How many cigars did you smoke before you found the first one you liked ?

[smelvis]

I thought I liked the first one until I smoked a good one, I started with .75 cent 777 and smoked them on and off for awhile, Finally the guy at the B&M slowly took us up in price and amazingly the cigars got better. So I would have to say I smoked hundreds of crappy Cigars before I understood. Kinda hard to admit the truth but there it is.

[RobustBrad]

I started out with a few myself. Quickly got hooked on the Padron 3000 series and it was all downhill (I mean uphill) from there

Cheers,
Brad

[96Brigadier]

I smoked on and off for a few years before deciding to get a bit more serious about it this past summer. Nothing like being out in the travel trailer with the wife and kids, enjoying the fresh air, and having a nice smoke in the afternoon (yes, I get the irony about the fresh air statement )

My first "good" cigar 10+ years ago was the CC Monte #4. I honestly couldn't figure out what the big deal was and haven't smoked one since (although I'm contemplating trying one again now that I'm getting a bit more into it to see if my thoughts on it change). This past summer I bought a CC Corona Gorda sampler that included a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 1, Saint Luis Rey Serie A, San Cristobal de La Habana La Fuerza, H. Upmann Magnumm 46, Punch Punch-Punch, and Cohiba Siglo IV. I've also tried a few CC RyJ, the Bolivar Royal Coronas, and a few others that I can't remember the name of.

Interestingly the Ramon Allones Specially Selected came with the Sampler as a free stick through a "refer a friend" program with that particular retailer, and I loved it; so much so that I have a box on the way, hoping they arrive today In all honesty though I have liked all of the CC's I've tried so far except for the Bolivar, but the RASS is the one that just lit me up. I'm hoping that this box will be as good as the one I tried a month ago.

[Dread]

For me the first cigar I had once I started smoking seriously was a kuba kuba becuase one of my buddies pretty much only smokes Acids. I thought it was garbage and next time I was there I tried the Acid One, the flavors were far more subtle and I found myself enjoying the cigar way more. So next time I went I got an ortsac and since then I havent had another flavored cigar, its a far more enjoyable experience searching for the tastes and aromas than having them punch you in the face like the flavor infused. At the moment my favorite bang for the buck cigar is probably the partagas black label, but I had an Unholy Cocktail the other day and thats right up there with it. But I know itll never end, I dont know if Ill ever find just one cigar I could settle on.

[kid smoker]

Liked the first one. I was a cigarette smoker at the time. It wasn't until I quit smoking cigarettes that I found cigars I didn't like.

[danmcmartin]

I found the CAO Gold pretty quick, maybe 3 or 4 cigars, but based on advice found on here. Unfortunately, I had one yesterday and it was bland. I am afraid one of my go to smokes just isn't full-flavored enough anymore. It wasn't unpleasant, just bland, but I have been smoking a lot more medium to full bodied sticks and I think my tastes have changed.

Besides half the fun is trying new things. I'd hate to think that I found the ONE after a month of smoking and gave up looking.

[msilbernagel]

Recently I've started hanging out with friends who enjoy sitting around and enjoying a cigar together; several groups, actually. In fact, I've had better times sitting and chatting with my kids over a cigar than any other time in their lives. Great way to spend an hour.

So, the first time or two I ran past the corner-store tobacco shop (once at a Fred Meyer) and got 'whatever'. Seemed Ok at the time.

Then when it seemed likely to be a more regular thing, I visited a nice place in Minneapolis during a trip: walk in humidor, serious selection, high-end stuff. Still, since I didn't know what to pick I got a sampling and spent the next week or so seeing what I liked.

I've found that:

Most are at least 'ok'

A few I've just stopped and thrown away - there really are a few 'bad ones, though I suppose they could just have needed a bit 'o aging... some were tasteless/bland, and one was very bitter, a few just smoky junk with nothing in the flavor mix that appealed at all.

I have gone back to a few I initially liked, to find that as I'd tried better and stronger cigars the one's I liked earlier were... not nearly as interesting.

Several dozen different types later, I have a list that is at least decent (to me). I note that it is a very subjective experience (from reading), subject to available time, setting, weather, mood, what you drink it with, etc.

My list now likes Ashton VSG, LGC Serie R Maduro (an early fave), DPG Blue, Camacho Diplomat (Scorpion's nice), Padron (std's are good, '26 is my favorite).

That junk I bought at the corner start early on? I'd rather settle for second-hand smoke...

I suppose it'll change like a good Mississippi river over time... ; ' ) Won't that be fun!?

Mark
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Originally Posted by Romey88

I'm 39 and just getting into cigar smoking ( 2 weeks in now) . I love reading all the info on this board and others and have a nice little collection of about 80 different cigars now and more on the way lol (so many good deals out there ). The more I read, the more I want to buy and try . I've tried about 6 different cigars so far and have not found the ONE I really like or just plain like yet. How many smokes did it take you guys before you found the ONE?