When did you know

[Streetfighter]

Upon returning from a Cuban holiday..
I was hooked as soon as I smelt a cigar & drank good rum!
Previously a total non-smoker too!

Sweet smell of a Cuban cigar factory and the sweet taste of a good Cuban rum= hooked...

[Undercover]

For as long as I can remember I've loved the smell of cigars. Like some, I dabbled with the occasional 'pub cigar' - Hamlet and the like. Then about 15 years ago bought some Cuban cigars - Boli PCs, Monte No.1s and Sancho Panza Sanchos, plus a humidor and scissors. Even have an old Cgars mouse mat from that time. Strangely, though, I never really took to it. Then lifestyle changed and it all got relegated to the attic. Finally, a couple of years ago I was in London and smelled a good cigar. Suddenly it seemed very right. I smoked a couple of the cigars from the attic - pretty good despite the rough treatment and years of poor care, then joined the forum. A month or so later, while at a Navy event in Bournemouth, I visited the tobacconist in town and bought a few singles. I remember chatting to the owner of the shop, listening as he explained the different cigars I was looking at and thinking I was exactly where I wanted to be. My wife wasn't so enthusiastic but kind of came round. I rescued the remainder of the survivors from the attic ... and the rest is history. Soon ended up with a growing selection of Cuban and non-Cuban cigars, and no regrets this time - apart from feeling like I never have enough time to participate in the social side of the hobby.
The aroma of a decent cigar still gets me every time and I can't think of a better way to relax for a while and contemplate the day just gone.

[Undercover]

Great thread by the way. Interesting to read how we all got here.

[Sean]

Deano eh? Actually Sean, despite the 6'000+ posts some of us are still wondering

Yup most of my posts are utter shit like ha

[tommy_tucka]

I stole my first ever cigar from my dad when I was 14 and it made me ill (King Edwards)

I gave up smoking over 2 years ago but while on holiday in Spain I went pass a tabac shop and just kind of wondered in, bought some cigars that looked nice and the first one I had was a monte 4 and has been my go to favourite since. Then I joined the forum bought a humi then pestered people on here with my cigar questions. Learned a lot since joining but still an apprentice.

[Demeter]

Following the waft of King Edwards behind dad as a kid. Particularly on holidays walking along the front at St Anne's. It took years to venture away from the odd KE myself but when I did it was truly another experience. Finding sites like this has made me actively read and research the subject for leisure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[anz3001]

Lol, theres a few that started in the pub, perhaps its a good thing they've stopped smoking in pubs!

Thats where it started for me, I was the only one in my group of friends that didn't smoke cigarettes so it was a great novelty, acting the fool in the pub, chuffing on a hamlet and watching my cigarette smoking friends struggle with cigars. That developed and I started to actually enjoy the cigar (even an hamlet) for what it was as opposed to the novelty factor. The first Cuban I had was gifted to me during an holiday as the shops humidor had an issue, that never really went anywhere and I've no idea what it actually was, although it was double corona sized. I visited Cuba a few years later and purchased a sampler of robustos, oh how I wish id have at least maxed my duty free allowance now. Then a trip to Dubai happened and id set out to get a recommended and somewhat expensive aftershave from the Duty Free, I sampled the whole range and didn't like any so I had a spare few quid in my pocket, I found myself in the walk in humidor and subsequently left with 10xMonti No2, 3xSiglo VI and 3xEpicure Especial. A humidor was purchased on return and I was committed. Truthfully I smoke very few cigars and so when I do its a bit of an event and a moment to saver.

[NICig]

Some great responses. Seen a few posts mentioning tabacs on holidays. Will have to search some out when I'm away. Presume they're cheaper than UK?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Tendarus]

I started a fairly clich?d way by getting some for a wedding I was best man for a couple of years ago. I worked in Canary Wharf at the time so went to Boisdale?s and asked what would be good for beginners and bought 5. I had no idea at the time what I was buying, but I know now they were Hoyos (Epi 2s I think) so it was a good recommendation.

Only 3 ended up getting smoked at the wedding so I took the other 2 home. I knew nothing about storage at this time so just left them in a drawer I think! 

While I was at Boisdale I happened to notice an invoice from C.Gars so went to their site and that was me away.

In terms of picking out flavours, I?m now about 2 years in and while I?ve improved to where I can pick out broad flavours like pepper, nuttyness and creaminess, I still can?t identify a load of stuff that others can. I suspect that while experience will lead to improvements, there?s also a certain genetic element where some will have better palettes than others (the same applies with tasting wines and whiskeys etc.).