Where do you start?

[daverave999]

I'm going to be contrary here and suggest you read lots of reviews and try what you like the sound of if you're only buying a few at a time, rather than on recommendations. That way you can steer yourself through them all depending on the previous experience, and you may hit upon something great that is not well known. Taking notes on each cigar will also help to remind you of what you liked and disliked about each one.

I agree with EugeneSax in that you should buy 3 of each; if you only have one it may be an off one. Some cigars smoke great straight from the post, whereas some need a few months 'rest' in a humidor after travel to give a typical flavour profile. Also, your palate will develop quickly in the initial stages and tastes you didn't notice two months before can be much more noticeable with a little practice.

I will also dissent on the 'buying tubos from the supermarket' suggestion. I have had bad experiences with doing this, with the cigars having dried out from the lids not being on correctly. I realise this may be atypical but YMMV.

With all that said, here's my list of Cubans that I would suggest to others newer to this than me:

Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas
Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robustos
Trinidad Reyes
El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme
Vegas Robaina Famosos
Saint Luis Rey Serie A
Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill
H. Upmann Magnum 46
Partagas Serie P No. 2

Basically, just try all the brands in whatever size takes your fancy at the time, and take notes.

[jdawg]

Many good cigars have already been mentioned.

The following are staples in my humi:

Cuban
Partagas D4
Partagas P2
Partagas Shorts
H. Upmann Mag 46
HDM Petit Robustos
HDM Epi #2
El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme
Ramon Allones SS
Cohiba Siglo II
Cohiba Secretos
Juan Lopez #2
RJ Short Churchill

Non-Cuban
My Father
My Father Le Bijou 1922
Oliva V
Padron Anniversary 1926 & 1964
Rocky Patel Sungrown & Decade
Tatuaje
Alec Bradley Tempus, Overture, Prensado
Illusione
NUB, CAIN
Arturo Fuente Anejo, god of fire, Opus X
Man O' War Ruination
Padilla 1948, Miami, 1932

There are many more good ones out there, but here is a good starting point. Like others have said, samplers are the way to go. Happy exploring!

[satch]

Good selection there, Mr Dawg!

[Soulmanure]

I gotta agree with daverave999--reading a lot of reviews helped send me in the right direction.

This site has been a great help: www.cigars-review.org

[moppy]

Update!

Thanks for your help fellas, I've got a friend who is interested in splitting the 25 cigars with me, so I will pick out some of the cigars from that list and buy 2 or 4 of them! Ive got a good mind to pick up some La Ricas and some Chinchaleros, Ive heard some good reviews on this forum and they seem dirt cheap too!

[cjlawrie]

Nice list! Good old google docs works well again
I think I might have to pick some for your list and buy a few also! This thread should be a sticky for those of us who are not that well grounded in cigar lore and experience as yet

[Stevieboy]

Nice spreadsheet Moppy definitely should be in the Wiki

[moppy]

Thanks guys

I've now set it so that anyone can edit it, if you guys feel like something should be there that isnt, then feel free to add em in.

Once I figure out how to add it to the Wiki I'll do that too.

[merryjainusa]

well beginners must think while starting cigar smoking. It must not be very strong,there were wide range for beginners available out there

[spirit_of_will]

I've just come across this thread, only just back from Cuba and my first proper cigar experiences - sat in the garden of the Nacional in Havana with a RyJ No.1 can't be too bad a place to start?

Moppy - so, 9 to 10 months down the line how have you got on with all of the suggestions that were made? What did you actually end up buying and how did you find them. I'm in exactly the same situation as it seems you were... knowing where the heck to start!

[JOAO LA PEZ]

Like yourself i am quite new to the "proper" cigars experience as i do not count the time spent smoking machine made brands like King Edwards.
What i have learned is to make time to fully enjoy the cigar you have chosen, light carefully, smoke slowly and have a drink to go with it, having blown my own head off a couple of times with big smokes i no longer chase the flavours i let them come to me, doing this i have not found a stick that i did not enjoy.
Apologies to be off topic but thats just me.

[Deano]

Feck me Will, perfect place to start! I started on the roof terrace of the Parque Central in Havana over looking old Havana and the Capitol.