Where to start?

[92hatchattack]

Hey guys, so Ive been on this site for a few days now, and i now thanks to the information of this forum have a small 20 count humidor on the way, with a heartfelt 65% round humidifier to replace the cheap stock unit and adjustable digital hygrometer. I also have plans on picking up a xikar lighter of some sort and an xi3 cutter.

My question is now, what should i fill the humidor with? I have looked through the cigar list at the top of the page, but i have to say thats its still a very large list and i have no idea what to buy?

Can you guys help me out? I'm open to trying anything that may be good for a beginner, but am not limited to just mild cigars. I've already had a Brazilia (i think thats what it was called) which i understand is a full bodied cigar, and a Graycliff 1666 which i thought was outstanding. Neither of these have made me sick ( smoked cigs for a long time, but no more)

If i asked you guys to recommend me 3 different 5 packs to pick up, what would you guys suggest? Or if there is a certain favorite sampler pack maybe you guys could point me in the right direction.

Sorry if i am being a pain or sound stupid, but i looked at that cigar list and have never heard of any of them, so you can imagine my confusion trying to pick out some smokes to start my collection with.

Thanks a ton guys!

---Joe

[Riedelma]

For me CI has a few Padilla samplers and 5 packs that are great but I love Padillas. They also have the best of Pepin sampler another good one. These smokes tend to be on the full body variety

[joncaputo]

check out our cigar reviews all user submitted

http://www.puff.com/Cigar-Reviews/

[92hatchattack]

Originally Posted by Riedelma

For me CI has a few Padilla samplers and 5 packs that are great but I love Padillas. They also have the best of Pepin sampler another good one. These smokes tend to be on the full body variety

What is CI? Any cigar abreviations will not work for me right now because i dont know what thye mean. Haha, I read alot of posts here with all these abbreviations and you all seem to understand eachother, but i am lost with them. LOL

[Rubix^3]

Joe,
If it was a C.A.O. Brazilia you had and enjoyed already(which is a maduro cigar by the way), then I would recommend:

• Oliva Serie G Maduro
• 601 Blue Label Maduro
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
• Don Pepin Garcia JJ Maduro

There is a huge world of cigars out there waiting to be explored. Go to your local shop and pick out a handful of singles and start exploring. Also, lots of online retailers offer sampler packs that are often a good deal and a great way to check out various brands. Have fun, and welcome to puff!

[Rubix^3]

CI stands for Cigars International, an online retailer. There is also Famous-Smoke.com which I have also used. Great guys.
also,
Perhaps these links will help:

Cigar Acronyms...What Does This Mean?

Helpful Links and General Information

[Riedelma]

Originally Posted by 92hatchattack

What is CI? Any cigar abreviations will not work for me right now because i dont know what thye mean. Haha, I read alot of posts here with all these abbreviations and you all seem to understand eachother, but i am lost with them. LOL

Cigarsinternational.com

[jedipastor]

As far as brands, Tatuaje, Pepin, Padilla, Perdomo are my current faves, with CAO and Rocky Patel making the cut as well. But I were just starting out, I'd try to get sticks from a bunch of different makers--as much variety as you can manage to get.

But if I were you, I'd go for samplers instead of 5-packs, as others have suggested. That way you won't end up with 4 of some stick you don't care for that much.

Just my 2 cents

[92hatchattack]

Originally Posted by Rubix^3

Joe,

If it was a C.A.O. Brazilia you had and enjoyed already(which is a maduro cigar by the way),

Yes, thats it. This I considered to be my first "real" cigar. The only ones ive had before it were cheap liquor store ones, and were very mild. It was a little strong at first, but i got used to it. After that i smoked the graycliff 1666 which i loved, and another very larger ring gauge ciagar. Had to have been 58+ as the xikar cutter barely was able to cut it. I think ive i had smoke the other two first, and the brazilia last i would have enjoyed it even more.

[ghost]

You should start by getting a bigger humidor. You are going to need it real soon.elcome

Honestly, the best way to start is to read reviews, decide which ones seem interesting or that you are curious about and then give them a try. If you read reviews will notice that this what many people do anyway, especially in the beginning. As you try more and more cigars you will be drawn to certain profiles and will come to know which smokes you are drawn to based on such things as what kind of wrapper a cigar has, what the filler is made up maybe even what country they are tobacco is from.

You need to remember that everyone is different and much about this pastime is all a matter of personal taste. You can take a cigar that 100 recommend and simply hate it and there is nothing wrong with that. People will have different experiences from a particular smoke, some will love it, others will just like it and still other will not care for it and this goes for all brands out there.

Remember also that some of the fun in all this is trying out all the various different smokes that are out there.

[92hatchattack]

Man, this is going to be one HELL of a process. LOL.

Can anyone comment on the diffrent sizes of cigars? Does this really change the flavor of the smoke at all, or is it just a preferance as to size, and the diffrent draw?

Oh and yeah, i know the 20 is small, but im going to be doing some traverling and just thought, well i can start off with this small one, and even when i get a larger one i can still use this one to travel with.

[Rubix^3]

I really like the Brazilia too. Maduros often have cocoa and coffee flavors as well as earth, wood, and spice. The other cigars I recommended are variations on the theme. The RP is very smooth, the 601 and the DPG (all made by Don Pepin Garcia) have a little more spicy character on the finish. The Oliva has really long woody finish that I enjoy. You really can't go wrong with any of these manufacturers.

[92hatchattack]

^^^ I cant find the RP on CI. Is it labeled diffrent on that site or something. I'm going to be making a long list of things to try i think.

[MrMusicMan1]

Well... I think the first step is to back up and broaden out. Others may disagree. Zooming all the way out we see sweet (flavored and infused) cigars and naturals. I would recommend you try both. From hearing stories most start off with sweet then switch to all natural. However, after that many seem to predominately smoke naturals while keeping some sweet around to change it up for something different every now and then.

They haven't been mentioned on here for a while but consider the ACID line by Drew Estates they are like nothing else. Many people have strong feelings of love/hate. Kuba Kuba is their #1 seller. I would say either either Earthiness or Deep Dish are superior.

As for naturals I would get a 5 pack of a good classic connecticut wrapper and a 5 pack of a good go to maduro.

-Earthiness (infused)
-Deep Dish (infused)
-Fuente Hemingway Short Story (or other size) (connecticut)
-Rocky Patel Edge (maduro)

The beauty of it you are going to get a different answer from everyone. All have different tastes! But generally can agree on a good cigar being a good cigar.

If all else fails go to cigarsinternational.com and get a big sampler. Like the mother of all samplers and get a great deal and keep notes as you go rating what you like and don't. After you try more ask on here what suggestions people have based on your likes and dislikes.

Enjoy!

[Riedelma]

Originally Posted by 92hatchattack

^^^ I cant find the RP on CI. Is it labeled diffrent on that site or something. I'm going to be making a long list of things to try i think.

RP = Rocky Patel