Recommend Me a Cigar, Update Post 82

[rwsmith]

You pipe smokers check THIS out...

I smoked a pipe for a few years. The best tobacco that I found available in most stores was a little number called Borkum Riff (SP) But I eventually discovered a company called E. A. Carey that has several different blends and they are ALL wonderful.

Knew a guy at work, had the deerstalker, the cape, the stick and yes, the pipe.

Tried a pipe.....too much work involved.

Of course they say that a pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in his mouth.

 

[Doc Hollywood]

Anything by Gurkha especially black dragons

 

[rwsmith]

You don't have.....

Anything by Gurkha especially black dragons

You don't have expensive tastes, do you???


I think I might have enough in my savings account for ONE.

 

[Doc Hollywood]

I don't smoke em every day

 

[Marshwheeling]

A few random cigar thoughts and suggestions.

You won't ever go wrong with a Rocky Patel Connecticut. If you go to Cigars International, they have a 20 stick sampler with four different styles for $60.00. Sometimes you can get them for less using their "Make Me An Offer" page.

A lot of people go to Canada or the Caribbean and think they are getting Cubans, but are not. There are a lot of fakes out there and the truth is that a good Dominican is so close that only experts can tell the difference.

A few years ago I was gifted a box of Habana Cohiba's. I won't go into the details, but when my friend and I sat down to smoke the first two, we agreed ala "Seinfeld" that they were real and they were spectacular.

Back to cigars. Right now, I mostly Smoke Bobalu Cigars "Tres Capa" three wrapper "barber pole" cigars. They are between $8-10, depending on the size and style, but are well worth it. Hand made in Austin, TX.

Another not very expensive cigar, also from CI, is the Pioneer Valley Especialles. Very reasonably priced and mild. The wrapper is Connecticut shade grown tobacco.

Actually, that last is the best value per stick and I'd recommend it as a good introduction to hand made cigars .

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This.

Something about this post resonated with me. I took it as an opportunity to try online cigar shopping, something I had not done. So I ordered a box of 20 Pioneer Valley in a robusto, with a maduro wrapper. Under thirty bucks; with shipping the total came to $35.88, or about $1.75 a stick.

Simply put, they are excellent, at least as good as cigars costing five or six times that in my LCS. Thanks for the tip.

Now, don't everybody go and order up a box of these; I wouldn't want to see anything drive up the price. I suppose some inflation is inevitable, though. Some word-of-mouth buzz can push a decent smoke into a higher price category. To some extent, a casual smoker, as I am, has to smoke the label, looking for a reliably good smoke. I don't smoke enough, or have the time, to ferret out the really good deals.

 

[emdfan]

Many years ago, I had a business trip to South America. While there, me and the guys I was with learned of a cigar bar close to our hotel so we went and checked it out. So many good Cuban cigars on offer and SO VERY CHEAP. I learned that I could legally bring back up to $100 in tobacco. In keeping with the law, I returned with 200 Cuban Hemmingway cigars of some name or other -- escapes me now.

Now... at this point I was living on the East Coast in a townhouse. My immediate neighbor and I loved to smoke cigars and talk smack. His 2nd floor deck railing almost touched mine (about 6" apart). I rang him up on my return and he literally swung over his deck railing onto my deck where we proceeded to smoke cigars and imbibe in some good rum.

I need to make another trip one day...

 

[emdfan]

If I ever take up smoking? it'll be with a pipe.

Looks like Sherlock is standing in a haze of his own making... The other guy looks like he may have a contact high. What's he got in that pipe?

 

[rwsmith]

Oh, Ok......

I don't smoke em every day

Not everyday, well then........


That's just too funny Doc.

Of course I realize and freely admit that just about anybody has more disposable income than I do. However I guess I don't blow $50 worth of ammo at the range every day either.

 

[snubbyfan]

Interesting thing about cigars.
I've been smoking cigars sent to me by Pawngal, Johnnyflake and The Big D and enjoying them immensely.
In fact, if the weather cooperates, I'll be trying a Moroceli tomorrow while grilling ribs.
I've found that I prefer the mild/medium corona size. They seem to last about the same length of time as it takes to grill meat.
I seem to be developing hand rolled cigar tastes on a Swisher Sweet budget.

I know that after I smoke up this batch, I'd rather go without than choke on a Swisher Sweet now.

Does anybody have any recommendations on machine made cigars?

 

[GaryS]

Don't smoke them?

Seriously, I don't, but if that's where you are headed, look at Cigars International and see what they have.

Does anybody have any recommendations on machine made cigars?

 

[Bad_Andy]

The thing about cigars, is everyone has a favorite. Asking what the best cigar is, is like asking what is your favorite handgun. It would be hard to find two people who agree. But we want to try them all....

Many on here have talked about Cuban cigars. Some are really great, some not so much (Guantamera cigars). Again there is a great variety, and many brands that aren't as well known. Some of my favorite Cubans are Ramon Allones, Juan Lopez, Vegas Robiania, and Trinidad cigars. However, finding a trusted source for authentic Cubans can take a while....

In all reality, there are great cigars from many countries. I think Cuban cigars get a lot of hype, is because they are the "forbidden fruit" and the difficulty in acquiring them. Again there are some gems, but it is much more exciting to try new brands that are legal at your local cigar shop.

Since the "cigar boom" is long gone, many great cigar companies are coming out with great product and innovating blends. They are focusing on quality and not just trying to capitalize on the popularity of the cigar boom.

Most of all, like what you smoke, and smoke what you like.

 

[Firespec35]

Been smoking about 2 years now and hands down the best way to go is cigarbid.com. They are an auction site owned by cigars international. I find the best deals in the Quickie auctions (24 hrs). Normally I can get at least half off of CI's retail price on their main page. The main thing is do your research. Look up cigar reviews and see if it fits within your tastes . Make sure you avoid "fumas" style cigars. Those are short filler essentially the scraps from making the good ones.

Some of my favorites
Ave Maria
Man o war
Rocky Patel (he does a ton of blends be careful)
Drew Estate especially Undercrown and Undercrown Shade
The Sons of Anarchy cigars (I think theyre by black crown)
Alec Bradley especially the Lineage
Asylum especially the Devils Night

 

[snubbyfan]

AYC Grenadiers Cigars - CheapLittleCigars.com
I like these AYC Grenadiers for a cheap cigar. They are available at some tobacco stores locally.

Thanks, I'm gonna check it out.

 

[M1A]

La Flor Dominicana.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Interesting thing about cigars.
I've been smoking cigars sent to me by Pawngal, Johnnyflake and The Big D and enjoying them immensely.
In fact, if the weather cooperates, I'll be trying a Moroceli tomorrow while grilling ribs.
I've found that I prefer the mild/medium corona size. They seem to last about the same length of time as it takes to grill meat.
I seem to be developing hand rolled cigar tastes on a Swisher Sweet budget.

I know that after I smoke up this batch, I'd rather go without than choke on a Swisher Sweet now.

Does anybody have any recommendations on machine made cigars?

I'll second the recommendation for A&C Grenadiers, preferably the dark ones. I don't see them around much, but they used to be a decent fill-in when handmade smokes were not available.
And then, I used to smoke a lot of Marsh Wheelings, natch. Been a while for one of those for me. I may have to order some, because I rarely see them on the shelf.

 

[snubbyfan]

I've been doing some online research and some shopping. First I have a lot to learn about cigars.
There's a mind boggling variety out there.

I have the AYC Grenadiers saved on my "wish list".
I found Marsh Wheelings at J&R Cigars but all varieties are on back order.

 

[snubbyfan]

10 cigars and a humidor for $19.99?
Ultimate Humidor Combo #451 - Cigars International
Hmm...

 

[s&wbest]

Finding a cigar in a gas station is a challenge. Most are very poor. Backwoods stout is my choice for taste.

 

[snubbyfan]

Finding a cigar in a gas station is a challenge. Most are very poor. Backwoods stout is my choice for taste.

It's one of those places with a mini-mart.
I've been looking at Backwoods. An occasional cigarillo may come in handy.

 

[Bullman]

Only one I ever had that did not remind me of a fire in a landfill

Back when I used to smoke, I LOVED these things. Now that I have quit smoking, they are one of the few things that tempts me to start again. I could smoke one right now. I loved that flavor and aroma. I tried for a while to be a cigar snob. I bought from Thompson's pretty regularly. I got a sampler from them once with some Danish whiffs that I really liked and when I reordered them they were rolled so tight they had no draw at all. I had to buy a device from them to more or less bore a hole through the center of them so I could smoke them. I did learn that I liked the maduro wrappers the most, which was a sweet nutty flavor. But when it got right down to it I always went back to the Backwoods cigars in the tan pack.