OK - I'm officially into cigars

[Frodo]

Have been getting some shipments in from friends coming from the US and Cuba. Stash is 200-250 with the vast majority being non-cubans (NCs). Getting to know my Maduros from my Lanceros. Interestingly enough there are a couple of interesting threads in the cigars world that caught my eye...

1) The concept of dyeing cigar wrappers. No-one admits doing this, but there is suspision out there that it is happening.

2) There is a Brand called "5 Vegas" that has an extention called "Cask Strength". Interesting concept calling a cigar CS. Had a lot of chatter about this from cigar folks "what does this mean". Interestingly a couple of reviewers call it medium-bodied. Hardly CS in spirit if you ask me...

I still like my scotch - just not with a cigar thanks (most of the time).


PS As an interesting parralel to the era of low supply of older scotch whisky (and rising prices) the cigar market has been on a downswing for quite a while with the companies chasing the same dollars. Amaising the stories I'm hearing about what companies (cigar and accessories shops) in the US will do to keep cutomers if they are unhappy with their order.

[Yello to Mello]

I like an occasional cigar but mostly when playing golf. The only thing is to smoke a big one it takes too long, especially when you are smoking it outside and just get some cheap colts or back woods.

[The Craw]

I would like to be into cigars but they are not accessible (well, make that affordable ) in the UK due to exceptionally high taxes on them. Plus, smoking anywhere indoors (except in your own home) is banned these days.

I tend to stock up when overseas but the lack of a humidor tends to restrict.

I agree that most Scotch don't go with cigars but I find that bourbons and rye do moreso.

[Frodo]

I feel your pain Leither.

Re: Humidors - I use tupperdores with a passive humidifier that is a piece of florist foam in a smaller (tupperware) container. You also need some sort of chemical pryponoll glycoll (sp) cut with distilled water. For a bit more $$ you can just order humidity beads. The most expensive part of this set-up is the hydrometer. Most Wal-Marts have them for nominal fees.

Re: price - If you have any friends that journey to Cuba or the US you'll have access to quality smokes at a cheap price ($5-7 will get you solid mid-shelfers with discounts for box purchases [20-25 sticks] in the US. Just be sure to tell your friend how many they can bring back through customs - in Canada it's 50 sticks.

[Frodo]

I like an occasional cigar but mostly when playing golf. The only thing is to smoke a big one it takes too long, especially when you are smoking it outside and just get some cheap colts or back woods.

Ah - so for you cigars go with golf! For me, there is nothing like a 2hr churchill or lancero stick paired with a nice rum or a craft beer.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

I like an occasional cigar but mostly when playing golf.

Mark Twain said that golf is a good walk spoiled. I guess you might as well go all out....

[Mark C]

I like an occasional cigar but mostly when playing golf.

Mark Twain said that golf is a good walk spoiled. I guess you might as well go all out....

My favourite quote. I really don't like golf. I do like cigars, though. Hence this new part of the forum. I have bought many packs of the mini Montechristos but have started looking further afield.

[Peat Sampras]

I like a Davidoff Demi Tasse from time to time.

[archfluke]

I've always loved a big chewy cigar, though I'm not sure as a recently quit cigarette smoker I can brave a cigar just yet. Short churchills were the last ones I remember buying and really relishing but to be honest, I haven't had many bad cigar experiences. Not a lot better than sitting out somewhere atmospheric and puffing away. I've had a few funny looks from people at the top of mountains when I've been trying to get one lit - albeit not as funny as the looks I used to get walking up them with a rolly permanently wedged in me gob.

Off to the states next week so if someone could recommend some stateside brand I shall give it a go.

[Frodo]

Off to the states next week so if someone could recommend some stateside brand I shall give it a go.

That's a tough one as there are so many non-Cuban brands out there. What flavour profiles (or brands) do you like? Do you want to try something (like an Oscuro wrapper) uniquly for the US market, or do you want something safe(r)?

Price point? You can get decent mid-shelf cigars for $6-8 at Tobacconists, or decent $4 smokes if you know what you like. If you are willing to spend $20 per stick, you can get top shelf ones.

[Yello to Mello]

I like an occasional cigar but mostly when playing golf.

Mark Twain said that golf is a good walk spoiled. I guess you might as well go all out....

Of course, I take a cart.

[Yello to Mello]

Frodo, do you buy any in Canada? If so, who are good tobacconists?

[Frodo]

Frodo, do you buy any in Canada? If so, who are good tobacconists?

OK - long answer here.

1) When I bought singles at Tobacconists in Toronto I bought from Hinds (in Yorkville), Cassablanca (King/Yonge) or a place at the Atrium on Bay. There are other reputable tobacconists but alot of them you'd pay more. It is important to stay away from corner stores that sell Cubans as (A) they wouldn't know a fake from the real thing, and (B) probably wouldn't know much about keeping cigars at the proper humidity.

2) No, I don't buy in Canada except through private sales from folks I know on-line. Cuban sticks go for $5-10 in Cuba - double that for Coheibas. The price starts at 2.5x that in Canada. You can get a bit of a deal if you buy bulk purchases on-line from CigarChief but thats about it.

Non-Cubans (NCs) go for >$2 US for yard 'gars, $5-8 for mid-shelfers and $12-$20 for the top shelfers depending on which states (and tax regimes) you're dealing with. I bought a $20 Rocky Patel 1992 up here and I found out later that they cost perhaps $8 US at a US Tobacconist, or $2 less than that if it was bought on-line. As a result, I tend to ask friends comming up from the US to bring me cigars and if familly vacations in Cuba I will ask them as well.

My current stash is about 200 NCs and 35 CC (Cuban Cigars). Interesting that most US friends that come up here want at my CC stash and shake their heads that I value what they bring so much. I will say that NCs tend to have more aged tobaccos in the sticks and have had to be more inventive in development such as more interesting wrappers than CCs. This often translates into smoking better without aging in my (limited) opinion. And although the price comparison between NC mid-shelfers bought in the US and most CCs bought in Cuba is comparable, I know less folks who go to Cuba than I do folks who go to the US. The pleasure I get from both of those are comparable although I do get a kick out of trying efforts that are happening in a very dynamic time for the US market with NCs.

My advice to you is to start buying singles and if you want to keep smoking but don't want to pay the prices, think about building a tupperdore, follow cigar forums and ask a friend comming up here to mule some up for you.

[Yello to Mello]

Interesting. I few months ago I was reading a cigar forum...dont remember which one it was though.

You broke down the prices well for cigars.

[orangedogofglory]

Getting into cigars is a slippery slope... seems everyone starts with a 50 count humi, then up to a 150, then a tupperdore, then maybe a wineador, then cabinets or walk-ins.

It's a lot like whisky - there is always another cigar out there...

[Peat Sampras]

Close this thread, I'm already spending a fortune to Mr. Marlboro so don't make me get into the world of Cohibas, Romeo y Julietas and other lovely but expensive Cubanitas

[Frodo]

The thing about cigars (at least if you can get them from the US) is that a decent fiver will cost $25-$30. Certainly an affordable luxury compared with malt prices over here. In the UK I'm guessing that NCs cost more, CCs are more available but at ~$20 US a stick and malt prices are lower.

Different markets - different prices.

[orangedogofglory]

Figured I'd post this here...

I sent a few sample bottles of whisky to a forum-mate on a cigar board... 2oz each of:

Bunna 18
HP 13 (Signatory)
Balvenie 17 New Oak
Tullibardine 1993

and, without a request, just to be a nice guy, he sent me this in return:



he said that these were sticks that seemed to pair well with whisky, so I'm looking forward to pairing each one

[Frodo]

I got all the brands from the picture but not all the lines - nor do I know all the lines...

- Rocky Patel 1990 or 1992: Although a lot of enthusiests on cigar boards like to look down on RP sticks, both these lines are generally well-regarded. Lots of comments like "I only like the 1990s from RP". Medium bodied.
- Graycliff: No sure which line.
- Tatuatje Red Tubos: Tatuatje is extremely well regarded and pricy. I believe these are medium-bodied. These are a bigger version of the one I raved about on the "what cigar did you smoke" thread.
- Oliva "V" Double Robusto: Considered the best $5 cigar by many out there. One of its siblings made it into the top 5 of this years Cigar Aficionado's "best of the year" list. Medium Bodied.
- Padilla (Obsidion would be my guess): Not too sure about this line. I've only tried 3 Padillas and they aren't my cuppa. Lots of folks in the enthusiests community do like them though.
- Tatuatje Black Tubos: The heavier-bodied brother to the Red Tubos. Lots of experianced enthusiests rave about this one. the BOTL who sent you these really made an effort as these I believe are somewhat hard to find and aren't cheap.
- 601 Blue Label: Lots of folks like this one due to the content being formatted by noted cigar maker Don "Pepin" Garcia. Lots of fans of his stuff out there. Never had anything from this line.
- Mon 'o War (not sure about the line): Well regarded brand. Don't know anything else about it.

[CK_]

I came across this older thread today and I noticed Frodo mentioned buying CCs from CigarChief. On a friend's recommendation, I ordered from them over the summer and everything was 100% first class (price, service, delivery)! I tend to buy boxes or large orders from them and not singles because of their flat-rate shipping fee of $25. I thought I'd share my experience with them incase some of you are looking for a reliable source for CCs.

[mishu]

hey everyone, so i personally dont smoke cigars, but my dad does, and from what i know his favorite cigar as of now so far is "perdomo corrojo" there about 130$ a box of 25 cigars, everytime i go to miami i pick up around 4 boxes (i live in israel now where taxes on tobacco and alcohol is just absurd) so i recommend that one to you guys. and being that my father used to manufacture cigars in honduras, he knows quite a bit about them