America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

Ok I've been catching grief from my family and friends for a long time now. I'm 24 and I smoke 3-5 cigars per day. I have two stocked display humidors in my office. Everyone says I act like I'm 50 because I'm almost always enjoying a good cigar.

My question is when did most of you start smoking cigars? I started when I was 18 or 19. Is that unusual? I don't have any friends my age who smoke but then again none of my friends like wine or politics either.

Liked cigars in college but didn't get really serious about them until I was around 37.

Although having the occasional smoke earlier on, I didn't really get into it until I was a senior in college, when a group of us became fairly regular pipe and cigar smokers. That was almost 20 years ago, and I've flip-flopped between pipes and cigars ever since. These days it's pretty much just cigars.

I started pipe and cigar smoking when I was around 19-20. I preferred the taste and length of smoke to cigarettes.

I never smoked regularly. I started smoking cigars about 7-8 years ago at different settings: fishing, camping, gambling, golfing.

Lately,in the last five years, since I was 36 or so, I started liking cigars regularly. Thats when I started building a collection and improving my taste in better cigars.

I think it has been an older guy thing since the 40's or 50's. Smoking a cigar takes time and planning. Not a lot of younger people have the time or patience to sit back and have a smoke that takes a better part of an hour. (Or, in the case of a Hemingway, a day).

If you are a younger person with the luxury of time to relax, then you are truly lucky. I rarely did, I don't really now but I make time and places to have a cigar.

Honestly, smoking cigars is something that you have to give and take. Many places are closed to smoking, many scenarios aren't conducive to lighting up a cigar: (like work places, some social events, while playing many sports, visiting other people's homes, kids events etc.).

Having a good long cigar takes time and planning if you don't want to put it out. I guess time used to be the older person's domain.

Santyth ...

Go to the store, buy a good smoke and sit down ... watch some of the other people there and take some cues from them ... then, cut and light your cigar carefully and completely ... then, if you take about a puff per minute and really savor it, even the most veteran among your observers won't guess you're a near-newbie ... unless you stick the flame end in your mouth ...

Started smoking them in the Navy as we kept a humidor in the Ward Room on CVA!!!! I have smoked cigars off and on over the years but regularily 8 to 15 per week for last 10 or 12 years!

Charlie

I feel your pain MrSoprano. I'm only 18 and I smoke cigars. I catch a little crap from friends, but some are actually interested about them, and love when i educate them about the intricacies of maintaining a humidor, or what various wrappers will do to the taste of a cigar.

What Defcon said.....only I'm 28

35 now... I hated people smoking cigaretes around me when I was growing up. Started smoking cigars 2 years ago after a ISOM RyJ I was hooked. Clark

I smoked my first cigar at the age of 23 with the birth of my daughter. It was a Carlos Torano, to say I was hooked would be an understatement. But do to the lack of funds a newborn creats I was unable to pursue my new interest. Then a new job 8 years ago finally allowed me to jump in with two feet. One of my first cigars the second time around remains one of my favorites. Bahia Trinidad Belicoso ......mmmm
I digress, even though my friends know that i smoke cigars they act as if I have committed some foul crime if I fire up in front of them. My reply is always the same "I am smoking this for my pleasure not yours". I am also glad that they are missing it. Sometimes even the nicest people like to be a little selfish.

tony

I had my first at an early age, but didn't start really smoking until this year at age 32. I regret starting late. Good for you.

I had my first cigar when I was sixteen. A swisher sweet with a wooden tip. I soon moved on to other cigars and not long after that I found out the difference between cigars kept in humidors, and cigars kept hidden in your closet.

Now I'm 22, and I have been smoking fairly regularly for the last 4 years. I don't catch any crap from anyone I know, and have turned my fair share of people into cigar smokers.

24. I was a Correctional Officer at the time, and inmates would always ask me for a shortie. I was smoking Partagas Lusitanias at the time and evrey now and again I would give up a short. I dunno how anyone could smoke off a chewed up, wet cigar butt. Even in prison.

MrSoprano, if you like it, don't let anyone else try to poison you with their viewpoint. When growing up I gave my Mom so much grief about smoking... Everyday for 10-15yrs and alot of arguments. I was one of those you speak of that did not share in your enthusiasm. Being Itallian can be tough as you know, and in growing up you'll find you want to be an individual even if that means doing what you like over what others think you should do. It's them that are not happy no matter what you choose to do. Now I have family in their twenties I send cigars to for their enjoyment (one 27, the other graduated Bob Jones Univ. last year and is 22) Both called me today to get more...lol Just glad to be able do that.