Am I on the right track?

[joshmpdx]

Hey folks, this looks to be a great forum!

as an introduction, my name is Josh, im 28 and smoked once or twice a year since i was 14 or 15 with my Pops in mexico.

recently at a wedding reception they were handing out JR ultimates (the corona size) and i promptly smoked 2 of and ordered a box when i got home.

now, ive been into the local shops a few times and spent $100 bucks or so on 10-15 stick and have REALLY been enjoying smoking this summer.

the process is still a bit overwhelming and i understand that to get anywhere i've just got to keep smoking...

but would like to make the right decisions right off the bat, and would appreciate a little guidance.

I just ordered a bundle from JR cigars.com called the Consuegra.

(the #70 EMS to be precise)

Id like to smoke the cigar smokers smoke... arbitrary maybe, but what i mean is 3-4 dollar smokes (roughly) that are phenomenal

thanks for any and all imput!!

josh

[dj1340]

I don't think there is a right choice right off the bat. Get some samplers form different places. They can be cheap or expensive depending on your budget. Find out what you like. There are certainly many smokes out there to try. Whats good for one may not be for another so mix them up for your tastes.

Experiment, that's half the fun

[Tarks]

5 pack frenzy on Famous is a good place to start. Some good deals there.

[ToJo]

I found that the grab bag sampler packs at atlantic were a good way to try out different brands.

[Cigary]

If you need to save money get some 5 paks off C Bid,,,lots of good deals there but be careful,,,you could become a slave to this place.

[tmanqz]

Welcome Josh you've come the right place.
Theres tons of infomation to help you get started on the right track. Spend some time going threw the forums, you'll get answers to most of your questions.
My bit of advice, when it comes time to purchase your humidor, dont go less then a 150ct.

Since Cigary already mentioned the devils sight , I'll introduce you to his evil twin , cigar international. Great place to get good deals.

Have fun.

[DSturg369]

Grab Bags are a great way to get to try new cigars you might otherwise not consider, as well as being a great value. You might also want to look into the Newbie Sampler Trade on here as well.

Also...... Welcome Aboard!

[Phantom57]

Many smokers search their whole lives for the silver bullet, ie, the budget cigar that tastes like the premiums. From over 35 years of cigar smoking, I can tell you there ain't no such animal. You should smoke what you like, and there are some decent "cheaper" cigars. The main thing is to learn what it is you like, ie, what are the constituent tobaccos of the cigars you seem to favor. The JR Ultimates are Honduran cigars made by the same corp. that makes Punch, Hoyo, etc, and in the same factory. My personal preference is a Nicaraguan puro with a corojo wrapper. In that genre, the DPG Black (Cuban Classic) label is a very reasonably priced cigar for what you get, and I recommend you try them.

My personal experience with a lot of samplers, grab bags, and cigars of the month type things are that you get an awful lot of cigars that are not very good along the with few that are desirable. Again, learn what you like, and buy small amounts until you are sure.

[Rubix^3]

Welcome to our shared obsession Josh!
Enjoy the process of learning about and sampling every cigar you can find.
Keep a journal of what you smoke and how you liked it. Use the ones you like as a springboard to find other similar smokes. Best way is to just ask any of us friendly forum members for suggestions based on your likes.
Cheers bro.

[Dgar]

Maybe pick up a few of the inexpensive cigars from a couple of the major manufacturers.

Padron x000 series great cigar, in the three to four dollar range, one of my everyday favorites.

Check out Oliva, Carlos Toranos, Arturo Fuente, Perdomo, Something by Jose Pepin... these are just a few but all have reasonably priced cigars and most above average to great cigars. Word of warning dont buy much in bulk until you know what you like, when I first started smoking I ordered so many five packs off cbid that many were never smoked.

Take your time, try a few new singels every now and then, and just enjoy the journey... You'll find you favorites..

[joshmpdx]

Thanks for the warm welcome and kind words fella's!

it's nice to see a few website recommendations, however may i be so bold as to ask how in the world c-bid works??

also, how do you gents chose between sizes and wrappers? it seems anytime i find zero in on a good cigar my decision is only 1/4 made ...do i want big, small, long, Maduro, Natural ...or EMS?!

thanks again!
im going to enjoy a Punch with my coffee this morning

josh

[Rubix^3]

This link of info compiled by Madurolover may be useful too:

Helpful Links and General Information

[orca99usa]

I don't think there is a right choice right off the bat. Get some samplers form different places.

This is the approach I took. I ordered samplers from online sellers and put together my own at local B&Ms. If you already know a few things that you like, the owner of a B&M can help guide you to other choices. Starting out, you have no idea what will strike your fancy. Don't shop by price, either. There are good cheap smokes and bad expensive ones, and vice versa. Trying as many different things as you can is a good way to start. You get an idea of the variety out there. I also kept notes in a text file to jog my memory. After you have tried 30 or 40 different sticks, you may not remember which ones you liked otherwise - or perhaps just as importantly, which ones you never want to see again.

[zipa]

I'd think that the "sub-six" list here on Puff reviews would be a good place to start: http://www.puff.com/Cigar-Reviews/Re...5-Under-6.html

At least it should give you a decent idea of what type of smokes you like.

[tobacmon]

Welcome Josh and I also enjoy the J R Ultimate's--very nice smoke for the $$$--You will learn as you explore what your likes and dis-likes are. Depending on what you eat , drink, etc. will probably determine what you smoke. Good luck and have fun during your exploration.