My thoughts to share

[Bwgan]

New forum member here, so hello.fficeffice" />>>
Not a new cigar smoker, but thought as I'm getting older and I've done the fast motorbikes and other such things, I need a new hobby. So why not cigars? Therefore for my birthday, thought I'd start with the following selection from cgars:>>
Charatan Demi Tasse 1s>>
Partagas Petit Coronas Especiales>>
Guantanamera Cristales>>
Upmann Corona Junior>>
Le Hoyo Du Depute>>
Upmann Corona Minor>>
Santa Damiana Robustos>>
Punch Margaritas>>
La Invicta Panatela>>
Romeo y Julieta Petit Princes>>
Don Ramos Petit Corona>>
Montecristo Joyita>>
Cohiba Panatela>>
Montecristo No.5>>
Cohiba Clubs 10's>>
> >
So far, I?ve had the following, with very brief thoughts:>>
Charatan Demi Tasse ? awful. Draw was terrible, needed to suck like a lady of the night and too full for my liking. Never again>>
Le Hoyo Du Depute ? beautiful. Burnt like a dream with lovely flavour. One for the refill buy>>
Montecristo Joyita ? ok. Again poor draw. Not likely to purchase again>>
> >
Does a smaller ring size mean a harder draw, or was that just those 2?>>

[Bwgan]

Dont know where all the extra bits >> came from!

[Lads2000]

The thinner ring gauges can be harder to draw especially the likes of panatelas. I find anything above about a 36 gauge tend to be more consistent.

[monkey66]

Time to start smoking some more serious cigars ...and stop copy/pasting from word

[Bwgan]

Ah is that what caused it!!
Yep, big fat ones on the next order....

[cohibaIV]

Time to start smoking some more serious cigars ...and stop copy/pasting from word

[bambini]

Ah is that what caused it!!
Yep, big fat ones on the next order....

Welcome! Why not introduce yourself at Newbie Meets and Greets (if you haven't already)?

My advice would be to start with a few coronas or marevas as a start. 42 Ring Gauge, which means that they're not a massive commitment but a good introduction. Might i suggest the HdM Coronations (mild, nice draw) and the Monte No 3 or No 4 (medium, distinctive flavour and above all, popular)?

I'm just starting out myself, but I've found these a good starting point. Next stop: robustos

[senor_robusto]

hello bwgan,
welcome to the forum!!! blimey, you don't do anything by halves, do you? lol!!! that's a hell of a selection you bought there!!!! i've never had any 'small gauge' cigars, the only ones i've had on your list are:
partagas petite corona especial
h upmann corona junior
cohiba panatela
montecristo no.5
cohiba club

these are all GREAT little cigars, especially the partagas, h upmann and montecristo!!! also, it's a bonus they're reasonably priced!!!!

i would, like most here, recommend you try some petite coronas (aka mareva, 5" x 42 ring gauge):
*romeo y julieta tubed no.2 (or cedros de lux no.3),
*montecristo no.4 (aka petite tubos),
*cohiba siglo 2,
*bolivar petite corona (or tubos no.2)

......and half coronas (aka perla or minuto, approx 4.5" x 42 RG):
cohiba siglo 1
cohiba secretos
partagas short
bolivar corona junior
san cristobal del habana el principe
ramon allones small club corona
trinidad reye

check out some of the sampler packs in these size ranges!!!! also, you'll find this is a great community and most people will be only too happy to help you with suggestions etc without being condescending (such as the staff in your local tobacconists, which i experienced when i started)!!!

hope this helps,

alex

[Stevieboy]

Dont know where all the extra bits >> came from!

don 't worry mate...they come from using MS Office I think....something to do with formatting place-holders

[TJCoro]

Howdy!

...and if you must "Cut & Paste," be sure to loose the excess script (before you post) which results in excess pink smilies!

[Bwgan]

Senor.......great avatar!!! Thanks for the reply! You're right, I generally approach everything with gusto.....I fancied running, so I did the great north....got injured.. took up smokig cigars!!!!

[Bwgan]

Damn you all......just priced up the recommendations and that ?125!!! Any one fancy a fireblade?

[senor_robusto]

lol, hey all, he's only in the cigar thing 5 minutes and he's already looking to sell his bike!!! that's dedication.......

but seriously, the average time scale for all cigars recommended is approx 45mins to 1hr!!!! i normally call into my local habanos specialist here in belfast every few weeks when i'm looking something different!!! i normally spend about ?35, 1 big cigar and a couple of small ones!!!! saying that, i only have 1 or 2 cigars a week!!!!

the perla's/minutos/half coronas are all approx ?7 each, the mareva's/ petite coronas approx ?10 each!!!! it's crazy to go buying everything recommended to you!!! how often are you smoking cigars? do you have any decent tobacconists/ cigar shops nearby? bear this in mind, most ASDA's (and i think sainsburys and waitrose's) sell tubed punch coronations and h upmann corona juniors for about a fiver a piece if you're stuck and fancy something other than a hamlet or henry winterman!!!

i'd recommend, since you're starting off, try my thing!!! 4-5 small cigars (approx ?35) or a mix, say......1 robusto and 2-3 small cigars!!! all in all, a more manageable budget of approx ?35 a week (providing you're not smoking more than 1 daily already)!!!

hope this helps mate,

alex