Where do you start?

[moppy]

Beginner's Cigars by UKCF




As someone brand new to cigars, how do you go about finding out what to smoke? The sheer variety of brands, sizes, flavours, confuses the hell out of me and I have no idea where to start. So how does one go about choosing his first 25 or so smokes?

I'm sure there are many like me who when they first started, knew well known brands such as Cohiba, Montecristo, H. Uppman etc, but when it comes to NC and lesser known CC such as RA, Partagas, Diplomaticos, are completely ignorant.

What I ask of you dear members of UKCF, is that you would put together a list of 25 cigars which demonstrate what cigar smoking is about. Cigars of extremely different flavours, strengths, wrapper shades, sizes, origins and create a list that any beginner to cigar smoking can look at, order online and experience the variety of smokes available in the industry.

It is quite a daunting task I'm sure, but it would be very helpful to me to know the top "must try" cigars for beginners. I'm not talking MUST TRY as in "would love to try" but just a wide range of cigars which allow the smoker to see the many different sides of cigars.

So the rules are thus:
- Seegar may be both CC & NC
- Seegar must not exceed ?12.50 per stick (alright maybe ?15.00 but remember this is a beginner smoking it! Do you want a premium cigar to go wasted on some fool like me who can't yet appreciate it?)
- Seegar must be in production now and readily available
- Most importantly, seegar must be gooooood

Contribute as many names as you want, lets aim for an even mix of NC & CC and hopefully if you guys put together a great list, this might get stickied for future beginners!

Update:Well we got 49 instead of the 25 cigars I mentioned, but here they are in spreadsheet form!

Beginner's Cigars by UKCF

All prices are from Cgars LTD.

[shuckins]

samplers are a great way to try a wide variety without spending too much...

[eggopp]

I started off with La Invictas NC's you can pick them up cheap enough at Cgarsltd, i also started off on Romeo y Julieta range CC both are good stogies for the beginer

[Simon-JG-hr]

Wow, what a big task!

I'll try and put up a list of some good options tomorrow - giving me a chance to think about it.

There were two places which I started to learn about cigars and cigar selection. One was the retailers - particularly the team at CGars, who recommended a good selection of cigars to my tastes. The other source of information, a little later on, was t'interweb... First general browsing, then, eventually, this place (and its very knowledgeable members). Now I also check out magazines such as Cigar Aficianado for ideas, especially for NCs.

[moppy]

samplers are a great way to try a wide variety without spending too much...

Sure, but they may also contain cigars that erm...dont have the best of reputations lets say! Theres usually some duds snuck in (duds according the majority of reviews) and they aren't actually that much cheaper. They usually include p&p which may make it look attractive but if youre buying 25 cigars, most retailers will give you free p&p anyway.

And if you have a list recommended by the fine members of a knowledgeable forum such as this, why would you go with a lucky dip sampler from the retailer

Simon - I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Eggopop - Any specific recommendations from either brand? RyJ have quite a few cigars

[Soulmanure]

I remember being in your position, and I still feel that I am not quite out of it. But here is my progression of cigars that made me get it:

Montecristo 4 (nice, mellow intro)
Montecristo 2 (blew me away)
Montecristo Edmundo (smooth smoke, as I recall)
RyJ exhibition 4 (great complex flavors)
Partagas D4 (was an epiphany)
Partagas short (great short smoke)
Ramon Allones Specially Selected (beautifully rich flavor)

From one noob to another. Happy hunting!

[shuckins]

Sure, but they may also contain cigars that erm...dont have the best of reputations lets say! Theres usually some duds snuck in (duds according the majority of reviews) and they aren't actually that much cheaper. They usually include p&p which may make it look attractive but if youre buying 25 cigars, most retailers will give you free p&p anyway.

And if you have a list recommended by the fine members of a knowledgeable forum such as this, why would you go with a lucky dip sampler from the retailer

Simon - I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Eggopop - Any specific recommendations from either brand? RyJ have quite a few cigars

this is true. but just because somebody likes a certain cigar,that don't mean you will. one man's dud is another's favorite sometimes...

[moppy]

Now thats what I'm talking about Soulmanure! And most of them below ?12.50 too, you sir have deserved this!

this is true. but just because somebody likes a certain cigar,that don't mean you will. one man's dud is another's favorite sometimes...

Very true I see your point, but if you had the choice between two cigars of the same price, one generally maligned, the other generally well liked, which one would you rather try if you haven't tried either? I'm not saying that you should completely base your likes and dislikes on what other people like and dislike, but when you're starting out, surely it's useful to know which cigars are regarded as the more likeable ones?

[shuckins]

Now thats what I'm talking about Soulmanure! And most of them below ?12.50 too, you sir have deserved this!



Very true I see your point, but if you had the choice between two cigars of the same price, one generally maligned, the other generally well liked, which one would you rather try if you haven't tried either? I'm not saying that you should completely base your likes and dislikes on what other people like and dislike, but when you're starting out, surely it's useful to know which cigars are regarded as the more likeable ones?

definitly!

my top 5:
boli beli finos
party pce
trini rob
cohiba II
monte 4

[EugeneSax]

Of course everyone has their own totally different tastes & experiences so you'll probably get totally different suggestions from everyone that replies. My own preference is for CC over NC - I think there's far greater difference between the brands of Cuba than in all the other cigar producing countries put together. And in the Uk, CC value for quality is much better.

I also think, in general the smaller cigars (TPC, PC, C etc) give a very good impression of brand characteristics.

Finally I think it's hard to get a good impression from a sinlge stick - I suggest 3 of each, thus my list covers 8 cigars plus a biggie for a special occasion. If you still don't like a cigar after the second stick, you can always trade it on here.

Taking into account the above, I have tried to cover the diversity that the best of Cuba can offer, along with the classic brands:

RA Small Club Corona
Bolivar Corona Junior - Bolivar & RA are about the most powerful Cubans and these smallies are a great introduction to the brands for a newbie. Could step up to PC, but IMO that's a step down in quality.

Trinidad Reyes - simply a greater cigar, no matter it's lack of stature, and a premium plus brand.

R&J Tubos "De Luxe" (beware the machine made non-deluxe) 2 or 3: C or PC sized. I think the tubos just nudge the boxed versions for this great brand. alternatively, going slightly left-field, but stepping up in quality: Por Laranaga - a bijou brand, but a great cigar, possibly the best PC currently available.

Partagas PC or C - another good introduction for one of the more powerful "global" brands.
Not a favourite of mine, but highly regarded, if feeling brave, step up to a D4 for a bigger stick with more complexity.

Hoyo Epi 2 - a classic & noticeable step up in complexity from the smaller sticks.
Cohiba IV - any serious collection has to have Cohiba & this is a great one. Might blow your per stick budget, but if you go with some of my smaller suggestions, your average costs should be in line.
Monty 2 - as above.

And for a special - R&J tubed Churchill - a classic celebratory cigar & a relatvely easy big stick for a newbie. You could try an RJ Duke instead, but I would go for the Churchill's length over the Duke's girth.

Noticeable omissions includ Upman, one of trhe most distinctive brands, but require a few years to begin to show some of their unique character. Also Juan Lopez - a 'lesser known brand' but a favourite on here in the robusto-sized #2. However not THAT differnt to the Hoyo Epi2 to warrant inclussion here (except as an alternative to the Epi).

If you really wanted to include some NC's, then perhaps go for 2 of some of the above instead of 3. Others on here would be better placed to advise on which NC's to go for. If I had to suggest one - Fuente Hemingway Short Story.

My final suggestion is to avoid LE & RE's - not that some aren't great smokes, just that the premium cost for rarity probably isn't justifiable for a newbie still to get to know the main-line cigars.

PS - have a look at post 12 of the "Biggest & best.." thread on the retailers forum where Smokeymo is still offering an effectively free humidor with 25 Cubans.

[rollzst]

Re: Where do you start?

Montecristo number 4
Montecristo number 2
(the two best selling Cuban cigars)

Partagas serie d number 4
Hoyo de Monterrey epicure number 2 ( a nice more mellow smoke)
Cohiba siglo 2
Cohiba robusto
Romeo and julieta exibition number 4
H upman corona junior
Trinidad robusto T
Ramon allones specially selected

These are some of my favourites. Some of them may be a little strong for you at first but it's good to test out which strengths you prefer. The hoyo de Monterrey line are good beginner cigars particually the epicures as they are milder but still offer great flavours.

These are all I can think of right now but you won't go wrong with that list. I don't smoke many non cubans so someone else is going to have to help you out with them.

Happy smoking.

[TJCoro]

Give It Time!

One of the first puros I tried was the H. Upman pet....peti.... small corona. That's all it took to get started for me.

There's is a lot of good information available ( mags and primers), but there's no substitute for talking with experienced smokers (like you find here), sampling as many puros as you can afford, and jotting down some notes.

Over time, you will begin to hone in on the vitolas/brands you prefer.

Good Luck!

[moppy]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Eugene Sax I saw the sale thread, it was the inspiration for this thread

I would like to see a few more NCs, over on Cigar Asylum all you hear about is NCs but I guess they dont have a choice across the pond!

I will update the first post tomorrow with the suggestions you guys have made, keep em coming, I'd like to see a few more light cigars, just to have variety

[Soulmanure]

[QUOTE=moppy;74018]Now thats what I'm talking about Soulmanure! And most of them below ?12.50 too, you sir have deserved this!

Damn that looks tasty!

[Habana-Habanos]

Try guantanamera...




No that was a joke, don't do that, unless you like smoking cuban horse manure wrapped in leafs. I started with a RA Small Club Corona, thy are very tasty and convinient for the beginner.

-HH.