Cigar Thread

[tmfs]

I haven't tried too many different cigars so far (probably 15 or so), but I smoked a gurkha grand reserved and really enjoyed it.

[Wondercall]

I just picked up an Opus X at Casa Fuente on Monday, I'm excited. I'll report back when I smoke it.

[astarck]

Anyone have any experience with CigarsInternational.com?

[C-Dog]

I do a majority of my purchasing from CigarBid.com which is basically a subsidiary of Cigars International. I have done some ordering from them straight as well. I like them in general. Here are some links for the stores I use:

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/index.cfm
http://www.cigarmony.com/store/index.php
http://www.cheapercigars.com/
http://www.seriouscigars.com/
http://www.famous-smoke.com/cigars/index.cfm
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/index.asp

I usually compare prices between those sites. In addition, here are some Cigar Deal sites:

http://todayscigar.com/
http://www.beerliquors.com/cigar/friday_sale.htm
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/html/spec_oneday.asp
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum....amp;redirCnt=1


C-Dog

[astarck]

Thanks! I'm a total cigar noob but this thread has made me want to become more adventurous with my cigar smoking.

Oh, and post 1000!!! [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Im_Your_ATM]

Spending about $150 on a friend's wedding gift and cigar/cigar products are what I'd like to do. He has a barebones humidor, an expensive lighter but that's it. He is not an expert but he probably has preferences I'm unaware of. I'm not going to ask him what he likes as it would ruin the surprise. Spend my $150 for me.

Unrelated Question #1: If an inexperienced smoker gets sick after smoking, how likely is it that it's related? If anything at all, what are they doing wrong?

Unrelated Question #2: I hate how the smell gets underneath my fingernails/hard to wash out of my hands. Prevention? Remedying the problem once it has already occurred?

Unrelated Question #3: When for whatever reason you get an uneven light how should you fix this? Just smoke through it or relight it?

[MTUCache]

$150: On one person? You've got an almost infinite amount of choices here, assuming you're just going to get a box of something. Otherwise, I'd get a top end cigar ($20-30) for him and a cheaper box. Either way, there's too many choices here to list.

If I was forced to, I'd probably get something like:
- Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Robustos (box of 20) - $120
- Diamond Crown Maximus Double Corona #1 (single) - $30

Prices and availability will vary widely depending on where you're getting them, taxes, and such, so like I said... there's a ton of choices here. Alternate scenario I'd end up getting any box of Fuentes for around $150, as I'm a huge Fuente fan and I've never had a problem with any of their cigars.

UQ#1: Getting "sick" after smoking is usually a function of the nicotine level in the cigar and/or it's full-bodied flavors. This can happen to almost anybody if they haven't eaten in a while, or if they pick up a very potent stick, but more experienced cigar smokers will build up a tolerance for higher nicotine levels. The best cure for this is to get something sugary, like a pop or something. You're definitely not doing anything "wrong", except maybe smoking a cigar that you're not quite ready for. Maybe next time reach for something a bit milder, maybe with a Connecticut or Cameroon wrapper instead of a spicy Criollo or Corojo.

UQ#2: Umm... no idea. Haven't really noticed this before, or rather the smell is just all over instead of in a couple of concentrated areas. They sell products such as "Fresh Air" for getting rid of smells, but usually I'll just change clothes and brush my teeth and it'll be 90% gone (enough for my wife to hang around me again). One thing I have used for getting rid of the very long finish on some cigars is to eat peanutbutter, as it will mask the taste pretty well. I have no idea about what to do about the smell though... deal with it?

UQ#3: Definitely correct this, by using your lighter to burn the "slower" parts of the wrapper, and get it back to an even, straight burn. You'll notice that this type of burn problem happens very rarely in good cigars, but can be very annoying when you're smoking cheap or mid-level cigars. This can get even more frustrating when you're constantly correcting your cigar, or it's tunnelling on you or insists on running up one side. Some cigars just aren't constructed very well, even some expensive ones... you'll find a couple leaves in every batch it seems.

[C-Dog]

[ QUOTE ]
Spending about $150 on a friend's wedding gift and cigar/cigar products are what I'd like to do. He has a barebones humidor, an expensive lighter but that's it. He is not an expert but he probably has preferences I'm unaware of. I'm not going to ask him what he likes as it would ruin the surprise. Spend my $150 for me.

Unrelated Question #1: If an inexperienced smoker gets sick after smoking, how likely is it that it's related? If anything at all, what are they doing wrong?

Unrelated Question #2: I hate how the smell gets underneath my fingernails/hard to wash out of my hands. Prevention? Remedying the problem once it has already occurred?

Unrelated Question #3: When for whatever reason you get an uneven light how should you fix this? Just smoke through it or relight it?

[/ QUOTE ]

For 150, I would recommend getting him a Nice Cutter/Punch and a box fo Cigars. You say he has a nice lighter already, so a nice Cutter is a great thing to get. Personally I have a Xikar Xi2 and I really like it. You can get it at most cigar stores, I posted a list above, just price check them and get the best price.

For the Cigar Box, I love the Patel Vintages, so I can't argue with that recommendation.

As for the other questions, I still get a little woozy after some of the stronger cigars, but I hope that goes away. Never the Vintages though [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] . Not sure what to tell you about the smell, I just smoke like one a day and I have a terrible sense of smell anyway.

C-Dog

[Hellmouth]

[ QUOTE ]
Spending about $150 on a friend's wedding gift and cigar/cigar products are what I'd like to do. He has a barebones humidor, an expensive lighter but that's it. He is not an expert but he probably has preferences I'm unaware of. I'm not going to ask him what he likes as it would ruin the surprise. Spend my $150 for me.

Unrelated Question #1: If an inexperienced smoker gets sick after smoking, how likely is it that it's related? If anything at all, what are they doing wrong?

[/ QUOTE ]

The sick feeling that you get is because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. It makes all the blood vessles in your body, including your stomach, where a lot of smoke and nicotine end up, constrict. They are trying to limit how much nicotine goes in. As the other poster mentioned. Eat some sugar which is a vasodialator. It will counter the effect.

I remember a great cigar that I smoked in AC at Caesars. La Flor Double Ligero. Its like a Maduro with a double fermented wrapper. As another poster mentioned, La Flor have a wicked nicotine kick and after about half I felt sick as a dog. Good think that at Caesars they have those free little cups of chocolates. One cup later, plus 1 free coke and I was as good as new.

Greg