Brand new to cigar smoking! Please help me!

[92hatchattack]

Hello all, my name is Joe and I am brand new to Puff.com, as well as to cigar smoking in gereral. Im 27 years old and had been smoking cigarettes for 15 years when i decided to quit 6 months ago.

But life without smoking has been hard and the urge was far to strong as these beautiful summer days have arrived. This past weekend i went to cabins that my familly own near a small river, and I knew i was going to be drinking and would want a smoke. So I figured I'd try a few cheap cigars from the local liquor store.

So i tried out these 2 cigars when i got there and it was kinda good. I used to chain smoke alot, so the fact that when a situation arrived when i felt like smoking, they lasted a long time. By about 2 pm that day me and a friend were off to a real smoke shop. I picked up two cigars in the $9 range, and also a Graycliff 1666. These 2 $9 cigars i could imediatly recognise as being more fresh, tasting better and having a better draw. But when i had the Graycliff 1666 my eyes opened up. This one really stood out to me as being a very smooth smoke and i enjoyed it start to finish.

So, thats my story, and now i am here trying to learn. I have literally a million questions. But im sure the first thing i will be asked is what kind of smoker am i looking to be. Well really, for health reasons i dont want to be a daily, probaly not even a weekly smoker. What i do want is to be able to learn to enjoy fine cigars on special occasions where a $10 plus stick is in order.

So here are some starter questions that i need help with!

1. I hear alot that when new cigar smokers pick up the habbit they get sick alot, with stronger cigars like the Graycliff. I smoked slow and enjoyed the cigar for about 50 mins to an hour. I occasionaly exhaled through my nose, and eveninhalled a very small amount to get a real taste. (very small) How come i did not feel sick? Did i smoke too slow? Or am i just far past that phase being that i smoked ciggs for 15 years?

2. Besides the Graycliff i really had a hard time distinguishing flavors from one cigar to the next over the weekend. Is this something that is going to mature over time and many more cigars smoked, or am i doing something wrong. Am i not taking big enough puffs? The man at the smoke shop said the cigars would take around 30 minutes to smoke, but i took near an hour to smaoke mine as I was really enjoying the long smoke. Should i try and smoke faster?

3. This is where i need you guys to guide me into the light. Where do i go from now? I know first thing on my list is a good cutter and a small Humidor, but what i think i need guidance in is what sticks should i be looking at. Whats my next step? Should a try some cheaper cigars? Should i stay in the $10 range if it doesnt break the bank? Recomendations? I want to begin the journey of finding some favorite fine cigars!

So, that was quite an intro heh? Thats all for the moment really. This looks like a nice site and I am very eager to learn about some of the finer things in life here.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

---Joe

[popNsmoke]

hi and welcome 2 puff!... you will love it here and onet be afriad to ask as many questions as u need answered we have all been new smokers before.
i have seen a few people get sick with a cigar when they where new but mostly because they smoked 2 gast or where new to smoking in general and it was 2 much at once. i would never say most people get sick the first time its prob rare.
The flavors in the smokes or "your palate" will develop over tim as you try new things and dig into the hobbie. As for how long a smoke takes? for me even the small smokes take 45 min i like 2 enjoy them.
as for where do u go from here....sky is the limit my friend try some samplers online u can get some good deals at famous, Ci, and Cbid, dont worry about a ''$10.00 smoke" try a wide rang there are great smokes for $3 dollars a stick. Have fun and enjoy the new hobbie!!!!!!!!!!1

[SMOKE20]

Welcome to the site. You will learn many many things about cigars and cigar smoking here. There are so many knowledgable individuals here that can help alot.

[fiddlegrin]

Hi Joe,
Welcome to Puff!

If we "hurry" the smoking of a gar, it will usually overheat and ruin the flavors. So what your doing sounds about right depending on the size and length of what you were smokin.
For me slow is the thing as long as it doesn't go out. Re-lit gars usually aren't as good as they once were.

Here is an absolutely killer deal on a humidor. Grab it quick, you will be glad you did. (I don't know the guy selling it. I just know it is a great deal)

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/want-s...-like-new.html

Best wishes, Dafiddla

[HU1844SMOKER]

Just a note, you cannot always tell if a cigar is good by the price. I have bought seconds for around 2 bucks a piece and they (to me) are excellent smokes.

[ghost]

Welcome Joe! There are many great people on this who are always willing to help so you came to the right place. Don't be shy about asking questions; just put it out there.

Originally Posted by 92hatchattack

So here are some starter questions that i need help with!

1. I hear alot that when new cigar smokers pick up the habbit they get sick alot, with stronger cigars like the Graycliff. I smoked slow and enjoyed the cigar for about 50 mins to an hour. I occasionaly exhaled through my nose, and eveninhalled a very small amount to get a real taste. (very small) How come i did not feel sick? Did i smoke too slow? Or am i just far past that phase being that i smoked ciggs for 15 years?

Not every one who starts out gets 'sick'. There are a number of different variables that count towards this and everyone has different tolerances. One good way of increasing your chances for getting sick is by smoking a strong full cigar very quickly on an empty stomach. It sounds like you did just fine for your first time so I would continue with it.

2. Besides the Graycliff i really had a hard time distinguishing flavors from one cigar to the next over the weekend. Is this something that is going to mature over time and many more cigars smoked, or am i doing something wrong. Am i not taking big enough puffs? The man at the smoke shop said the cigars would take around 30 minutes to smoke, but i took near an hour to smaoke mine as I was really enjoying the long smoke. Should i try and smoke faster?

As you smoke more and different cigars and your pallete will develop and you will be able to pick out more flavors and nuances. As for how fast as long as you are not constantly having to relight your smoke it sounds that your speed was fine. Smoking slower tends to increase your chances of detecting flavors. Remember again, every one is different and different people will sometimes detect different things from the same type of stick.

3. This is where i need you guys to guide me into the light. Where do i go from now? I know first thing on my list is a good cutter and a small Humidor, but what i think i need guidance in is what sticks should i be looking at. Whats my next step? Should a try some cheaper cigars? Should i stay in the $10 range if it doesnt break the bank? Recomendations? I want to begin the journey of finding some favorite fine cigars!

Personally I think you should try different types of cigars and decide which you like the best. As pointed out already price is not an indication as to whether you will enjoy a cigar. Graycliffs tend to be on the expensive side (most very) and there are many great smokes to be had at half the price of those. The fun is in the trying especially when you find a brand that you really enjoy.

You may want to check out the review section on this forum and read what others think of particular smokes and decide from there. See here:

http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/non-habanos-reviews/

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Welcome to the very slippery slope.

[92hatchattack]

Thanks for all the kind words guys. I have already learned a ton browsing around this site and yet its the tip of the ice berg.

Oh, and im starting to hear about this "slope" I'll be trying to avoid it..... try being the key word. LOL

[ashmaster]

Joe, welcome to Puff. Be scared, be very scared of the dreaded "slope". Not really, if you get caught up in it, don't fight it, it can be a wonderful ride. Enjoy.

[DSturg369]

Welcome Aboard!

The more you read on here, the more you'll learn.