exhale\retrohale. The color of the ash can give it off too. Also, to me there is a certain chemical harshness that I get off some cigars that doesn't jive with what tobacco tastes like.

All of those additives and such are used to enhance the visual aspect of the product. Its to make you think you have a nice, well aged, silky smooth cigar in your hands.

"The easiest way to tell is the color of the smoke...both coming off the cigar and from the exhale\retrohale. The color of the ash can give it off too. Also, to me there is a certain chemical harshness that I get off some cigars that doesn't jive with what tobacco tastes like." So too white or too gray or something else? Thanks.

@kuntry08
Thanks for that info!
Aside from the dye, particularly maduro, I didn't know about the extra additives. Kinda of disappointing. I was under the impression that most cigars, aside from infused, we're 100% natural.
Now I have something to look into.

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Originally Posted by kuntry08

Oh gosh...Well, some manufacturers add extra nicotine to their cigars under the guise of double super ridiculous ligero. Others dye their cigars to make them look more appealing. If you ever see one of those dye buckets and sponges it will turn your stomach. Others (including one VERY popular private label brand) use baby oil....yes literal baby oil to rub down the exterior of their cigars. When you see them, they are super oily and shiny, and smoke pours off of them in huge volumes. A lot of manufacturers use the baby oil trick but one in particular takes it to another level. There are other things that some manufacturers use.... I stress some, not all.

The easiest way to tell is the color of the smoke...both coming off the cigar and from the exhale\retrohale. The color of the ash can give it off too. Also, to me there is a certain chemical harshness that I get off some cigars that doesn't jive with what tobacco tastes like.

All of those additives and such are used to enhance the visual aspect of the product. Its to make you think you have a nice, well aged, silky smooth cigar in your hands.

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As a Maduro lover, I was familiar with some of the aging/darkening techniques, even dyeing, but not all of that!
What sucks is I know I've had a cigar that I enjoyed but commented on how blue the smoke was and how it just kept burning on its own - I'm guessing baby oil? D'oh!

Lot of it is eye appeal, along with vendor descriptions. If a fellow smoker recommends a stick, i'll give it a shot. I also have the opportunity to attend monthly cigar tastings, hosted by a sales rep. The owner of the establishment is also very knowledgeable, and offers good suggestions. And the box discounts at these events brings prices in line with the on-line vendors.

As an added bonus, he also has a liquor rep bring samples. Learned a lot about whiskey from this guy.

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Originally Posted by SoCal gunner

Ok, here goes...

Maker reputation combined with MY experience of said maker. e.g. I havent found a Saka cigar I didn't like.

My fellow Bums' recommendations- I'd take a shot on you guys & gals before a magazine article any day.

Sexy/Bad-Ass label- yep, sometimes the shiny can pull me in.

General appearance? Dark, Oily, Maduro with hints of cocoa and espresso. And I say that even though I love almost all types.

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Ding ding ding.....pretty much where I'm at. My world has gotten pretty small as far as trying "new to me" cigars. I pretty much spend my cash on what I know I like anymore as according to my wifey, we plan to retire someday so I have to be wise in my purchases.....

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Originally Posted by SoCal gunner

As a Maduro lover, I was familiar with some of the aging/darkening techniques, even dyeing, but not all of that!
What sucks is I know I've had a cigar that I enjoyed but commented on how blue the smoke was and how it just kept burning on its own - I'm guessing baby oil? D'oh!

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They put the baby oil on them boutiques to make them all fancy :poke:

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Originally Posted by WNYTONY

They put the baby oil on them boutiques to make them all fancy :poke:

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Put some baby oil on me and I feel a bit "fancy" also......

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Originally Posted by wnytony

they put the baby oil on them boutiques to make them all fancy :poke:

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lmao.

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Originally Posted by kuntry08

some manufacturers add extra nicotine to their cigars under the guise of double super ridiculous ligero.....
Others (including one VERY popular private label brand) use baby oil

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I'm pretty familiar with the dying of maduros and some other tricks of the trade that manufacturers use, but I have never heard of the "adding nicotine" deal. Can you give an example of a cigar like this or explain the process you're referring to?
Same goes for baby oil, I know it has been used by some companies to make cigars appear more attractive in photos, but I have never heard of the actual product being sold being coated in baby oil. In fact, I can't imagine it, because years ago we considered using baby oil in some photos but decided against it as it was horribly messy to work with and rendered the cigars unsmokable (by our standards.) Any further insight on these methods would be appreciated.

Obviously, beyond looks, labels and notoriety what it all comes down to is taste and how it's delivered. So, upon reading a lot of reviews lately, even though I won't personally detect all mentioned, I've determined I am most likely to dislike/like a cigar with the following attributes. Dislike: coffee bean, licorice, cedar (if overly predominant), wood, grass, toast, char and powerhouse. Like: cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg, leather, chewy, smooth and long finish. Yeah, that's it.

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Originally Posted by droy1958

Put some baby oil on me and I feel a bit "fancy" also......

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Was thinking, makes my head ache, about posting on this thread.......but.....having read your post.
Not about to touch that.

I too like "rustic" looking cigars, and agree that Padrons always have a bit of character to them. I'm usually wary of cigars that look too perfect. Too much sheen = over-humidified and will taste bitter. I keep my cigars at 65RH. My wrappers might lose some sheen, but they taste and smoke great.

I will say I'm a bit of a sucker for marketing. I can't help but like some of the more intricate bands, such as My Father. It sometimes steers me wrong. I had a La Galera Habano in lancero that looked pretty impressive, but underneath all of that artwork was a very mediocre smoke. I also love all of the marketing that's being done by the boutique sellers, particularly Dunbarton and Caldwell. They just look cool.

But the most important thing to me is finding a good reviewer that you trust. I like Katman, and if I'm buying online, I like to poke around his website. His end of the year "best of" lists are always top notch.