Capital Smoker Here

[Jack Straw]

Hi there fellas,

My name is Andrew and I am from Washington, DC. Seems like a good group here.

I am 25 years old, and have recently (over the summer) gotten 'into' cigars. I will usually have one a week, outdoors, with a good beer and a book, or with my cousin who is an occasional cigar smoker. I have recently set up a "winter smoking" area on my screened in front porch with an old office chair and electric space heater. It is nice . As far as other hobbies, I enjoy cooking, fine beer and bourbon, and cars. I am an "amateur mechanic" and have a thing for old SAABs.

Anyway, I have been going usually once a month to the "B&M" as you all call it, usually getting 4-5 cigars a trip. Here are some of what I've tried, in the order I remember trying them:

-Ashton (white label one that you can get everywhere, not sure the designation)
-A. Fuente Gran Reserva (red/gold w/black edge label)
-La Aroma de Cuba
-Romeo y Julieta Medallas de Oro
-Padron 2000s, 5000s
-Punch something or other, red/gold label, robusto size or similar
-"E.Z." Don't remember the guy's name, but I tried the regular and maduro, good stuff.
-Some mystery cigar that I've had twice. It is similar in a few regards to a Padron, comes in a wood cubic box, the cigars are not wrapped and unbanded, and the logo on the box is in script, I believe it started with a Ca or something. They are good, but for the life of me I could not name it.

So far, I have found I like the darker ones better (of those that I've tried). I always get a padron of some variety when I go back, and then try and pick new ones and get a recommendation from whoever works there (except one guy I don't like). I think I have a 5000 maduro at home right now, and two ashtons for my cousin's b-day (he likes a lighter cigar). I usually get big ones (maybe 1 churchill, 1 robusto, and 2 in between, maybe a corona), because I like to spend a good deal of time sitting and smoking.

Anyway, let's get down to brass tacks here, and my token noob question. I'm thinking of getting a small humidor, to store a box of something (thinking padrons) and singles/5packs. I asked one guy in the store about them, if the ones I see for $40-80 online are worthwhile, and he was like "they won't last that long" and "If you spend $300, you'll get one that will last 2-3 years." Well, he did seem to know his cigars, but he also came off as an arrogant prick trying to sell me something (regardless of whether he was right).

I want something that will fit on my desk or dresser. I figured on a 40 ct or so to fit my needs, but am heeding the advice on this site of doubling that, so I'll say, something sized like this: http://www.tampahumidor.com/sd4/prod...scany-3281.cfm It would hold my one box, the singles, and other stuff. Is this level of quality just a waste of my time/money?

Thanks,
Andrew

[madurolover]

Welcome to CS.


If you search here for humidors and just read in the accessories sections you will find that the guy at the shop was just trying to sell you something. A good humidor will last you a lifetime.

[stevefrench]

Hello Andrew and welcome to Club Stogie.

[NCRadioMan]

Welcome! If you are looking for a humidor, go as big as you can afford. They fill up quick. Especially when you hang out here. If you don't care about looks, get a good cooler!

[BlewSmoke.com]

Welcome.

[Jack Straw]

Thanks for the welcome.

I went to the store yesterday, and figured out what my "mystery cigar" was - a La Flor Dominicana Cameroon Cabinet.

Having my annual review today at work, hopefully the cigar I smoke later today will be a "victory cigar" as I like to call them. My selection is a Montecristo Especial White No. 3, a Cohiba XV 550 (which I'm seeing mixed reviews for), and a Padron 2000 Maduro.

Am planning on picking up the humidor after christmas

[tattoofreak]

Aloha and welcome remember that a humidor only holds about 2/3 of what it should. I would go bigger I've been smoking for 6 months and have a 150 count full a couple boxes in a cooler-dor and started to build me a vino.

[tzaddi]

Welcome, choices, choices, choices. Sounds like you are off to a good start and are a patient man. By the time the holidays have concluded you should have garnered plenty of information on the interweb to make a wise and economical decision, probably more than one

Enjoy the community

[Tim D.]

Welcome! We need all the DC area primates we can get. Keep your eyes peeled for some great herfs in MD/DC/NOVA this coming spring/summer.

[tsolomon]

Welcome, I live in MD and work in DC. What DC B&M have you been using? I have been using Draper's lately and tend to go over there for a cigar at lunch some days.

[Jack Straw]

Will do, but...what's a herf?

Also, as a post script, the Cohiba XS and the Montecristo were disappointing It was like they were trying to be "interesting" or "experimental" but not really in a way that I particularly liked.

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by tsolomon

Welcome, I live in MD and work in DC. What DC B&M have you been using? I have been using Draper's lately and tend to go over there for a cigar at lunch some days.

Well, I've been going to two: there's this place called President Cigars on Wisconsin just south of Fessenden street, and there's Virginia tobacco company in pentagon city, which is actually OK (considering it's in the mall). President is more of a local type place, has a better selection, and has comparable prices (i.e., I'd go there).

[tsolomon]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

Well, I've been going to two: there's this place called President Cigars on Wisconsin just south of Fessenden street, and there's Virginia tobacco company in pentagon city, which is actually OK (considering it's in the mall). President is more of a local type place, has a better selection, and has comparable prices (i.e., I'd go there).

That's up by Tenleytown and sounds like they have a place to smoke. Draper's carries a lot of Pete Johnson's brands like Tatuaje, La Riqueza and Cabaiguan along with a number of others and their prices are reasonable.

If you a buy a humidor, it will soon be too small. Think bigger, much bigger.

[Cigar Man Andy]

Andrew, Welcome to CS from a Northern Virginia Andy.

Some of us are trying to put together a VA, MD, DC Herf in late January or February. Keep in touch...

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by tsolomon

That's up by Tenleytown and sounds like they have a place to smoke. Draper's carries a lot of Pete Johnson's brands like Tatuaje, La Riqueza and Cabaiguan along with a number of others and their prices are reasonable.

If you a buy a humidor, it will soon be too small. Think bigger, much bigger.

Yeah, that's where it is, more on the north side of tenleytown towards Friendship Heights. I have not seen people smoke inside - the time I saw people smoking there they were sitting in lawn chairs out front (although it was a nice day, could have been by choice). I could have missed something though. The woman who was working at the counter had an aura of "cigar knowledgability" although I did not seek advice when I went there. I will have to check out Draper's as well, although that's a little off my beaten track.

The one in the mall has decent prices and an OK selection of Fuente stuff (which I assume is fairly standard), but lacks a lot of the great cigars I hear people talking about on this site. You can smoke in there, although it is a very small store. They have a walk in humidor, and a cigar store indian. They do carry cameroon cabinet torpedo cigars which I've gotten a single of, I need to get more of those, I quite enjoyed it.

Now I feel like stopping by President on the way home (I work in Bethesda, but live in DC), give it a closer look.