Anyone here into cigars?

[TonK]

Looking for some fellow smokers to share stories with.

[RNGmaster]

this is the cancer that is killing shmups forum

ba dum TISH

[rancor]

I dont smoke, but I heard a good story once.

[Moniker]

Used to smoke Garcia Vegas (a brand, not a bloke named Garcia Vega). First I ever tried was a Black & Mild. Jesus this is really coming across as homoerotic.

Anyway, I only smoke cigarettes now. Cigars are just too thick.

[Vyxx]

I like Romeo Y Julieta.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

It's been said that a puff from a cigar is equal to smoking three to four cigarettes all at once. I'm not a smoker myself.

Back in 1993, it was perfectly legal to smoke inside retail business' breakrooms establishments across the Golden State of California until some laws were passed forcing smokers to light up outside of businesses -- has been like that ever since then. Some of my co-workers would ask me if it was okay to light up & I would say it's alright (in being mindful & considerate of their needs).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Moniker]

It's been said that a puff from a cigar is equal to smoking three to four cigarettes all at once. I'm not a smoker myself.

I tend to doubt those claims. For one thing, you aren't meant to inhale cigars like cigarettes (although doubtless some people do). You're supposed to just draw the smoke into your mouth and then release it. You're really only meant to taste it, or inhale a very little at the end or beginning of the draw.

Even if you do inhale like a cigarette -- something that requires platinum lungs since cigar smoke isn't usually very smooth -- I doubt it would be equivalent to 3-4 cigarettes. Consider that with the same amount of pressure, drinking from a regular straw you pull the same amount of drink as from a big novelty straw -- the same principle applies to smoking.

Also cigars, unlike cigarettes, are typically additive-free tobacco, and don't use paper or filters.

[njiska]

It's been said that a puff from a cigar is equal to smoking three to four cigarettes all at once. I'm not a smoker myself.

That is a load of horseshit if for no reason other than how you smoke a cigar and the fact they are not artifically sweetened with chemicals like Cigarettes. There's most likely more tar that cigarettes, but the two are not directly comparable.

As you know Tonk, I'm most definitely a cigar man. Primarily Monte Cristo No. 4, but lately I've been enjoying a few different Honduran ones as well. Can't stand Cohibas. Too strong.

[hzt]

It's been said that a puff from a cigar is equal to smoking three to four cigarettes all at once. I'm not a smoker myself.

I tend to doubt those claims. For one thing...

That is a load of horseshit...

Cigars actually undo the cancer that cigarettes give you! It's true!

I used to smoke cigars partly because I actually enjoy them and partly because I thought it was funny to be a skinny 18 year old kid in a black metal t-shirt sitting around smoking an expensive cigar. Then my friend's brother stopped giving me cigars and I had to smoke cheaper ones, and then finally smoking in pubs was banned and I didn't really have anywhere else to sit and enjoy a good smoke.

I was thinking of getting back into it a little while ago and I just had some good news - now this thread has reminded me I think I might go buy a nice cigar to celebrate.

I liked Bolivars, I can't remember what one in particular.

[njiska]

It's been said that a puff from a cigar is equal to smoking three to four cigarettes all at once. I'm not a smoker myself.

I tend to doubt those claims. For one thing...

That is a load of horseshit...

Cigars actually undo the cancer that cigarettes give you! It's true!

Hey I'm not saying they don't increase the risk of cancer, just that the claim they're *significantly* worse than regular smokes is incorrect.

[TonK]

lol, some of you guys...

Anyway, Jay, I know what you're about.

I'm still waiting on my Monte and Cohiba's - but I'm partial to Romeo y Julieta.

Had a PUNCH yesterday - delicious.

Gonna grab a Rocky today... Gotta make room in the humidor for my
Cubans.

[njiska]

Question for the cigar smokers. Guillotine cutter, cigars scissors or a punch? I used to be exclusively a cutter man, but lately I've been using a punch I fashioned from a .357 shell casing. I find it keeps the end of the cigar much neater than I was getting with the cutter. Very good air flow.

[hzt]

Hey I'm not saying they don't increase the risk of cancer, just that the claim they're *significantly* worse than regular smokes is incorrect.

Yeah I was just being a dick, I've had the same fruitless conversation with people before so I know what you mean.

Anyone want to recommend me something nice and not too strong so I can appear to know what I'm talking about and not get patronised too hard at the shop?

[dunpeal2064]

How about cracking those cigars open and filling them with some REAL smoke

I've always been interested in trying a good cigar, but I wouldn't know where to start. I've tried the usual Black & Mild and Swisher, but never anything I'd consider a real cigar.

[jonny5]

Cigar's are gross!! Just the smell is enough to give me a headache and want to puke, and I was a long term cigarette smoker for years.

Dutchmaster's have their uses though.....

[EllertMichael]

I enjoy a cigar every now and then, but I never buy them. Usually a friend will randomly give me one, but it's good. Last one I had was a Cohiba. Slightly off-topic: I've actually wanted to get some pipe tobacco but I haven't a clue where to start... Anyone have any recommendations?

[dial911]

I sure am, I like smoking them around 70% humidity. I smoke 1-2 cigars a week, generally on the weekends.

If you enjoy them, then I would advise that you look into picking up a spanish-cedar lined (so the cigars don't absorb the wood taste) humidor. That way, you can store/age the cigars indefinitely, as long as you maintain 60-75% humidity, 70ish temp (you have to add a couple drops of distilled water to the humidor every 2.5 weeks or so). You also have to pick up a hygometer ($25) as well to monitor the details (the ones bundles with most humidors are generally shit).

Definitely try out a beer/spirit (bourbon is great) while smoking. It enhances the overall calming experience and tastes great!

Here are some pics of my humidor:




Top Left to Right:
Oliva G (my favorite)
Oliva V
La Aroma de Cuba
Oliva Connecticut
Padron 2000

[TonK]

I sure am, I like smoking them around 70% humidity. I smoke 1-2 cigars a week, generally on the weekends.

If you enjoy them, then I would advise that you look into picking up a spanish-cedar lined (so the cigars don't absorb the wood taste) humidor. That way, you can store/age the cigars indefinitely, as long as you maintain 60-75% humidity, 70ish temp (you have to add a couple drops of distilled water to the humidor every 2.5 weeks or so). You also have to pick up a hygometer ($25) as well to monitor the details (the ones bundles with most humidors are generally shit).

Definitely try out a beer/spirit (bourbon is great) while smoking. It enhances the overall calming experience and tastes great!

Here are some pics of my humidor:




Top Left to Right:
Oliva G (my favorite)
Oliva V
La Aroma de Cuba
Oliva Connecticut
Padron 2000

Nice stash.

Do you really light those cigars with a Zippo?

Here's mine:

Some highlights in there are my Punch, Romeo and Padrón.

Have a few other goodies.

Not digging the Rocky Patel.

But try an Isla Del Sol after a good meal.

It's very sweet and satisfying.

I keep my humidor at 72% humidity.

Love the fact that those silica crystals keep all mold and bacteria out.

I swell the humidor every 5 years.

Keeps them very fresh.

[dial911]

Do you really light those cigars with a Zippo?

Never.

To be honest, I don't even know why I even have the lighter anymore. There is no faster way to taint a quality cigar than to light it with a zippo (i.e. lighter fluid)! I prefer to light up with some cigar matches, after the sulfur tip burns off, of course! My backup is a butane lighter (burns clean, but I am still suspect at times..)

Those silica crystals are neat, I have to add propylene glycol pre-mix every 2 months or so to keep the mold/bacteria away from my precious stokes.

Rocky Patels always taste very bitter to me on the first third. After that, not so bad. Not my favorite though.

I've tried about half of you stash, I found the majority of them very enjoyable! Which brand of silica crystals do you recommend? I plan on picking up another humidor in the near future to "experiment" with. I plan on keeping it at a higher humidity to see how the sticks age!

[TonK]

Do you really light those cigars with a Zippo?

Never.

To be honest, I don't even know why I even have the lighter anymore. There is no faster way to taint a quality cigar than to light it with a zippo (i.e. lighter fluid)! I prefer to light up with some cigar matches, after the sulfur tip burns off, of course! My backup is a butane lighter (burns clean, but I am still suspect at times..)

Those silica crystals are neat, I have to add propylene glycol pre-mix every 2 months or so to keep the mold/bacteria away from my precious stokes.

Rocky Patels always taste very bitter to me on the first third. After that, not so bad. Not my favorite though.

I've tried about half of you stash, I found the majority of them very enjoyable! Which brand of silica crystals do you recommend? I plan on picking up another humidor in the near future to "experiment" with. I plan on keeping it at a higher humidity to see how the sticks age!

As for brand, it doesn't really matter, the cheaper the better.

72% is pretty good, has been for a while. Keeps the sticks a tad soft.

I have an Olivia here right now, I'll try it tomorrow.

Was actually at the smoke shop with my buddy today and he swears by them, says they are really strong.

I kinda went nuts today, had 5 sticks throughout the day... Was a good one.

I have a few Cuban sticks coming... Montecristo #4, Romeo y Julieta, Cohiba and a few others.

Gonna see how they stack up.

After I get through those, I'm picking 3 brands to stay with.

I know I want a box of Julieta Robusto's .

How often do you seal your box?

P.S. Love the Tupac sig

[neorichieb1971]

http://nicetightash.com/press-release-s ... -marshall/

I was going to buy the blu ray limited edition Humidor but it cost $700 ($1000 MSRP).

[Randorama]

I have not smoked a cigar in ages.
My father is still waiting for me to come back to Italy, and enjoy a few tuscans together.

I am not an expert, but I tend to like the sweet tuscans, one enjoyable brand being Garibaldi. It is definitely sweet, and works very well with liquors. Modigliani is very good too, if you're into sweet ones. I remember trying a few dutch cigars when I lived in NL, some were excellent, although strong.

I like to drink Rum and Strega, with cigars. I am very very partial to Zacapa rum. Brandy is good in winter, after robust Sunday meals a Martell and a Modigliani are bliss.

There's a slow food pub/restaurant in my hometown that also organizes cigar degustation twice per week. They have a very big stock, and offer tutorials on how to to have a good box set at home. Their philosophy is that cigars may not be food, but they fall squarely within the slow food philosophy.

TonK, are Isla del sol really that sweet? I have been curious to try them for a while.

[Lordstar]

Cigar nerds . . . internet making me look somewhat normal

[TonK]

TonK, are Isla del sol really that sweet? I have been curious to try them for a while.

Well, not compared to what you are describing,

They have a VERY creamy smoke and are infused with lots of chocolate.

If you let the smoke linger, you'll get the chocolate notes.

[thegreathopper]

I had a Rafael Gonzalez this evening, one of my favourites.

[dial911]

You are the first person to recognize my sig on this forum

Good taste in music indeed.

I have had my current Savoy humidor for around 4.5 years and it still passes the dollar bill test without issue. However, it appears that we are on the same time scale, as I plan on swelling the humidor in december (around 5 years).

Picked up a few Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva's today! (http://nicetightash.com/arturo-fuente-r ... serva-r52/)

Looking forward to the smoke tomorrow!

[TonK]

Current stock:

17 Romeo y Julieta Clemenceaus
1 Romeo y Julieta Petite Número Dos
2 Romeo y Julieta Bully
1 Cohiba Siglo I
1 Romeo Y Julieta Mille Fleur
1 Montecristo No. 4
1 Partagas Coronas Junior
1 Padrön SERIE 1926 NO. 9
3 Padrön SERIE 1926
1 Drew Estate Java (Aged 15 months)

[Randorama]

Forgot about this thread, whoops.

Thanks, TonK.

What what you suggest me, if I want to try something which is still sweet, but not as the standard Italian ones? Chocolate-flavoured ones are preferred, so I need to add more besides La Isla del Sol, on the list.

[Acid King]

I recently started smoking cigars. So far my favorites have been the Oliva Serie G Cameroon, and EP Carillo Short Run. I pick up a tin of Acid Sumatra Golds now and again and have enjoyed those as well. I've been too cheap to get a humidor yet, mostly just smoke them after purchase, so I don't have a collection yet. I'll probably pick one up with my next paycheck.

[TonK]

Forgot about this thread, whoops.

Thanks, TonK.

What what you suggest me, if I want to try something which is still sweet, but not as the standard Italian ones? Chocolate-flavoured ones are preferred, so I need to add more besides La Isla del Sol, on the list.

Drew Estate Java Latte
Nub Maduro - not very sweet, chocolate undertones.
Any ACID cigar will deliver some flavor.

I'm not huge on flavored cigars...