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I am pretty new to the seen and have bought a lot of samplers and what I could to try and find my "go to" cigars. Any recommendations or advise on how to build by humidor with good sticks at low costs? Also, how do people get their hands on cubans...I have tried but no success. Would be open to trading and people sending me sticks to try, even thinking of doing a youtube review for beginners. The reviews that I have seen are somewhat unbearable to watch!

An unknown asking how obtain contraband in a public forum is a recipe for disaster. I’m sure you’ll get a few comments about such. You’re a long way from getting that information. I’d suggest you start by posting in the trade forum. Gain some credibility then perhaps someone will help you out.

As far a cheap is concerned, I’ve found you pretty much get what you pay for. One dollar cigars taste and burn like one dollar cigars.

Regarding budgeting, I’d recommend signing up for a couple email lists and waiting for good deals. I often only buy sticks when they go on sale, but the sales are pretty frequent on some pages (like the monkey one)

Also, if you want to try new sticks, I’d recommend joining the N00B PIB.

Personally, I’ve never met a Fuente or a Warped I didn’t enjoy. On the contrary, never met a CAO I did like, but I know there are some that are more highly regarded than others (e.g., flathead and Brazilia)

Also, I agree Davidoff feels overpriced. I’d recommend going for their cheaper brands that are (in my opinion) nearly as good (e.g., griffins and AVO)

"Smoke what you like" I like that a lot...as it seams there are trends in this, as in any hobby. Some act as snobs if you're not smoking the most expensive and trendiest sticks. It seams a lot has changed since I was last in this game, fuller cigars are now more popular than mellow. I like all types, from Macanudo to a Punch Diablo. What's the verdict on Infused or Flavored? Is that still a no no for the real aficionados? I thought about pulling the trigger on some Legends that were priced well on here.

My only problem with samplers is that I get only one shot at a cigar. I’ve found that I’d rather smoke at least 3 cigars of the same blend to get a good feel for it. Otherwise, samplers are a wonderful way to expose my palate to different blends and vitolas. Frankly, my preferred method is to buy a few fivers of Corojo and compare the brands. Then I’ll try Connecticut then I’ll try some Maduro blends, etc.. I make sure to compare different wrappers from one brand and the same wrapper from different brands. I’ve learned what a Connecticut tastes like and what Corojo tastes like, etc.. I’ve learned the difference between short-filler Cuban sandwich cigars and long-filler cigars, I’ve learned that the wrapper might account more for the taste but the binder and filler can change the flavor and accounts for the strength and “body” of the cigar. I’m still learning and it has been a lot of fun. I think learning with cheap cigars has been a wise decision for me. I’m buying more expensive cigars now but still experimenting and learning so I’m not buying the most expensive offerings. I stay away from buying boxes because I’m likely to change my mind about which cigars are my favorites as I continue to buy different brands and blends. I’ve learned to let my cigars rest at approximately 65% RH for at least 2 weeks before I smoke them because the burn and flavor will change quite a bit if the cigar has been transitioning between different RH and temperatures.

Although I’ve been smoking cigars since the ‘90s, I’ve only just recently started smoking quite a bit more and trying different tobaccos. I consider myself a noob in the forums and a noob to understanding cigar brands and tobacco blends. I think I keep my attitude adjusted to the “receive” mode and I take recommendations and advice from the guys here in the forums. Most are welcoming and helpful, some are full of chit and you’ll be able to figure that out on your own. I wish you good luck and hope you enjoy learning about cigars.

Thanks Jeebling! It's like anywhere on the net, as I tell my kids...there are always going to be negative people, you just have to deal with it. I feel welcome so far and have read some interesting stuff on this thread, along with other discussions that should help me get back in the game and enjoy the smoking tradition again. I find it very relaxing and somewhat therapeutic. cigars are a craft and work of art....Various price point, tastes and traditions go into it. I would love to someday try an Opus X or fine Cuban, but for the time being I will find what suites me and my wallet. This is definitely not a hobby for the faint of heart....my first big purchase a couple of months ago was around $300 and it did not go far, lol.

I don't have a lot of experience with Cubans but I know the consensus is that once upon a time a Cuban could be had for a few dollars more than a new world cigar, was far superior in taste, and equal in construction. Nowadays they cost twice as much, are only slightly superior to the high end NW cigars in taste, and are inferior in construction due to the skilled rollers leaving Cuba for better jobs in NW cigars. So I wouldn't even be chasing them anymore.

As for OpusX's, ironically I just had my first one yesterday. Wasn't chasing them because I didn't like the 3 or 4 Fuente cigars I've tried in my smoking career and had totally written them off. However an OpusX was given to me and after smoking it I'll be on the lookout for more. Do yourself a favor and try one. Unless money is tight, then do yourself a favor and don't try one so u don't know what your missing.

Also, Law Enforcement doesn't give two chits about Cuban cigars. They have bigger fish to fry and cant get recruits and help thanks to the defund the police BS. Maybe CBP, but I doubt many of them even do.
Honestly, the illegal status probably sells more cigars than if they were legal. I heard once that 75% of all Cubans end up in the U.S. Ppl want what they can't have, and feel special when they have something they shouldn't have or that is rare. That adds a lot to the Cuban cigar hype. It's not all quality adding to the hype. You can try establishing a repertoire with a vendor then ask, but it's unlikely someone is willing to risk their business to sell Cubans and highly likely youll be sold a fake. Everyone I know who buys them, buys them online from overseas and has no problem getting them shipped. Good luck.

Ryan330 - Welcome aboard and don’t forget to read up on the commonly used acronym thread. A guy smarter than me can post those helpful links for you.

As drgInc sez…Stay Smokey!

Just got a 5 pack on Freefall for a decent price...can't wait to try them!

If you buy 10 cigars and only smoke 5 before you buy another 10, you will have 15 cigars. Repeat and then you have 20. Then 25, etc. So it goes and your humidor starts to fill up.

Now there is a moral to this story. If you keep buying more than you smoke and you aren't sure what you like, you're going to end up with plenty of cigars you don't like. "Don't like" is a very relative term and it might just mean cigars you thought were OK, but you wouldn't look to buy again. So as you start out, my advice is to buy at a rate that only slightly exceeds consumption. You are far less likely to end up with too many smokes you don't want.

A few thoughts:

Some of the mid range singles on CBid go for $4-$10. The $4 ones go in 5 packs for $12-$17 and the $10 ones maybe $25-$40. Some will say one is not enough to judge a cigar. I'll go along with that. However, it could be said that 5 is more than enough to know you don't like it. If you start with buying the singles that you have read about by regular smokers, like on the "What are you smoking now azzhats" thread, you will get more variety for less overall expense and you'll be less likely to end up with excess that you don't enjoy. Your cost per cigar will be higher, but your cost per cigar enjoyed will be lower.

Ignore the ad copy from the seller. They are there to sell cigars. Every single cigar they sell will sound like a piece of heaven rolled in a tobacco leaf. The wrapper, binder, filler info is something that is useful.

Many, many samplers suck. There are some samplers that are a good, but none that I can think of that are $1-$3 per cigar that come with a free lighter or humidor. Stay as far away from these as you can. You can find samplers from very decent cigar makers, but thy are more likely going to be $4-$10+ per cigar. Some might even come with a cheap lighter or cheap cutter. Some real good samplers can be had, but for real variety, you'll have to look at other sites



TLDR: Read up on cigars from places that don't sell cigars. At the beginning buy only slightly more than you consume. Avoid cheap samplers.

Helpful link for operating in this forum:

https://www.cigarbid.com...yms-and-Abbrevs-Rev-1217

Current favorite bundle cigar room 101 ichiban habano (didn’t like the maduro at all and I love maduro cigars)
Perdomo fresco maduro is really good
Flor de Oliva are all good that I’ve tried
Oliva seconds are good
I buy Nicaraguan overruns for any time smokes

Thats my basic grab for cheap stuff I actually like.

Build humidor for low cost sign up for email alerts for every cigar website known to man. I’d use a burner email address because they get to be a bit much. Every day something is on sale. That’s how I’ve built my stash. I’ve also got several cigars that I don’t like too much that same way so id recommend doing some homework before you buy a lot.

In cigars, size does matter.

I'm not a fan of large ring gauge (60 something or other) which seems like the big thing recently. A corona size would be in my target size but I do like belicoso and robusto (ring size of 50's ish or under), Everyone is different so smoke what you like.