delta1 wrote:DrMaddVibe (DMV) may be the longest tenured member still actively posting, or HockeyDad...maybe tailgater...but tail seems to have found some other toy...
I'd venture to guess that neither of them has any recollection of the guys who posted in this thread...maybe hegemonic...I think he still lurks
I'm not the oldest one here, but don't go by the dates you see now. CBid had a great server crash and had to start from scratch. I know I was using CBid back in 1999 to find my coveted Montecristo Le Cigare des Arts Royale Delacroix. This was the cigar that elevated everything for me and my tastebuds. Prior to having one of these it was mainly Flor de Oliva that I'd grab from the humidor in the clubhouse and go hit the links. When I couldn't find the cigar any longer in the Detroit metro area I used this thing called the "internet" that was in it's infancy and found they carried it. I was in luck, hardly anyone knew what it was and I stocked up like crazy. I'd buy them all. Once I found out it was a limited edition, I elevated my stop price but continued to hoard them. Didn't matter if it was the older wood grain box, or the polished burl wood or even the ceramic jars, I'd buy them. I found the forum on accident and was amazed at the wealth of information the users here held. The sharing of what and how to enjoy cigars became a thing to me and would become a passion that would ascend anyone into becoming a true BOTL. I didn't post for almost 6 months but just voraciously read the posts. Once I decided to post, it was akin to the Acapulco cliff divers...head first...off the cliff...waiting to hit the bottom, but realizing the water was fine. I had something to add by that time and was welcomed with open arms. Users like BMW (Barry, RIP!), Slimboli, Mounatin Jack, Rookie139, FBCoacho (my vet!), Charlie and a slew I'm forgetting off the top of my mind would PM me and we'd share the ol CBid "Fiver"! You have to understand nobody can count for $hit here at this site on the forums.
If ANYONE is looking for recommendations. Check on these links.
https://www.cigarbid.com...-Smokin-Azzhats-1000000
http://www.cigarbid.com/...n-Azzhats-1000000-Vol-IIWe used to pride ourselves on doing reviews here, but that's fallen off by the wayside. All I know is that there are very few n00bs that post here that have valid brands and cigars they share here that I would ever want to walk back down the mountain to smoke. Been there and done that. My initiation into climbing Mt. Olympia was carved first by the World of Single Malt Scotch. There wasn't a "Glen" anything I hadn't tried. When YOU get to the one that tickles you, you ask around. If you find there's a following you ask those with similar tastebuds where to go from there. As just like Cigars you can never be Icarus and fly too close to the sun to crash to Earth. You try...more than once...because Man had a hand in it and it could be a "bad" one. Once you climb the mountain you find that there are a lot of terrible cigars (most wrapped and oozing with snappy marketing!) that ruin what I call my Pinnacle of Relaxation. Sorry, Rocky makes a LOT of trash. The last decent cigar he made that made me buy a 2nd one was when he introduced his Ligero line. One would best served to understand that when we choose to enjoy a cigar its a highlight to a day where we celebrate the gift of Life, the loss of a loved one, a holiday where family is all together or those very rare concurrences where BOTL's gather called "Herfs" and hang out and smoke great cigars. Life is too damned short to smoke trash. I've met a slew of old crusty guys that smoke machine made drug store cigars and you're not going to sway them with a Padron '64! Fine. Great. Don't expect a gracious nod when you try to offer up a Backwoods flavored cigar though. Once you know...you know.
Just because a cigar costs a lot of money, it doesn't make it great. There are lines like Davidoff and AVO that just don't do it for me, but I've seen guys pop in to shpos and buy boxes of them and leave. So, cheap...expensive...limited editions and everyday cigars that have been made for decades...one will have to go their own journey. There's a lot here that will guide you. I've found experience is my best teacher, but I'm willing to listen.