[fobunited]

Most cigar reps that I have talked to send their B-Stock cigars to online stores. I have never ordered cigars online and can't really attest to that, but if you can find a local cigar shop that carries what you like, I'd recommend that. I don't mind paying a little bit more to have the in-store experience and know whether the cigars were taken care of or not.

I think everyone who starts smoking cigars or does smoke cigars has a fascination with Cuban cigars. I have tried Cubans and are not really impressed with them. Since the US Embargo on Cuban goods, the quality of the cigars has dropped dramatically, and most if not all of the good rollers in Cuba's cigar heyday moved. Now, you find Cuban seed in other countries, with the original rollers in those countries. Who do you think is going to produce the better cigar? Yes, Cuba has great climate for cigar rolling, but the rollers there lack the experience and are benefiting from the mystique and name of the Cuban cigar.

If you want to try something that tastes like a Cuban, try the Graycliff Red. It was designed by Avelino Lara, Fidel Castro's PERSONAL cigar roller. If you're lucky enough, some of the bands of those cigars have his initials finely written on them, which means he personally rolled them.

[mach330]

i smoke cigars once every couple of months. my fav so far (other than cubans - cohibas) are the monte christo whites (it's a little strong tho if you're a beginner). i get them online as they are cheaper.

JRCigars.com

for the cheaper cigars, i love sancho panza. it's very smooth.

http://www.jrcigars.com/index.cfm?pa...w&itemcode=SPE

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by gonzo

I was not grouping anything together. A person with such a strong displeasure regarding cigarettes and their smoke liking cigars seemed odd. Calling someone ignorant purely from an internet forum read is what i would call assuming and approaching arrogant status.

only if you equate cigars to cigarettes

no worries, im hypocritical. guilty of it.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by mantisG35

only if you equate cigars to cigarettes

no worries, im hypocritical. guilty of it.

No probs. I like beer and strippers.

[phantom330]

I bought a humidor off of thompson cigar a few months back, came with the humidor, a lighter and 25 cigars for about 38 shipped, was an amazing deal. The cigars aren't of great quality, but they'll do and the humidor keeps them nice and fresh, I'd look into that, they have deals all the time.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by gonzo

No probs. I like beer and strippers.

how's that relevant? cigars are bad for you. Strippers are scientifically proven to be GOOD for you

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by mantisG35

how's that relevant? cigars are bad for you. Strippers are scientifically proven to be GOOD for you

Not the strippers here in Dallas. They are proven to be wolverines disguised as super hot women. They don't eat small to medium size animals. They eat silver, gold, platinum and black credit cards.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Not the strippers here in Dallas. They are proven to be wolverines disguised as super hot women. They don't eat small to medium size animals. They eat silver, gold, platinum and black credit cards.

note to self: dallas strippers = cigarettes

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by gonzo

I was not grouping anything together. A person with such a strong displeasure regarding cigarettes and their smoke liking cigars seemed odd. Calling someone ignorant purely from an internet forum read is what i would call assuming and approaching arrogant status.

Llighten up, Francis.


Sorry, sore spot.

[!Xoible]

it's all good... dang, i cant wait to go out and get my cigars for tomorrow. it'll be awesome when i go out sailing

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Neurorad

Llighten up, Francis.


Sorry, sore spot.

Thats ok. I was having a rough end of a Friday getting some docs finished. Should not have jumped back like that.

[!Xoible]

aww you guys are getting mushy and all! haha jk

[!Xoible]

im going cigar shopping today
i compiled your lists into one to go check out every single one of them, and get a travel humidor/box.

thanks for advise!

[BlueLion]

Originally Posted by jh valley

i used to roll my own 'cigars' way back when

as Bizzy Bone would say: 'open up the dime, stimulate your mind, slide my thumb up the blunt'

Originally Posted by mantisG35

weed cigars? lol

"i got five on it"......the Bizzy quote made me think of this song

[BlueLion]

Originally Posted by Neurorad

Don't buy a great humidor for several years. Just buy a Chinese-made cheapo from your local tobacconist. I don't like buying humidors online because I like to test them for quality first - drop the lid closed, shouldn't slam. Because you don't smoke a lot, get a 20-50 cigar humidor. Should come with a humidifcation device and a cheapo hygrometer - those will work for about a year, replace them when they crap out.

For travel, I use wooden boxes from the tobacconist - they cost 1-2$ or free if you buy a few cigars (just ask). Each lasts me typically about 1-2 years, depending on how often I travel. Never check them in your luggage, always in the carry-on. Put cigars in ziplocs inside the wooden travel box - they'll be good 4-5 days (squeeze air out of ziploc before closing).

Never leave cigars in your car - the heat will make them expand and the wrapper will crack. If I'm going to the gym after buying cigars, I'll toss them into my gym bag rather than leaving them in my car for an hour.

Every line of cigars comes in a variety of sizes, just pick the size you prefer. The taste of a robusto compared with a corona will only be slight and not noticeable to the novice.

I found the Ashton VSG cigars to be pretty close to the flavor of my favorite Cubans, but just as with Dominican and Honduran cigars, there are wide ranges of quality and tastes of Cubans too. There are really crappy Cuban cigars, too.

I have favorite expensive cigars and favorite 'everyday' cigars.

Expensive - Opux X, Ashton VSG/ESG, and all Avos (Avo XO and Avo Signature are my favorites), Fuente Don Carlos

'Everyday' cigars - Fuente Chateau line (only the 'Sun Grown' wrappers, the ones with the black ribbon wround the foot, come in 4 sizes, priced $3.50 - $8, avoid the natural (green ribbon) and maduro (red ribbon) wrappers), La Gloria maduros, CAO Extreme, Rocky Patel 'The Edge'.

Most of these are more 'flavorful' (powerful?) cigars. For the novice I'd recommend the regular Avo. IMO, Avos are the best all-around cigars available in the U.S., running you ~$7-15/stick.

For the 'advanced', filthy-rich cigar smoker, you can buy boxes of Cubans from Canada by phone. Thomas Hinds in Toronto will mail you whatever you want, if you want to spend hundred of dollars on a box.

i agree alot with Neurorad, especailly about the sun grown Fuentes, i like the KingB's.

I have a small cigar shop and recommend Fuentes, CAO gold, Macanudo, Drew Esate,.....to alot of my new cigar smokers. After they start on those I move them up to some more flavorful cigars, Gurkha, Monticristo, Ashton,....

I got a box of the CAO Vision cigars and they come in a nice humidor which keeps them at about 70% humidity. I tested the open box outside of the humidor and it stayed 68% all day, i'm impressed. And the lights are different look for cigar boxes. I always like CAO boxes....here are some pics of the CAO vision box....i'm going to smoke one of those next chance I get before they sell out

Here is the Vision box:


funny I came here to post a topic about these cigars....and i find a cigar thread

[!Xoible]

hey man, post away. Any info would do.

Today i just bought a few ashtons, romeo y juliata, and like 3 Avos too. I did not like the Ashton as much as i liked the Avos.

I will have to wait a few more weeks before i try the rest. The guy gave me a plastic bag that works like ziploc but it has a humidifier embedded in it. he said it's a 100% guarantee they will last for 6 months.

that cao thing looks cooool man, i want it!

[jbake]

try the Gurkha "shag" cigar they are great

[Neurorad]

LOL @ CAO Vision!

CAO family here in Nashville - Ozgeners

Do the lights on the box flash too? Can I get it in purple? How about CAO Vision Angel Eyes?

I want the box; screw the cigars. They probably taste sweet, too.

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by BlueLion

i agree alot with Neurorad, especailly about the sun grown Fuentes, i like the KingB's.

I have a small cigar shop and recommend Fuentes, CAO gold, Macanudo, Drew Esate,.....to alot of my new cigar smokers. After they start on those I move them up to some more flavorful cigars, Gurkha, Monticristo, Ashton,....

funny I came here to post a topic about these cigars....and i find a cigar thread

Where in FL? I used to live near Jax.

Those Gurkhas are, for the most part, great smokes, althought the prices just about doubled on all Gurkhas in the last year. If I'm going to drop $15 on a cigar, it won't be a Gurkha (Avo/VSG/ESG/OpusX/Don Carlos). I had a fantastic Ashton VSG Wizard the night before last.

[jbake]

Opus X IMO are really overrated. I'd rather smoke a padron vintage. Rocky Patel sun grown's are pretty good too. I got to meet the man himself at a tasting not too long ago.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Neurorad

Where in FL? I used to live near Jax.

Those Gurkhas are, for the most part, great smokes, althought the prices just about doubled on all Gurkhas in the last year. If I'm going to drop $15 on a cigar, it won't be a Gurkha (Avo/VSG/ESG/OpusX/Don Carlos). I had a fantastic Ashton VSG Wizard the night before last.

+1 on Avo. i think the best i've had so far is the Avo

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by jbake

Opus X IMO are really overrated. I'd rather smoke a padron vintage. Rocky Patel sun grown's are pretty good too. I got to meet the man himself at a tasting not too long ago.

I like the Rocky Patel The Edge for a decent, relatively inexpensive smoke (~$6), either the Corojo or the Maduro. However, I bought a 15-cigar bundle of 'imperfect' Edges a couple weeks ago and they suck. Not at all like what the regular Edge tastes like. I don't even think they're from the same factory as other Edges I've smoked. I rarely buy boxes, and I've never bought a bundle before. Live and learn, you get what you pay for. I paid $50 for the 15 cigar bundle, and I'll probably end up tossing them. I'll continue to buy single Edges from a local tobacconist.

+1 on the Sun Grown Rocky Patels, too, although I still prefer The Edge (when I can find them).

I recommend Bauza cigars, if you haven't tried them. Very smooth, and consistent. Great mid-price smoke.