Stages of a cigar smoker

[palm55]

PHEW!!!

I guess I can relate to some of the steps... But I've kinda' consolidated them for my personal situation:

1. Deep

2. Deeper

3. Deep Chit

[oddball]

My stages (lifespan of 4-5 months)-

1) Smoked a few ISOMs from an international buddy on a rare visit. I AM HOOKED.
2) Purchased a JR sampler and started lurking around CS.
3) Built a coolerdor and bought my first box of N/C
4) Bought a 75 ct. desktop and purchased more bundles and boxes of N/C
5) Bought a Xikar cutter, torch lighter, and beads. Registered with CS. Bought some nice singles
6) Purchased boxes of PAN & PAM; now we're getting somewhere....First NST
7) I'll eventually get to the ISOM stage; I'm just enjoying the scenery right now

[scc135]

stage 7... ok, maybe not high end, but decent NCs.

[Big D]

LOL!!!! I've been smoking cigars almost a year now and I'm between 6 and 8.

[drevim]

Oh man, scary stuff....

I started with a combo of 2 and 3, bought my first humi in Nov. 05 off Ebay, and went to my local B&M to get a sampler. Found CS on Dec. 21, had 15 sticks. Ordered my first box of Cubans on Dec. 31st. By Jan 3, had close to 50 sticks, and bought a second humi.

Still haven't gotten in on a split, mainly because they are gone before I can get in on them, but I have tried.

Now less than 90 days on CS, I have now filled a 120qt cooler, and just ordered an Aristocrat M.

Now who has any cuban sources ?

Life is GOOD!!!!

[RcktS4]

.... Stage 43 - Having purchased havana, and mailed out all the provincial factory output as bombs, you are forced for reasons of family security to forego cigars for a period of 11 days.

Stage 44 - you fail to attain stage 43 and opt for simultaneous lung and complete circulatory system transplants accompanied by a full-inventory blood transfusion instead. Because this is done is switzerland, however, you immediately render the process useless by smoking four RA eminencias, a half-box of mid-century Montecristos, and several Caneys of questionable origin. What can you say? They looked really good.

Stage 45 - In a glorious "I coulda had a V8" moment, you buy the insurance company. All's well that ends well.

[carbonbased_al]

Originally Posted by RcktS4

.... Stage 43 - Having purchased havana, and mailed out all the provincial factory output as bombs, you are forced for reasons of family security to forego cigars for a period of 11 days.

Stage 44 - you fail to attain stage 43 and opt for simultaneous lung and complete circulatory system transplants accompanied by a full-inventory blood transfusion instead. Because this is done is switzerland, however, you immediately render the process useless by smoking four RA eminencias, a half-box of mid-century Montecristos, and several Caneys of questionable origin. What can you say? They looked really good.

Stage 45 - In a glorious "I coulda had a V8" moment, you buy the insurance company. All's well that ends well.

MAO! Wow, haven't laughed that hard in awile

[vtdragon]

I'm currently between stages 7 and 8. It's nice to see where I'm going, (I think).

[qwerty1500]

Really enjoyed the memories of my passage through these stages.

Stage 1) I'm still a dirty cigarette smoker ... darn it ... but my new "hobby" has really helped me cut back. Bought my first cigar after I went into a local cigar shop to buy a box as a gift for a friend. I didn't have a clue what to buy and was fascinated by his advice. Thanks to him, I just skipped past the Swisher Sweets phase.

Stage 2) The first cigars I smoked were Baccarat Bonitas and then some Macanudo Ascots. Didn't think I'd ever want a cigar that lasted longer than 20 minutes. Kept them in this little tupperware container with a wet paper towel. Yep, I bought the .99-cent single blade cutter. And, I still love to look at all the humidors and accessories.

Stage 3) The web is a wonderful place to learn about cigars. I've learned most of what I know from the web and the local cigar shop guys. I subscribed to nearly every cigar catalog I could find ... still love it when one comes in the mail. And yes, I "dragged my wife along to cigar shops in 3 counties from mine." I think I've been in every cigar shop in the St Louis metro area.

Stage 4) My first humidor was a Craftsman Bench travel model ... $49.95. Heck, it would hold 24 cigars ... I'd never need anything bigger than that! Joined a Yahoo cigar group and asked all of the normal newbie questions. And, yes, I know that everybody seems to like cigars at 65% but I still freak out when my Rh drops below 68%.

Stage 5) Smoked LOTS of different cigars. Seemed to stop by the local shop nearly every day. I thought I'd find the one and only cigar to fill my humidor ... it would be the only one I'd smoke. Finally settled on my first box ... Punch London Clubs ... I'd have to be out of my mind to spend more than $30-$40 on a box of cigars ... right?

Stage 6) Just arrived here at CS, so I've haven't done a newbie trade or bought anything from a WTS yet. I have been bombed and, yesterday, just sent my first bomb to a newbie. I'd used a Colibri lighter during my cigarette days ... knew I didn't want another one. Finally bought a 200-count humidor. Went into the shop looking for a 100-count. The guy talked me into a bigger one just in case I'd someday buy a box of cigars and have no where to put them ... I love that guy but I guess he'd never heard of an Igloo. The wife bought me a Xikar last year for Fathers Day ... I love that woman but I bet she wishes she'd never heard of igloos!

Stage 7) I wish I didn't love high-end cigars ... Monte Whites, Ashton Cabinets and VSGs, etc., etc., etc. My favorite cap is my Cbid smiley-face. I've finally broken myself from my Cbid habit ... can't, won't go back there ... maybe I will "just to look" ... lol. Seriously, I haven't bid on anything there in a long time and I prefer CigarAuctioneer better anyway.

Stage This was the best one. My list of cigar web site "favorites" is three screens long. The wife always asks, "How much was that." That's why I try to get home a little early when my buddy, the DHL driver, is due to come for another visit. Love Cigar Magazine but it looks like free copies at the shop are a thing of the past. Just broke down and subscribed.

Stage 9) Not only is my 200-count humidor full of my go-to cigars, the 40 gal igloo is nearly full of cigars that I have for long-term storage. I smoked my first ISOM at Christmas and was recently bombed with three more ... they are like precious gold to me ... if there was a fire, I'm sure I'd run back into the house to save them ... but I really don't have a source ... too shy to really ask anyone.

Stage 10) I'm staring this stage square in the eye. I need a second coolidor. I've decided to buy a big Otterbox to replace my Craftsman Bench travel case. And, I've been looking at 4-finger leather cases. But, no more fancy lighters for me ... I'm sticking with my Bic. Oh yes, I'm always looking for that perfect martini cigar ... RyJ Aniversario are nearly perfect but I think that those RP 92s that should arrive Friday may be just as good. This has been a hard week on the CC ... a box of Punch and Por Larranaga yesterday and the box of RPs due Friday.

I'm sitting here thinking that I was only at stage 1 a little over a year ago. Now, I'm worried about "Stage 11." Maybe I need counseling?

[olotti]

That is a funny post. I've been all over that list and I feel lucky I'm not married this way I can go right past the latter stages.

[Aureus]

For me it was more like

Stage 1) Research every cigar forum and website, get utterly lost in the choices.

Stage 2) Walk into Tobacco Shop, 'I want 5 good cigars for $50", ended up paying $47 for a collection of A.Fuentes, Montecristo and AVO.

Stage 3) Buy 100 count humidor

Stage 4) Newbie Trade

Stage 5) Buy more A.Fuente, buy more Hemmingways, buy a box of 40 Curly Heads for the every day

Stage 6)

Never smoked cigarettes before cigars, never smoked a swisher or a machine made cigar before I got into 'real' cigars. Since I picked up cigars I've smoked a few blacks and swishers given to me by friends/shared with. Never plan on buying anything other than 'real' cigars.

[RJT]

Yep this post was fun to do. I keep thinking of other things that happen along the wat, with me and others. The old put the cigars in the fridge trick. The wet paper towel thing. The thoughts of, I will never fill this 50 ct desk top up. Whats a coolidor. Then thinking, those guys with collidors "must be crazy". Tubos are cool. The questions of, cello on or off? I myself pretty much started out in stage 1 other than the cig part. I quit cigs back in 2000 after 15 year.I hope everyone enjoys reading this as I had posting it. RJT

[only on the weekend]

pretty close

[fitzsmoke]

Great post! I can identify with the stages. I haven't yet bought a $49.95 Cohiba but I'm thinking it could happen!

[PUFFNMO]

Originally Posted by fitzsmoke

Great post! I can identify with the stages. I haven't yet bought a $49.95 Cohiba but I'm thinking it could happen!

Hi All - My 1st post. I'm a newbie - Just what you've all been waiting to hear, right...
I smoked the delectable Davidoff Punch many moons ago. I remember them vividly, for me their flavor is the gold standard. Gave up smoking for many more moons. Then about 2 yrs. ago a friend got me back into the vile habit. Haven't looked back. Struggling to keep it to 4 cigars per week. Wife keeping an eye on me. Have 2 humis, and a large plastic file box, all near full.
For a year I wandered aimlessly, trying to find a cigar like the Davidoff Punch.
Haven't found it, but have indeed found my true love in Fuentes. Got lots of other fine and rare sticks, some isom's which I got in Mexico at the duty free. I declared them, the customs didn't bat an eye.

O.K., I'm hooked on Hemingways and other delectable Fuente's. When I smoke something else, no matter how good, it's kind of like I'm missing something. Like when I go with my wife to our Italian restaurant and I don't have chicken parmesan. It's still good, but I've missed something...

My question - What's wrong with me, and what stage am I at? I'll shuttie now.
Cheers.