'Not for beginners'?

[daverave999]

As a newbie cigar smoker, I've been looking through cigars-review.org and other reviews to get an idea of what is worth trying.

A comment that comes up occasionally on the stronger ones is 'Not for beginners'. Is this solely due to the nicotine content, or is strong taste a factor too? I'd rather not put myself off through inexperience, but wonder if this kind of comment is more aimed at those who are 'beginners' to smoking in general. As a regular cigarette smoker for 15 years (I roll my own) should I be less concerned about this due to my already present tolerance?

Thoughts anyone?

[Robusto]

I have just about weaned off one of my mates from cigarettes to cigars. Like yourself, he has a good number of years on the clock smoking cigarettes.

He found he could bump over to the "strong" cigars I smoke without difficulty. The only predictable thing he did at first was to keep inhaling as if knocking back cigarettes.

My mate is now enjoying the same cigars as I do after my expert stogie counselling lol, and I am pretty certain the cigarette habit makes it easier to bump over to strong cigars compared to a novice smoker who might just be a bit over-faced.

If you are just starting to approach cigar smoking, why not try a few sticks categorised by different levels of strength?

I find Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No2 is quite mild for me now. I would guess a Bolivar Robusto might be a taxing challenge for someone just getting into smoking for the first time.

I did get very fed up when I offered a good cigar to cigarette smokers. Some couldn't cope with a good stick, and would abandon it half way down. I would jump in and take over - sometimes toking on two in tandem - because cigars are too expensive to waste, plus I am too in love with good cigars to see them die in an ashtray when they are still full of flavour and life!

[Robusto]

My GP told me that cigar tobacco has six times the amount of nicotine than cigarette tobacco. The silly mare then told me I should stop smoking cigars and take up cigarettes as they would be better for me.

I think this strength thing has to be a question of TASTE, and not of nicotine potency. No science to back that up. Just a feeling.

[daverave999]

Thanks for the info! I just didn't want to waste my cash if I was going to collapse halfway through. :P

You doctor told you to swap cigars for cigarettes because of the nicotine!? It's not the nicotine that's harmful...

[larrysputnik]

You'll be able to handle any cigar, I'm sure. As long as it doesn't look like this:

[cohibaIV]

F**KING HELL........

[Robusto]

Have you posted that cat turd on here before?...

[larrysputnik]

Have you posted that cat turd on here before?...

It wasn't me, I promise. But I hope whomever is responsible for this thing wiped when they were finished.

[emeraldisle]

In relation to this 'not for beginners' debate I confess that I went directly to smoking cigars via not really having a history previously of smoking cigarettes before. Yes I had smoked cigarettes now and again but I really never felt that they were doing anything for me. Hence before I bought my first sample series of cigars I had some research done before entering the shop. This kinda made making an educated purchase easier to make in many respects.

Gabriel

[Robusto]

I never got any pleasure from cigarettes. I had a small habit of Marlboros and Benson and Hedges in my early 20s. I have to say I want to heave whenever I smell Benson and Hedges now.

I only smoked cigarettes in a group of mates. Bands, pubs, beers, cigarettes. The usual.

Cigars are mostly a solitary and long-lasting pleasure.

The two smoking habits are poles apart.

[emeraldisle]

Bryan,

Take my family as an example, four brothers, two of my brothers would be B & H smokers, my eldest brother used to smoke small cigars but does no longer. Then there is my dad who maintains rural traditions to the letter by smoking a Falcon pipe. He was delighted with his new pipe I got him for Christmas last.

Gabriel