Cigars 101

[Mr.Positive]

I go out to the backyard to our pool, plop myself in my chaise, fill my bowl with some cavendish, sip on some Gentleman Jack and watch the sun go to bed.

Fvcking heaven my man.

Yes Karma... Two thumbs up in my book. It's the simple things in life, like a good pipe/cigar and a sunset, that make it so enjoyable.

Well said. A good reminder to us all to slow down and appreciate these things..to not take those times for granted.

 

[wootapotky]

Ok, so I've skimmed through parts of this and haven't seen this addressed. The only time I've tried smoking a cigar was a couple months back and I knew that you aren't supposed to inhale so I was trying like mad to suck in but not inhale and I couldn't do anything. Finally, I take a puff and start coughing because the smoke started to go down my throat.

I know it was lit right because my friend was puffing it ten seconds before. I saw him poke a pin into the cigar and I figured that that was how he was getting the smoke through. I kind of feel like a dumbass for asking this but how are you supposed to suck in the smoke without inhaling?

 

[KarmaSutra]

Amidst all of the backlash for cigar / pipe connaisseurs there is a life lesson to be learned and it is this:

Serenity and learning to enjoy the moment.

There are two brothers here at work who have given up Camels and Marlboros for Partagas and Bolivars and they are quickly learning that the enjoyment of smoking lies in the patience and nuance in the art of it. I've taught them that ciggys are nothing but a short and quick way to get thier fix but there is no lesson to learn from them at all.

Each cigar is like a woman, the same overall characteristics but they're temperamental and have a "body and soul" of thier own.

I applaude you, Mr. Positive for your contribution to the cigar / pipe brotherhood and to the brothers and sisters here at SoSuave.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Ok, so I've skimmed through parts of this and haven't seen this addressed. The only time I've tried smoking a cigar was a couple months back and I knew that you aren't supposed to inhale so I was trying like mad to suck in but not inhale and I couldn't do anything. Finally, I take a puff and start coughing because the smoke started to go down my throat.

I know it was lit right because my friend was puffing it ten seconds before. I saw him poke a pin into the cigar and I figured that that was how he was getting the smoke through. I kind of feel like a dumbass for asking this but how are you supposed to suck in the smoke without inhaling?

It's a learned art young brother. The first problem I see is that the pull is too hard because there is not enough room for the cigar to breathe. Go back and read the section on my cutting technique. It's foolproof and keeps the wrapper intact while allowing the cigar room through the filler to expand after the inhale. Second, the foot of the cigar was not properly roasted enough to burn the tobacco so that it would gain temperature high enough to smolder, which becomes the ash. Third, when your friend was huffing and puffing he was heating the cigar so that the foot caught fire.

Now to the inhale / exhale. There is no rule stating that you should not inhale. It is widely accepted that inhaling cigar smoke is a bit more strenuous on the throat due to the amount and heartiness of the smoke. Plus, it's not filtered. It's raw, aged tobacco. You want to take a moment in between puffs to allow the cigar to cool otherwise you'll get acid tongue from the heat of the smoke.

You'll come to discover your own rhythm when smoking cigars but it won't come from popping your cherry. My rhythm consists of 2 - 3 draws exhaling the smoke before it gets to my throat.

You'll get it but do yourself a favor and smoke good cigars and take the time to appreciate the artistry and love that went into making it.

Good luck to you young brother and congratulations.

 

[Nip/Tuck]

I don't want to sh!t on your posts because I do value the time you took to make them but I have never, ever had a precut cigar other than something bought off the shelf at fvcking Walgreens. Only the cheapest pieces of sh!t are precut or punched for the masses.

Noone precuts quality cigars. No one. The gum arabic which is used to cap the head is there for a specific reason, to reduce the drying of the cigar from head to foot. This is a critical step. As soon as the head is cut the cigar goes straight down the toilet in quality.

I think you're confusing the pre cut cubans you're getting with flavored White Owls.

Interesting, don't worry I rather have you give constructive criticism than leaving me ignorant. I'm new to this field so advice is appreciated.

My precut ones seem to be in perfect condition though, they are all sealed in a secure vacuum container with quality paper covering the precut tip. Maybe I was scammed. lol

Anyways, what cigars would you recommend I get in the US? Do you think cigars sold at gas stations are even worth buying? I know they're cheap but I don't really have that much disposable cash. I am trying to find something that is good quality with decent price.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Awwww sh!t!

A couple weeks ago I was perusing the Thompson Cigar Company webpage and I noticed that Nat Sherman had a new line of Connecticut (US seed) broadleaf cigars entitled: Suave. They have a Dominican Olor filler with an Ecuadorian wrapper.

My box of Roosevelts ( 6" x 52 Torpedo ) got here about 0915 this morning and I just finished the cigar while dangling my legs in my freezing fvcking pool.

Very nice. Very smooth texture and a nice sheen on the wrapper. No discernable leaf veins or blemishes either. Very tight body with a hint of nutmeg and leather make this a very pleasurable smoke. I started and finished this cigar in 18 minutes so it's perfect for a smoke break at work or a good cup of coffee.

Cost me $76 dollars for a box of 25. Very economical indeed.

 

[KarmaSutra]

I think I've found a new favorite cigar!

Camacho Triple Maduro

Holy sh!t. I'm at Tinderbox smoking a Bolivar and chatting with some of the regular fella's and I notice a guy come out of the humidor with a stick black as midnight. Oscuro (very dark wrapper, almost jet black) being my favorite cigar wrapper, I ask him what it is and he hands me one from the box he's buying. I, in turn, hand him one of my Bolivars and we trade.

I cut the Camacho and light it. Man, what a beauty. Excellent draw and a hearty, but still very flavorful smoke. He bought the 8-pack sampler for $110. Which for this quality is not bad at all. I smoked the torpedo (6" x 56).

Let me explain a bit about what makes this a triple maduro:

The filler, binder and wrapper are all cut and rolled from maduro broadleaf which make this cigar, much moreso than other maduro's, extremely creamy and a joy to smoke. However, this cigar is not for the neophyte smoker as it will make you high as hell!

I bought the same sampler pack and letting them breathe in my humidor for a month or so then I'll report back once it's been infused with the Gentleman Jack sitting in a shotglass caressing each of my cigars with it's love .

 

[Michele l'Arcangelo]

i love reading the passion you have for cigars.

i have to drop the cigarettes, because health is wealth. if it's not bad for my health, i will start off on cheap cigars and go up in price or quality when i develop a taste for them.

i won't lie, the only "cigars" i've smoked are black and milds, but i inhaled those. i really don't want to inhale any kind of tobacco smoke anymore.

 

[KarmaSutra]

i love reading the passion you have for cigars.

i have to drop the cigarettes, because health is wealth. if it's not bad for my health, i will start off on cheap cigars and go up in price or quality when i develop a taste for them.

i won't lie, the only "cigars" i've smoked are black and milds, but i inhaled those. i really don't want to inhale any kind of tobacco smoke anymore.

My brother, realize that there are wonderful "cheap" cigars out there full of flavor and zest. To be honest, there are an assload of cigars out there from the major manufacturers with sticks labeled "super premiums" which I wouldn't smoke if I were paid to do it.

Some I keep on hand are Phillips and King Cuban Rejects Robusto maduros. I paid $53 for a box of 50 a few months back. They're good in a pinch and if left to breathe in a properly humidified humidor, have all of the flavor and texture of $10 Fuente's! If you know where to look and what to look for you can get a very comparable cigar without you having to break open your piggy bank.

You're the reason I started this thread. To help break through the miasma of anti-smoking c0ckamaimee bullsh!t being forcefed to us. Whatever you need I'll help you with.

My thanks to you for not believing everything the naysayers want us to.

 

[KarmaSutra]

I'm down at Thompsons Cigar Company at the retail store in Tampa last Tuesday and chance upon a fvcking steal from one of the brothers who works there -

- 75 La Mederano pyramid maduro's ( 4 1/2 x 60 ). These are nice cigars and I paid a whopping $74.90 tax included for all three bundles!

And these cigars have Dominican olor fillers with quality wrappers. Not junk by any means. Just goes to show that if you know where to look and who to talk to you can get really good deals.

Also I picked up a $2000 full sized stand up humidor for $123. This humidor is almost 6' tall and approximately 2' wide. This is what I could find which resembles my new honey:

Karma's Humidor

Mine looks a lot better and has a deep, rich, mahogany shine to it.

If it could roll sushi and cut my stogies I'd marry the fvcking thing!

 

[KarmaSutra]

Edge Battalion Maduro

This cigar is not for newbies or even those of us who are seasoned cigar smokers.

This thing is absolutely humongous. It claims to be 6 x 60 but it looks to me to be an inch thick. It has notes of pepper and oak which hits hard about halfway through it.

It was hard to get lit but once I charred the end the smoke was quite overwhelming.

For you guys into getting high on a legal smoke I'd recommend this. At $6 a stick it's very reasonable.

 

[wootapotky]

So I smoked my first cigar about three weeks ago. It was a Baccarat, recommended to me by the store clerk at a cigar shop. It was very mild, almost tasteless, like sucking air, but what I did taste was a kind of oatsy/wet dog taste. I didn't like it that much. So I'm going to try another cigar and I was reading up on newbie cigars and one that is recommended is the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur #5. Is that one any good KarmaSutra?

 

[KarmaSutra]

Hoyo de Monterrey cigars are absolutely perfect for guys just starting out and will give you a decent hit for your buck.

Though I would suggest the HOYO DE MONTERREY DARK SUMATRA
ESPRESSO. It's very smooth and consistent without too much bite. A note of deep leather with some notes of Incan spiced chocolate round out this beauty.

If your local tobaccanist doesn't keep his humidor properly maintained it will lead to mites and spoilage which would explain the cigar you smoke resembling something that came out of one of my dog's asses.

 

[KarmaSutra]

New favorite sticks to try:

Rocky Patel Edge Battalion - 6 x 60. Beautifully oiled natural wrapper. This cigar is not for the weak. Medium bodied but the sheer size of it will knock your socks off. Best paired with a good lager. Land Shark with slices of jalapeno is my choice.

Fonsesca Cubano Limitado - 5 x 50 Robusto. These just shipped to me from JR's and I may have a new go-to cigar here. The ligero blend gives this full bodied smoke a backend spice note I've never tasted before. Very nice. One warning though, don't smoke this b!tch too fast. You'll get high as fvck. Savor it with a good hearty beer like Guiness.

Gurkha Master Select - 6 X 50 Toro. You'll never go wrong with a Gurkha. The M.S. blend has a very clean draw filling your mouth with quite a bit of thick smoke. What's best is that the draw is so clean the smoke doesn't get too hot to enjoy and gives you time to savor the various nuances. This needs a powerful beverage to compliment the power of this cigar. I like Gentleman Jack or Old Whiskey River with a splash of Diet Coke.

A few of us SoSuaver's are meeting tonight in Orlando at a local cigar lounge. I'll have an update on what we end up smoking.

 

[KarmaSutra]

New favorite sticks to try:

Rocky Patel Edge Battalion - 6 x 60. Beautifully oiled natural wrapper. This cigar is not for the weak. Medium bodied but the sheer size of it will knock your socks off. Best paired with a good lager. Land Shark with slices of jalapeno is my choice.

Fonsesca Cubano Limitado - 5 x 50 Robusto. These just shipped to me from JR's and I may have a new go-to cigar here. The ligero blend gives this full bodied smoke a backend spice note I've never tasted before. Very nice. One warning though, don't smoke this b!tch too fast. You'll get high as fvck. Savor it with a good hearty beer like Guiness.

Gurkha Master Select - 6 X 50 Toro. You'll never go wrong with a Gurkha. The M.S. blend has a very clean draw filling your mouth with quite a bit of thick smoke. What's best is that the draw is so clean the smoke doesn't get too hot to enjoy and gives you time to savor the various nuances. This needs a powerful beverage to compliment the power of this cigar. I like Gentleman Jack or Old Whiskey River with a splash of Diet Coke.

A few of us SoSuaver's are meeting tonight in Orlando at a local cigar lounge. I'll have an update on what we end up smoking.

 

[STR8UP]

Don't remember which one it was you bought me last night, but it was tasty :rockon: Look forward to doing it again :rockon:

 

[KarmaSutra]

Don't remember which one it was you bought me last night, but it was tasty :rockon: Look forward to doing it again :rockon:

Yours was the C.A.O. Italia robusto. It was quite tasty 'eh Brother?

On the next outing of our Brotherhood, I'll bring something from my collection for you fellows to enjoy.

I had a goddamned blast with all of you.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Cigar update:

Been a long while since I've visited this thread.

What a shame. The neglect is all my fault.

That said, I have some new offerings from Karma's humidor for you brothers to try at your leisure:

OLIVA SERIE V Torpedo - Dreamy. That's the only word I can use to describe this luxuriously sublime cigar. Notes of burnt cedar and coffee outline a very thick smoke. Excellent draw. The only caveat being the head of the wrapper began to curl once cut.

LA GLORIA CUBANA SERIE R #4 Maduro Robusto - Whew! This one beat the sh!t out of me. I'm schooled and quite seasoned with cigars, but this one gave me a high unlike I've had in over 23 years of cigar smoking. From the roast, this smoke blasted my taste buds. The overwhelming amount of smoke as I turned the foot of my cigar quickly made me light-headed and a bit giddy.

Smoke at your own risk!

 

[ELMER_GANTRY]

What would be some good cigars around $100? I've had some that were less and were very good.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Depends on your experience and your palate.

How often do you smoke?