Who first introduced you to premium cigars?

[runningonmt64]

I started out smoking Backwoods with a buddy while changing his transmission to a 1985 Mustang. A few weeks later I was in Baltimore Inner Harbor with my Dad, catching a spanking the Yankees put on the O's and we stopped at a local B&M. Ended up buying 2 Ashtons and my life changed at that point. Never went back to Backwoods.

[croatan]

Premium Cigars: My uncle. He gave me my first cigar, around 13 or 14 years ago (I believe it was a Fuente), and I thought: "Hey, this is this pretty good!"

Cuban Cigars: Not long after that first smoke, a very close friend introduced me to Cubans while we were traveling in Mexico. The cigar was a Bolivar Belicoso Fino and we drank Havana Club 7yr and Negro Modelo chasers, sitting outside on the patio of some little bar. To this day, that was one of my most satisfying smoking experiences. I turned into an addict overnight.

Outrageously Expensive Rare Cigars: We call him Klugsie.

[Buckeye Jack]

Had some Tinder Box brand machine made cigars at my best friends bachelor party in June of 97. I enjoyed the experience and enjoyed the cigar on my virgin tastebuds.

2 Weeks later he asked me what I wanted for being his best man and I told him to buy me a cigar or two. He buys me an Ashton Churchill upon the B&M's recomendation. Liked it but was just way too big. So I bought an Ashton Magnum the next week and it was downhill after that.

[Spect]

Stress pushed me down the slope.

[brigey]

I was completing a big project with a buddy of mine (Paul) and the company was sold out from under us. Having been there for 14+ years my Paul gave me a premium cigar sort of a going away gift. Up to that point I had never had one. I enjoyed the smoke but over the next 6 - months I started to try other cigars and found out quickly the ones I liked and the ones to leave alone. That was 11 years ago and I have matured my pallet to the point that I enjoy a medium to full flavored cigar, mostly on the weekend or at a herf. (see you this weekend)!

[boonedoggle]

My father in law first piqued my interested, although he smoked JR Alts at the time. Since then even HE has started diving into the more premium smokes since retiring.

[duhman]

In the early 80s I would gram a smoke from the liquor store display (I don't remember what kind) and smoke it in my truck or on the weekend. Then, while flying in an airplane I read a Fortune magazine "Best of" article about cigars. I remember they mentioned Macanudo, Partagas and Davidoff, which I tried. There was a big difference in these cigars from the cheapies I was smoking before.

[SmokeyJoe]

Originally Posted by brigey

I was completing a big project with a buddy of mine (Paul) and the company was sold out from under us. Having been there for 14+ years my Paul gave me a premium cigar sort of a going away gift. Up to that point I had never had one. I enjoyed the smoke but over the next 6 - months I started to try other cigars and found out quickly the ones I liked and the ones to leave alone. That was 11 years ago and I have matured my pallet to the point that I enjoy a medium to full flavored cigar, mostly on the weekend or at a herf. (see you this weekend)!

Thanks, Brian... looking forward to catching up with everybody from the LexHerf tomorrow.
Should be a blast!

[Poriggity]

I didn't smoke at all... Then I expressed interest to a friend of mine who smoked, that I'd like to come try a cigar with him sometime... Well, before i knew it, I had a 5 pack of premiums in my mailbox from him... It was downhill from there.. Then I bought a humi, and smokes... and more smokes, and more smokes.. then the hinges on my humi broke (musta been opening it up to check the smokes too much ) So I bought another one.... And I have a cooler in my buildup thats gonna be converted soon..
Scott

[Shaun Raney]

A guy on my fire department had a herfador, every stand-by we would do for fireworks and stuff like that he had cigars for everyone.

[cryinlicks]

i had a boss that would have one at lunch time, and i would go out with him to discuss work and other things. after a few times, i was curious and ordered a box of Montesino Diplomaticos maduros. i was then hooked. his name is chris romano, and i am forever in his debt.

[frankluke]

nobody, i just jumped in head first.. on the flipside, I introduced more than a few to habanos.

[Darrell]

I got into them when I was stationed in Korea. My buddy used to always buy me a Monti 2 when we would go drinking. Well I started buying my own cigars shortly after that, mostly Churchills and Cohibas.

I got out of cigars for a few years and back into them, and I back into them and here I am.

[smokeyscotch]

I think my granddad had the most influence on me. When he smoked a cigar, it looked as if the cigar tasted like honey. I guess just the way he carried himself made it appear that way. I didn't get into buying my own till college in 1991. I lost a large collection to a roommate, and got back into the hobby seriously about 1 1/2 years ago.

[Iacchus]

smoked them for while in my youth, but dropped them after a short time. Years later a good friend of mine slid down the slope and handed me a monte #4 and a padron 3000. Brought me right back into the fold.
Happiness ensued.